Atlanta to Tuscaloosa drive: Distance, time & best stops

Planning an Atlanta to Tuscaloosa road trip itinerary

The Atlanta to Tuscaloosa drive takes you from the capital of Georgia to an Alabama university town.

Atlanta played a massive part in the Civil Rights movement, and a black history and civil rights tour is pretty much a must-do.

For more Atlanta experiences, try a sightseeing trolley tour for orientation and overview. Or a guided bike ride to get a better feel for the neighbourhoods.

Other Atlanta favourites include the World of Coca Cola, Midtown food and cocktail tours and multi-brewery beer tours.

Tuscaloosa is home to the University of Alabama, with many of the top attractions linked to the university. The Paul W. Bryant Museum is a celebration of football and the Alabama Museum of Natural History covers fossils and dinosaur skeletons. The period-furnished Gorgas House Museum, meanwhile, dates back to 1829.

A Tuscaloosa multi attraction pass is arguably worth the investment if you’re planning to cram in several attractions in a short stay.

Atlanta to Tuscaloosa distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Atlanta to Tuscaloosa is 202 miles. That makes for a driving time of around three hours and nine minutes. The quickest route is along the I-20.

The best stops to add to an Atlanta to Tuscaloosa road trip itinerary are the Talladega National Forest, Birmingham AL and Alabama Adventure and Splash Adventure.

Atlanta to Tuscaloosa drive: Talladega National Forest

The vast Talladega National Forest was set up to protect new growth pine trees after the timber industry devastated the originals. The best way of exploring is on the 29 mile Talladega Scenic Drive, which starts down state route 281 near Heflin.

This scenic drive packs in several lookouts, and climbs to 2,407ft with magical views of the Appalachian Mountains. There are several waterfalls near the route, should you wish to park up and go for a walk.

Atlanta to Tuscaloosa road trip attractions: Birmingham AL

Birmingham, Alabama, has a rich civil rights heritage. This is best explored on a civil rights tour which links the key sites and, crucially, puts them into context. Other Birmingham experiences include ghost walks and multi-brewery beer tours.

For museums, you’ve got the McWane Science Center, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark and more. 

If planning to visit several of them, a Birmingham Area Multi-Attraction Pass will save you money.

The top-rated Birmingham accommodation picks are the Drury Inn and Suites Birmingham Grandview and the TownePlace Suites by Marriott Birmingham South.

Best stops between Atlanta and Tuscaloosa: Alabama Adventure and Splash Adventure

Alabama Adventure and Splash Adventure is an amusement park and water park rolled into one. In Bessemer AL, this theme park’s strength is the water park section. There are several big slides, plus a water maze and a lazy river.

The amusement park rides are very much at the kiddy end of the scale – don’t go expecting big thrill rollercoasters with multiple inversions here.

The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Photo by 12019/ Pixabay.

More Atlanta road trips

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More Tuscaloosa road trips

Tuscaloosa to Birmingham | Tuscaloosa to Huntsville | Nashville to Tuscaloosa.