Clarkdale to Tucson is 222.5 miles and takes about 4h 9m via Casa Grande-Tucson Highway and Arizona Veterans Highway, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward path between two points. With a high percentage of surface roads, expect a more grounded experience compared to a pure interstate trip. It's a manageable distance for a single day, making it ideal if you want to get to your destination without an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
111.2 miles from Clarkdale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.6 mi
55m
Arizona Veterans Highway
41 mi
40m
Black Canyon Freeway
38.4 mi
42m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
37.8 mi
38m
Maricopa Freeway
16.3 mi
18m
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
12.1 mi
20m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5.8 mi
5m
North Freeway
3.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.6 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clarkdale, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on US 89A Historic
0.3 mi·26 sec·Main Street
2
Turn straight onto US 89A Historic
1.6 mi·2 min·South Broadway
3
Continue on US 89A Historic
1.5 mi·2 min·North Main Street
4
Enter roundabout onto US 89A Historic
88 ft·1 sec·North Main Street
5
Continue on US 89A Historic
2.0 mi·3 min·North Main Street
6
Continue on AZ 260
420 ft·5 sec·South Main Street
7
Continue on AZ 260
4.6 mi·7 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
8
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
166 ft·7 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
9
Continue on AZ 260
0.8 mi·1 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
10
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
158 ft·6 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
11
Continue on AZ 260
2.1 mi·2 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
12
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
191 ft·8 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
13
Continue on AZ 260
0.8 mi·1 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
14
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
198 ft·8 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
15
Continue on AZ 260
1.0 mi·1 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
16
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
152 ft·2 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
17
Continue on AZ 260
1.1 mi·2 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
18
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
104 ft·4 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
19
Continue on AZ 260
1.2 mi·2 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
20
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
155 ft·6 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
21
Continue on AZ 260
0.4 mi·45 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
22
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Use the slight right lane.
23
Merge onto I 17
41 mi·40 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
24
Continue on I 17
5.8 mi·5 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 17
10 mi·10 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Continue on I 17
3.2 mi·3 min·North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
27
Continue on I 17
28 mi·32 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on I 17; US 60
16 mi·18 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on I 10
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on I 10
55 mi·55 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on I 10
3.6 mi·4 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 258Toward Congress Street, Broadway BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Turn straight onto North Freeway Road
159 ft·4 sec·North Freeway Road
34
Turn left onto West Congress Street
0.3 mi·56 sec·West Congress Street
35
Continue on West Broadway Boulevard
2.9 mi·6 min·West Broadway Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
36
Turn left onto North Country Club Road
131 ft·8 sec·North Country Club Road
37
Arrive at destination
North Country Club Road
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, leaving Clarkdale in the morning is a good plan, allowing you to reach Tucson with ample daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with stops. Plan for one significant stop, possibly around the 54.6-mile mark on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, to break up the drive. Keep an eye on fuel levels, especially as you transition to surface roads, and note that your estimated fuel cost is around $43. The Arizona Veterans Highway is a key segment to be aware of for navigation.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 111.2 miles from Clarkdale, AZ, or about 2h 9m 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 49 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.2 miles or 2h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 23m
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 Clarkdale, 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 Clarkdale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 222.5 miles and 4h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Clarkdale, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 218.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.4 mi into trip|~6m in|US 89A Historic / North Main Street
Enter roundabout onto US 89A Historic / North Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
10.1 mi into trip|~17m in|AZ 260 / Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260 / Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
10.9 mi into trip|~18m in|AZ 260 / Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260 / Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
17.6 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
218.8 mi into trip|~4h 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
$45.37 one way
$90.73 round trip
$5.18/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.48
$48.04
$96.08
premium
$5.74
$50.24
$100.48
diesel
$6.18
$54.13
$108.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.8
0
$23.36
$10.68
Efficient EV
55.6
0
$19.47
$8.90
EV Truck/SUV
89
1
$31.15
$14.24
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Clarkdale, AZ
Late night
in Clarkdale on Tuesday
Local time
5:08 AM
MST
Current temp
77°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
E 1 to 6 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tucson, AZ
Late night
in Tucson on Tuesday
Local time
5:08 AM
MST
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
SE 5 mph6% chanceLive 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
12 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
4h 9m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Tuzigoot National Monument
National Monument
Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs that well up from the ancient sedimentary ro...
Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff...
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 222.5
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
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 153.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features 26% highway driving, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch without a major road change is 54.6 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface roads relatively early in your drive. The profile is mostly surface roads, so you'll notice more local traffic and potentially more frequent intersections as you approach populated areas.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
37 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?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in near US 89A Historic / North Main Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 9m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles (US 89A Historic / North Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 10.1 miles (AZ 260 / Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 10.9 miles (AZ 260 / Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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.
Top landmarks
•Pima Air & Space Museum — aerospace museum in Tucson, Arizona, USA
•Arizona State Museum — museum in Arizona, United States
•Rialto Theatre — theater and concert venue in Tucson, Arizona, United States
Mostly surface roads 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 — we found about 20 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 3.4 miles (US 89A Historic / North Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 10.1 miles (AZ 260 / Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 10.9 miles (AZ 260 / Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes — Tuzigoot National Monument, Montezuma Castle National Monument and Saguaro National Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Tucson, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
