The 35406 ZIP code is a standard-delivery Tuscaloosa ZIP on the north side of the Black Warrior River. It covers northern and northeastern Tuscaloosa from the Rice Mine Road and Northridge Road areas out toward Lake Tuscaloosa. The mailing city is Tuscaloosa, even though much of 35406 sits on the same side of the river as Northport. Delivery comes from the Tuscaloosa Main Post Office, according to a 2024 USPS Office of Inspector General report.
This guide explains where 35406 sits, its main roads, its city reservoirs, which school systems are involved and the address mix-ups that are common near the Northport line. It links to the full school directory and the parks and landmarks page instead of repeating them.
35406 ZIP code at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| ZIP type | Standard (street-delivery ZIP) |
| Accepted city name | Tuscaloosa, AL |
| Delivering unit | Tuscaloosa Main Post Office (USPS OIG, 2024) |
| County | Tuscaloosa County |
| Census ZCTA population estimate | 18,904 (ACS 2024 5-year, ZCTA 35406) |
| ZCTA land area | About 84.8 square miles (2010 ZCTA) |
| Neighboring ZIP areas | 35401 and 35404 (south), 35473 and 35476 (west), 35475 (north) |
Those figures describe the Census Bureau’s ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA) for 35406, an approximation built from census blocks, not the official USPS delivery area. Even so, they show what makes 35406 different. Its ZCTA covers the most land of Tuscaloosa’s standard ZIPs but has the smallest population estimate of the four. Much of that area lies north and east of the built-up city, toward the city reservoirs.
Where 35406 sits on the map
On the Census ZCTA outline, 35406 starts just north of the river, next to 35401 and Northport’s 35476. From there it runs north and northeast in a long band toward Lake Tuscaloosa. Northport’s 35473 lies along its western side, and the large 35475 area wraps around to the north. The guide to reading the Tuscaloosa and Northport ZIP code map shows the outline and explains why its edges are approximate.
Being north of the river surprises many newcomers. A home off Rice Mine Road or Northridge Road can be a short drive from Northport and still have a Tuscaloosa 35406 address.
Main roads and corridors in 35406
Northridge Road
Northridge Road is the area’s school corridor. Verner Elementary (2701), Northridge High (2901) and Northridge Middle (3811) all have Northridge Road addresses, and Northridge Park with its Buddy Powell Pavilion is at 4205. “Northridge” is used locally as an area name, but it has no published boundary, and the schools’ attendance zones are set separately.
Rice Mine Road
Rice Mine Road (County Road 30) runs along the north bank between 5th Street in Northport and the Paul W. Bryant Bridge, with an interchange at US 82. Randall Family Park, the trailhead for the Northern Riverwalk, is at 201 Rice Mine Road Loop in 35406. Tuscaloosa Academy is on Rice Valley Road North, a nearby road with a similar name.
Watermelon Road and Rock Quarry Drive
Watermelon Road (County Road 47) runs toward the Northport line. New Watermelon Road leads to Rock Quarry Landing, the city boat launch on Lake Tuscaloosa at 2230 New Watermelon Road. Rock Quarry Drive is home to Rock Quarry Elementary (2000) and PARA’s Rock Quarry Park (2200).
Bridges into 35406
Two river crossings bring traffic from the south side. The Woolsey Finnell Bridge carries US 82 (McFarland Boulevard) to the Rice Mine Road interchange. The Paul W. Bryant Bridge carries AL-297 from Jack Warner Parkway to Rice Mine Road. The commute and bridges guide covers both, including the Woolsey Finnell replacement project.
Lakes and reservoirs in 35406
The City of Tuscaloosa’s Lakes Division manages three city reservoirs, and parts of all three are associated with 35406. Its office is at 3650 Lake Nicol Road, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406, but that is an administrative office, not a visitor attraction.
- Lake Tuscaloosa was completed in 1970 by damming the North River. It is the city’s primary drinking-water source. Its shoreline runs through several ZIPs, including 35406, 35473 and 35475.
- Lake Nicol (1954) is the backup water supply, a City of Tuscaloosa reservoir in north Tuscaloosa. Neither the City nor Visit Tuscaloosa publishes a street address or ZIP for it. Some third-party listings place it in 35406 and one shows 35405; neither is USPS-verified.
- Harris Lake (1929) is surrounded by protected park land, according to the City. It has no published street address; some sources list it in 35406, but that ZIP is not USPS-verified.
Docks and other structures on city property along the lakes need a Lakes Division permit. Lakefront buyers should read the guide to Lake Tuscaloosa ZIP codes and public access before assuming a shoreline address is in 35406.
City limits and the 35406 zip code
The places checked for this guide, including the Northridge Road schools, Rock Quarry Drive, Randall Family Park and Rock Quarry Landing, fall inside Tuscaloosa city limits according to Tuscaloosa County’s unified 911 address-point data. The ZCTA, however, stretches far beyond the most built-up part of the city, and county data was not checked address by address across the outer areas. Check a specific property with the City of Tuscaloosa’s Zone Lookup.
Near Watermelon Road, the city line and the postal line don’t match. Sokol Park South at 5901 Watermelon Road has a Northport 35473 mailing address, yet county data places it inside Tuscaloosa city limits. Sokol Park North, at 6198 Watermelon Road, is listed by PARA as Tuscaloosa 35406 on one page and Northport 35473 on another. The explainer on mailing addresses versus city limits goes through more examples like these.
Schools in 35406: summary
Every public school building in 35406 belongs to Tuscaloosa City Schools: Rock Quarry Elementary, Verner Elementary, Northridge Middle and Northridge High. Two private schools also have 35406 addresses, Tuscaloosa Academy and North River Christian Academy. No Tuscaloosa County School System campus is located in the ZIP.
Because 35406 extends beyond the city, some homes with this ZIP may be zoned to county schools in other ZIPs. Check an address in both the Tuscaloosa City Schools zoning map and the county’s Infofinder tool, linked from TCSS Student Services. The directory of schools located in 35406 has addresses, grades and the feeder pattern.
Parks and landmarks: summary
Notable public places include Randall Family Park and the Northern Riverwalk trailhead, Northridge Park, Rock Quarry Park, Rock Quarry Landing, Sexton Park and the Paul W. Bryant Bridge, along with the reservoirs above. The list of parks, landmarks and community places in 35406 covers addresses, operators and background.
Address tips for 35406
- Use “Tuscaloosa, AL 35406” even if the property is close to Northport. Northport mailing addresses use 35473, 35475 or 35476.
- University of Alabama institutional mail uses 35487, not 35406, and many UA street addresses are 35401.
- Confirm any ZIP+4 or unusual address with the USPS ZIP Code Lookup.
Frequently asked questions
Is 35406 in Tuscaloosa or Northport?
35406 is a Tuscaloosa ZIP code. It lies north of the river next to Northport, but its accepted mailing city is Tuscaloosa and the Tuscaloosa Main Post Office delivers it.
Does Lake Tuscaloosa have one ZIP code?
No. The lake spans several ZIP areas. Rock Quarry Landing is in 35406, while Sharpes Landing has a Northport 35473 mailing area and Binion Creek Landing is in 35475.
Are there county schools in 35406?
No Tuscaloosa County School System campus has a 35406 address, but some 35406 homes outside city limits may be zoned to county schools elsewhere.
Facts in this guide were checked against the sources below on October 10, 2026. Addresses, programs and boundaries can change; confirm with the official source before relying on them.
Sources
- USPS Office of Inspector General — Tuscaloosa Main Post Office report 24-125-3-R24 (accessed October 10, 2026)
- USPS — ZIP Code Lookup (accessed October 10, 2026)
- U.S. Census Bureau — ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Tuscaloosa County — City and County Unified Address Points (911 GIS) (accessed October 10, 2026)
- City of Tuscaloosa — Zone Lookup (city limits) (accessed October 10, 2026)
- City of Tuscaloosa — Lakes Division (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Tuscaloosa City Schools — Our Schools (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Tuscaloosa City Schools — Zoning map (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Tuscaloosa County School System — Student Services (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Tuscaloosa Academy — Official site (accessed October 10, 2026)
- North River Christian Academy — Official site (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority — Sokol Park North (accessed October 10, 2026)
- City of Tuscaloosa — Park venues (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Census Reporter — ZCTA 35406 profile (ACS 2024 5-year) (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Visit Tuscaloosa — Lake Nicol (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Visit Tuscaloosa — Harris Lake (accessed October 10, 2026)
- AARoads — US 82 West, Tuscaloosa (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Wikipedia — Alabama State Route 297 (accessed October 10, 2026)
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