How far is Tuscaloosa, AL from Goodwater, AL?

The driving distance from Tuscaloosa, AL to Goodwater, AL is about 111.7 miles (179.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 23m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 88.2 miles (142 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 46m 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
111.66 mi
02h 23m
Flight
88.27 mi
142.05 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
88.27 mi
Kilometers
142.05 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
111.66 mi
Kilometers
179.7 km
Drive Time
02h 23m

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 02h 23m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Goodwater
Sat, Apr 18, 9:40 AM CDT
Return by in Tuscaloosa
Sat, Apr 18, 12:03 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Tuscaloosa
2026-04-18T07:17
Arrive Goodwater
Sat, Apr 18, 9:40 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 23m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:23 AM to 12:23 PM CDT

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

Leave by
1:44 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
Vestavia Hills
AL

City in Jefferson and Shelby counties, Alabama, United States

From Tuscaloosa
55.8 mi
01h 11m
To Goodwater
55.9 mi
01h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW
Destination
86°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    24.8 mi · 32 min

  15. 15

    Turn left onto West Fort Williams Street

    1.5 mi · 2 min · West Fort Williams Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto South Broadway Avenue

    1.1 km · 48 sec · South Broadway Avenue

  17. 17

    Continue on Rockford Highway

    155 m · 12 sec · Rockford Highway

  18. 18

    Turn left

    74 m · 11 sec

  19. 19

    Turn straight onto Goodwater Highway

    8.8 mi · 15 min · Goodwater Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on County Road 511

    2.8 mi · 5 min · County Road 511

  21. 21

    Continue on Sylacauga Street

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Sylacauga Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Railroad Place

Car Route Details

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

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
6 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 · 34%
United States Highway 280
37.4 mi · 34%
John M. Harbert III Freeway
19.1 mi · 17%
Goodwater Highway
8.77 mi · 8%
County Road 511
2.81 mi · 3%
Sylacauga Street
2.17 mi · 2%
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
02h 23m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.5 mi
88.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Vestavia Hills
01h 11m from Tuscaloosa
Leave By
1:44 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Tuscaloosa and Mostly Sunny near Goodwater.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 111.7 miles (179.7 km) and usually takes 02h 23m 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?

Vestavia Hills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 55.8 miles from Tuscaloosa and 55.9 miles from Goodwater.

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

The direct path is about 88.2 miles (142 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.5 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 1:44 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.92 one way or $29.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 35 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Tuscaloosa and Mostly Sunny near Goodwater.

Stop Ideas Near Vestavia Hills

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

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

RAIL

Birmingham

7 mi away
1819 Morris Ave.
BUS

Brent, AL

65 mi away
10393 Alabama Highway 5
RAIL

Tuscaloosa

77 mi away
2105 Greensboro Ave
RAIL

Anniston

91 mi away
126 West 4th St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Tuscaloosa and Goodwater. Straight-line distance: 88.27 mi (142.05 km).

Tuscaloosa

#1 Tuscaloosa

The most populous city in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.

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

#2 Goodwater

City in Alabama, USA

Population1,288
Coordinates33.0656700, -86.0533000
Altitude256
CountryUnited States
Start: Tuscaloosa (-87.56917, 33.20984)
End: Goodwater (-86.0533, 33.06567)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 180 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 47m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 51m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.94 gal
14.92 L · about $14.92
Round trip
$29.84
7.88 gal · 29.84 L
Estimated CO2
35 kg one way
Round trip: 70 kg / 154 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $14.92 $29.84
Mid-grade $4.26 $16.78 $33.56
Premium $4.63 $18.22 $36.45
Diesel $5.42 $21.34 $42.67

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Tuscaloosa and Goodwater. The current time is 07:17:11.

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.