This 96.7-mile drive from Bisbee to Tucson, Arizona, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 59 minutes. You'll navigate primarily on the Tucson-Benson Highway and State Route 90, with a portion on Whetstone TI-Junction SR 80 Highway. With a fuel cost estimated at $19, it's an economical journey. This route stays within the Desert Southwest region, offering a consistent landscape. It's a straightforward drive, perfect for a morning departure to maximize your time in Tucson.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.4 miles from Bisbee, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tucson-Benson Highway
36.4 mi
37m
State Route 90
17.1 mi
20m
Whetstone TI-Junction SR 80 Highway
12.7 mi
15m
Huachuca Boulevard
9 mi
10m
AZ 80
6.7 mi
9m
State Route 90 Bypass
4.4 mi
6m
South Huachuca Boulevard
2.2 mi
3m
South Alvernon Way
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Tucson-Benson Highway
— 36.4 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bisbee, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on this road
86 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Moon Canyon
47 ft·4 sec·Moon Canyon
3
Turn right onto US 80 Hist
0.4 mi·1 min·Tombstone Canyon Road
4
Take the ramp onto Tombstone Canyon Road
0.3 mi·39 sec·Tombstone Canyon Road
5
Merge onto AZ 80
6.7 mi·9 min·AZ 80
6
Turn left onto AZ 90
12 mi·14 min·Whetstone TI-Junction SR 80 Highway
7
Continue on AZ 90
2.1 mi·2 min·State Route 90
8
Continue on AZ 90
1.0 mi·1 min·Whetstone TI-Junction SR 80 Highway
9
Turn right onto AZ 90
4.4 mi·6 min·State Route 90 Bypass
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on AZ 90
3.0 mi·3 min·State Route 90
11
Continue on AZ 90
2.2 mi·3 min·South Huachuca Boulevard
12
Continue on AZ 90
12 mi·13 min·State Route 90
13
Continue on AZ 90
9.0 mi·10 min·Huachuca Boulevard
14
Continue on AZ 90
1.3 mi·2 min·South State Highway 90
15
Turn left
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
16
Merge onto I 10
36 mi·37 min·Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 265Toward Alvernon Way NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto South Alvernon Way
1.3 mi·1 min·South Alvernon Way
Use the left lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto South Alvernon Way
0.8 mi·1 min·South Alvernon Way
Toward Alvernon Way
20
Turn left
0.2 mi·23 sec
21
Turn straight onto AZ 210
1.0 mi·1 min·East Barraza Aviation Highway
22
Turn right onto South Country Club Road
1.6 mi·3 min·South Country Club Road
23
Continue on North Country Club Road
91 ft·2 sec·North Country Club Road
Use the left lane.
24
Arrive at destination
North Country Club Road
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 1 hour and 59-minute drive, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits your schedule. Consider an early departure to beat any potential traffic entering Tucson. Since there are no designated stops in the data, you can make spontaneous breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially for the 36.4-mile stretch on the Tucson-Benson Highway, to ensure a smooth journey. The estimated fuel cost of $19 makes this a budget-friendly option.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.4 miles from Bisbee, AZ, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.4 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tucson, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bisbee, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bisbee, AZ
This is one driving day of about 96.7 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Bisbee, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Tucson-Benson Highway for about 36.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 91.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Moon Canyon
Turn left onto Moon Canyon
Navigation decision point
6
22.3 mi into trip|~30m in|AZ 90 / State Route 90 Bypass
Turn right onto AZ 90 / State Route 90 Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
54.2 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Turn left toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
5
54.8 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|I 10 / Tucson-Benson Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Tucson-Benson Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
91.1 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward Alvernon Way North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 265
Toward Alvernon Way North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.26 one way
$38.53 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$20.39
$40.77
premium
$5.59
$21.29
$42.57
diesel
$5.61
$21.35
$42.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29
0
$10.15
$4.64
Efficient EV
24.2
0
$8.46
$3.87
EV Truck/SUV
38.7
0
$13.54
$6.19
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bisbee, AZ
Night
in Bisbee on Saturday
Local time
11:03 PM
MST
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tucson, AZ
Night
in Tucson on Saturday
Local time
11:03 PM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 59m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Saguaro National Park
National Park
Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are pr...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
$25
near mile 86.7
Park Closure: Red Hills Visitor Center (TMD) theater closed for repairs
It was a journey of conquest filled with exploration, wonder - and cruelty. Inspired by tales of vast cities of gold, 339 European soldiers and over a thousand Aztec allies embarked on an epic journey...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 44% of it on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 36.4 miles along the Tucson-Benson Highway, providing a good opportunity to settle in. The road character shifts as you progress, transitioning between faster highway sections and more local road segments. It's not a demanding drive, but you'll notice the change in pace and surroundings as you approach your destination.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.4 mi on Tucson-Benson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Moon Canyon.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.7 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Moon Canyon): Navigation decision point; at 22.3 miles (AZ 90 / State Route 90 Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 54.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bisbee, AZ and Tucson, AZ, road signs point toward Tuscon and Alvernon Way North.
Tucson (TOO-sawn), also known as the "Old Pueblo", is the second-largest city in the state of Arizona and the county seat of Pima County in the Sonoran Desert. It is at a higher elevation than nearby Phoenix and is correspondingly cooler. Although with half a million residents it is smaller than the capital city, its cultural life is just as vibrant.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 96.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.4 miles on Tucson-Benson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Tucson, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Moon Canyon): Navigation decision point; at 22.3 miles (AZ 90 / State Route 90 Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 54.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Saguaro National Park and Coronado National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tucson, AZ before heading back.
