How far is Saks, AL from Tuscaloosa, AL?

The driving distance from Saks, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is about 122 miles (196.3 km), with a travel time of about 01h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 105.3 miles (169.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
122.01 mi
01h 55m
Flight
105.26 mi
169.4 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Saks.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
105.26 mi
Kilometers
169.4 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
122.01 mi
Kilometers
196.35 km
Drive Time
01h 55m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Tuscaloosa
Sun, May 24, 6:06 PM CDT
Return by in Saks
Sun, May 24, 8:02 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Saks
2026-05-24T16:10
Arrive Tuscaloosa
Sun, May 24, 6:06 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:56 AM to 11:56 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:38 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Saks
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Cahaba Heights
AL

Neighborhood of Vestavia Hills, Alabama, United States

From Saks
61.3 mi
00h 57m
To Tuscaloosa
60.8 mi
00h 57m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 24 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph S
Destination
68°F
Overnight

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, May 24 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Saks and Tuscaloosa.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saks and Tuscaloosa.

  1. 1

    Start on West 42nd Street

    55 m · 12 sec · West 42nd Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Rice Avenue

    1046 ft · 48 sec · Rice Avenue

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Old Gadsden Highway

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Old Gadsden Highway

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Bynum Leatherwood Road

    65 m · 5 sec · Bynum Leatherwood Road

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto Bynum Leatherwood Road

    5.3 mi · 8 min · Bynum Leatherwood Road

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on Bynum Leatherwood Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Bynum Leatherwood Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Albert P Brewer Highway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Albert P Brewer Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Donald G. Holmes Bypass

    1.4 km · 1 min · Donald G. Holmes Bypass

  9. 9

    Take the ramp right

    1160 ft · 28 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    42 mi · 45 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 459: Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden

    1768 ft · 34 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 459 South: Montgomery, Tuscaloosa

    1.2 km · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto John M. Harbert III Freeway

    28.4 mi · 30 min · John M. Harbert III Freeway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa

    1.2 mi · 3 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    33.7 mi · 36 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa

    2219 ft · 42 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    2011 ft · 33 sec

  19. 19

    Continue on Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North

    2540 ft · 1 min · Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North

  20. 20

    Turn right onto University Boulevard

    87 m · 10 sec · University Boulevard

  21. 21

    Turn left

    51 m · 12 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Saks and Tuscaloosa.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
22 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Donald G. Holmes Bypass
43.1 mi · 35%
I 20 West
35 mi · 29%
John M. Harbert III Freeway
28.4 mi · 23%
Bynum Leatherwood Road
6.09 mi · 5%
Albert P Brewer Highway
3.32 mi · 3%
I 359 North
2.6 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Donald G. Holmes Bypass

Merge slight left

42 mi · 00h 45m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 55m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.7 mi
105.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cahaba Heights
00h 57m from Saks
Leave By
2:38 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Saks and Chance Rain Showers near Tuscaloosa.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Saks to Tuscaloosa?

The road trip is about 122 miles (196.3 km) and usually takes 01h 55m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Cahaba Heights is a useful midpoint, sitting about 61.3 miles from Saks and 60.8 miles from Tuscaloosa.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 105.3 miles (169.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.7 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:38 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.32 one way or $32.64 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 38.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Saks and Chance Rain Showers near Tuscaloosa.

Stop Ideas Near Cahaba Heights

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Cahaba Heights, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Cahaba Heights.

RAIL

Birmingham

9 mi away
1819 Morris Ave.
BUS

Brent, AL

70 mi away
10393 Alabama Highway 5
RAIL

Tuscaloosa

83 mi away
2105 Greensboro Ave
RAIL

Anniston

86 mi away
126 West 4th St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Saks and Tuscaloosa. Straight-line distance: 105.26 mi (169.4 km).

Saks

#1 Saks

Unincorporated community in Alabama

Population10,744
Coordinates33.6987100, -85.8396900
Altitude250
CountryUnited States
Tuscaloosa

#2 Tuscaloosa

The most populous city in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.

Population102,819
Coordinates33.2098400, -87.5691700
Altitude68
CountryUnited States
Start: West 42nd Street (-85.839691, 33.698597)
End: (-87.569166, 33.209831)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 196 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 02m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 31m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.31 gal
16.3 L · about $16.32
Round trip
$32.64
8.62 gal · 32.6 L
Estimated CO2
38.3 kg one way
Round trip: 76.6 kg / 169 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $16.32 $32.64
Mid-grade $4.26 $18.36 $36.71
Premium $4.63 $19.93 $39.87
Diesel $5.42 $23.34 $46.68

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Alabama · May 24, 2026

There is no time difference between Saks and Tuscaloosa. The current time is 16:10:19.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.