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Trip from Black Canyon City, AZ to Tucson, AZ

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 57m

Distance

161.7 mi

260 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$32

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 47m ★
6 AM
2h 58m
8 AM
3h 20m
10 AM
3h 6m
12 PM
3h 3m
3 PM
3h 7m
5 PM
3h 19m
8 PM
2h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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census designated place in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States

Black Canyon City, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States

Tucson, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 161.7-mile drive from Black Canyon City, AZ, to Tucson, AZ, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 57 minutes. You'll primarily navigate on the Black Canyon Freeway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, and Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, with about 36% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this desert Southwest journey is around $32. Given its relatively short duration, it's perfect for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. The landscape offers a mixed drive experience, making it a straightforward and efficient route between these two Arizona cities.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

80.8 miles from Black Canyon City, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway 54.6 mi 55m
Black Canyon Freeway 38.4 mi 42m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway 37.8 mi 38m
Maricopa Freeway 16.3 mi 18m
North Freeway 3.6 mi 4m
North Black Canyon Highway 3.2 mi 3m
West Broadway Boulevard 2.9 mi 6m
South Old Black Canyon Highway 1.9 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Casa Grande-Tucson Highway — 54.6 mi, about 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Black Canyon City, AZ and Tucson, AZ.

1

Start on East Palm Lane

0.1 mi · 29 sec · East Palm Lane
2

Turn left onto South Old Black Canyon Highway

1.9 mi · 3 min · South Old Black Canyon Highway
3

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 38 sec · this road
4

Merge onto I 17

1.7 mi · 1 min · Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5

Continue on I 17

10 mi · 10 min · Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Continue on I 17

3.2 mi · 3 min · North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
7

Continue on I 17

28 mi · 32 min · Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I 17; US 60

16 mi · 18 min · Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on I 10

38 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 10

55 mi · 55 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on I 10

3.6 mi · 4 min · North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 44 sec
Exit 258 Toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Turn straight onto North Freeway Road

159 ft · 4 sec · North Freeway Road
14

Turn left onto West Congress Street

0.3 mi · 56 sec · West Congress Street
15

Continue on West Broadway Boulevard

2.9 mi · 6 min · West Broadway Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
16

Turn left onto North Country Club Road

131 ft · 8 sec · North Country Club Road
17

Arrive at destination

North Country Club Road

Trip Plan

For this 161.7-mile journey, departing in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and arrive in Tucson with ample time. With a duration of under three hours, you won't need to split this trip, giving you flexibility. You'll have one primary stop recommended, which should be sufficient for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 54.6-mile stretch on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, as services can be spaced out in this desert region. The estimated fuel cost of $32 is a good budget to keep in mind.

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.8 miles from Black Canyon City, AZ, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 36 miles or 40m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 80.8 miles or 1h 29m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 22m

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 Black Canyon City, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Black Canyon City, AZ

This is one driving day of about 161.7 miles and 2h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Black Canyon City, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 54.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tempe, AZ

81 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Tempe, AZ to Tucson, AZ

112.4 mi · 2h 5m

Pacing Suggestions

Maryvale, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Casa Grande, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 80.8 miles from Black Canyon City, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · home stretch

Cafe Desta

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Tucson, Arizona

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch · 0min to go 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15203707000

Visit website

Rainforest Cafe

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Tempe, Arizona

2.4 mi

Coronet Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Tucson, Arizona

2.7 mi

Cafe Desta

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Tucson, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15203707000

Visit website

Rainforest Cafe

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30

Tempe, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14807529100

Visit website

Coronet Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

Tucson, Arizona

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+15204445243

Visit website

Otro Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

Early stretch 5 mi from route ~12 min detour $20 to $30

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 8 am–9 pm

+16022660831

Visit website

Arizona Science Center

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 10:30 am–4 pm

+16027162000

Visit website

Arizona History Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Tucson, Arizona

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+15206285774

Visit website

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Tempe, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+14805657081

Visit website

Dorrance DOME

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 10:30 am–4 pm

Visit website

Enchanted Island Amusement Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–4 pm

+16022541200

Visit website

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

Early stretch 3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 2–9 pm

+16234015867

Visit website

Valley of the Moon

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

Home stretch 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Tucson, Arizona

+15203231331

Visit website

Hurricane Harbor Phoenix

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

First break 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Glendale, Arizona

Hours: Closed

+16232012000

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

3 of 3

3 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 158 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Old Black Canyon Highway

Turn left onto South Old Black Canyon Highway

Navigation decision point

3
2.3 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 17 / Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway

Merge onto I 17 / Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining

8
158 mi into trip | ~2h 48m in

Take the exit toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 258 Toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$32.21 one way

$64.43 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 57 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $34.09 $68.18
premium $5.59 $35.59 $71.19
diesel $5.61 $35.70 $71.40

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$32

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 56.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 48.5 0 $16.98 $7.76
Efficient EV 40.4 0 $14.15 $6.47
EV Truck/SUV 64.7 0 $22.64 $10.35

Gas CO2

57 kg

EV CO2

19 kg (67% 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 18, 2026

Origin

Black Canyon City, AZ

Late night in Black Canyon City on Tuesday

Local time

1:13 AM

MST

Current temp

87°F

Sunny

NE 7 to 17 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Tucson, AZ

Late night in Tucson on Tuesday

Local time

1:13 AM

MST

Current temp

83°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

4 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 57m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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

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...

10 mi from route ~25 min detour $25 near mile 161.7
View on nps.gov
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

National Monument

An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour Free near mile 89.2
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

The drive presents a mixed profile, with a significant portion, 36%, on highways. You'll encounter the Black Canyon Freeway and the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, which offer a more direct, faster pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 54.6 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, allowing for a good period of steady travel. While not a purely monotonous interstate experience, expect a blend of efficient highway driving and segments that might feel more local as you approach your destination.

36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.6 mi on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Old Black Canyon Highway.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Black Canyon City, AZ to Tucson, AZ is easy. At 2h 57m with 36% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Old Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 17 / Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 158 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

About the Cities

Arriving in Tucson, AZ

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 161.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (36%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 54.6 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Old Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 17 / Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 158 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Saguaro National Park and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. 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.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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