How far is Tuscaloosa, AL from Childersburg, AL?

The driving distance from Tuscaloosa, AL to Childersburg, AL is about 86.4 miles (139.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 70.3 miles (113.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 27m 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
86.41 mi
01h 43m
Flight
70.32 mi
113.17 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Tuscaloosa.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
70.32 mi
Kilometers
113.17 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
86.41 mi
Kilometers
139.06 km
Drive Time
01h 43m

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 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Childersburg
Thu, Apr 16, 1:03 AM CDT
Return by in Tuscaloosa
Thu, Apr 16, 2:47 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Tuscaloosa
2026-04-15T23:19
Arrive Childersburg
Thu, Apr 16, 1:03 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:44 AM to 11:44 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:02 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Tuscaloosa
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
Bessemer
AL

City in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States

From Tuscaloosa
43.2 mi
00h 51m
To Childersburg
43.2 mi
00h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph S
Destination
86°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    40 m · 12 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto University Boulevard

    718 ft · 22 sec · University Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South

    2802 ft · 1 min · Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South

  4. 4

    Continue straight

    1785 ft · 25 sec

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    1.7 mi · 2 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right

    772 ft · 19 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    1.2 km · 2 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    34.2 mi · 37 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 459 North: Gadsden, Atlanta

    2902 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Continue on John M. Harbert III Freeway

    19.1 mi · 20 min · John M. Harbert III Freeway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 280: Mountain Brook, Childersburg

    769 ft · 19 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on US 280 East: Childersburg

    2963 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto United States Highway 280

    12.6 mi · 18 min · United States Highway 280

  14. 14

    Take the exit straight

    15.4 mi · 20 min

  15. 15

    Turn left onto 1st Street Southwest

    1386 ft · 32 sec · 1st Street Southwest

  16. 16

    Turn right onto 8th Avenue Southwest

    18 m · 3 sec · 8th Avenue Southwest

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 8th Avenue Southwest

Car Route Details

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

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
17 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
19.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South
37.6 mi · 44%
United States Highway 280
28 mi · 32%
John M. Harbert III Freeway
19.1 mi · 22%
US 280 East
0.56 mi · 1%
I 459 North
0.55 mi · 1%
1st Street Southwest
0.26 mi
Longest Stretch

Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South

Merge slight left

34.2 mi · 00h 37m

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 43m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.1 mi
70.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bessemer
00h 51m from Tuscaloosa
Leave By
3:02 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Tuscaloosa and Sunny near Childersburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 86.4 miles (139.1 km) and usually takes 01h 43m 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?

Bessemer is a useful midpoint, sitting about 43.2 miles from Tuscaloosa and 43.2 miles from Childersburg.

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

The direct path is about 70.3 miles (113.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.1 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 3:02 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.55 one way or $23.10 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 27.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Tuscaloosa and Sunny near Childersburg.

Stop Ideas Near Bessemer

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Bessemer, 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 Bessemer.

RAIL

Birmingham

18 mi away
1819 Morris Ave.
BUS

Brent, AL

53 mi away
10393 Alabama Highway 5
RAIL

Tuscaloosa

61 mi away
2105 Greensboro Ave
BUS

Marion, AL

92 mi away
26400 Alabama Highway 14

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Tuscaloosa and Childersburg. Straight-line distance: 70.32 mi (113.17 km).

Tuscaloosa

#1 Tuscaloosa

The most populous city in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.

Population102,819
Coordinates33.2098400, -87.5691700
Altitude68
CountryUnited States
Childersburg

#2 Childersburg

City in Talladega County, Alabama, United States

Population4,781
Coordinates33.2781700, -86.3549800
Altitude128
CountryUnited States
Start: Tuscaloosa (-87.56917, 33.20984)
End: Childersburg (-86.35498, 33.27817)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 139 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.05 gal
11.54 L · about $11.55
Round trip
$23.10
6.1 gal · 23.08 L
Estimated CO2
27.1 kg one way
Round trip: 54.2 kg / 119 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $11.55 $23.10
Mid-grade $4.26 $12.99 $25.98
Premium $4.63 $14.11 $28.21
Diesel $5.42 $16.52 $33.03

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 · Apr 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Tuscaloosa and Childersburg. The current time is 23:19:51.

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.