Deer Valley, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ is 205 miles and takes about 3h 44m via Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward drive. You'll primarily navigate surface roads, making it a good option if you prefer a less highway-intensive experience. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is well-suited for a same-day excursion.
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
102.5 miles from Deer Valley, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.6 mi
55m
Tucson-Benson Highway
41.4 mi
43m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
37.8 mi
38m
Black Canyon Freeway
17.1 mi
19m
Maricopa Freeway
16.3 mi
18m
State Route 90
14.9 mi
17m
Huachuca Boulevard
9.1 mi
10m
North Freeway
6.1 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.6 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Deer Valley, AZ and Sierra Vista, AZ.
1
Start on North 35th Avenue
37 ft·8 sec·North 35th Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Deer Valley Road
1.2 mi·2 min·West Deer Valley Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto North Black Canyon Highway
0.5 mi·55 sec·North Black Canyon Highway
4
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·47 sec·this road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 17
17 mi·19 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
6
Continue on I 17; US 60
16 mi·18 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 10
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 10
55 mi·55 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
6.1 mi·6 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
41 mi·43 min·Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 302Toward AZ 90 East: Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista
12
Turn right onto AZ 90
1.2 mi·1 min·South State Highway 90
13
Continue on AZ 90
9.1 mi·10 min·Huachuca Boulevard
14
Continue on AZ 90
12 mi·14 min·State Route 90
15
Continue on AZ 90
2.2 mi·3 min·North Huachuca Boulevard
16
Continue on AZ 90
3.0 mi·3 min·State Route 90
17
Continue on Buffalo Soldier Trail
0.4 mi·35 sec·Buffalo Soldier Trail
18
Continue on Buffalo Solder Trail
0.8 mi·1 min·Buffalo Solder Trail
19
Turn straight onto Buffalo Soldier Trail
0.3 mi·39 sec·Buffalo Soldier Trail
20
Turn left onto West Fry Boulevard
380 ft·9 sec·West Fry Boulevard
21
Continue on West Fry Boulevard
0.1 mi·19 sec·West Fry Boulevard
22
Turn left
59 ft·4 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 44m drive time, leaving Deer Valley in the morning allows ample time to reach Sierra Vista before dark. Plan for one stop along the way, perhaps near Casa Grande, to break up the drive and refuel if needed. The fuel cost is estimated at $42, so ensure you have enough before departing. Pay attention to the transition points between the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, and Tucson-Benson Highway, as these can signal changes in the road surface and speed limits.
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 102.5 miles from Deer Valley, AZ, or about 1h 50m 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 45 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.5 miles or 1h 50m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sierra Vista, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Deer Valley, 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 Deer Valley, AZ
This is one driving day of about 205 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Deer Valley, 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 205 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Deer Valley Road
Turn left onto West Deer Valley Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|North Black Canyon Highway
Turn right onto North Black Canyon Highway
Navigation decision point
5
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in|I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge onto I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
175.4 mi into trip|~3h 6m in
Take the exit toward AZ 90 East: Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 302
Toward AZ 90 East: Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista
5
205 mi into trip|~3h 44m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.33 one way
$72.65 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$38.90
$77.80
premium
$5.04
$40.69
$81.39
diesel
$4.80
$38.71
$77.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.5
0
$21.53
$9.84
Efficient EV
51.3
0
$17.94
$8.20
EV Truck/SUV
82
1
$28.70
$13.12
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Deer Valley, AZ
Late night
in Deer Valley on Sunday
Local time
1:16 AM
MST
Current temp
79°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
N 0 to 5 mph35% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 6:23PM PDT until July 18 at 8:30PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:44PM PDT until July 18 at 7:30PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Destination
Sierra Vista, AZ
Late night
in Sierra Vista on Sunday
Local time
1:16 AM
MST
Current temp
68°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
W 1 to 5 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 6:23PM PDT until July 18 at 8:30PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:44PM PDT until July 18 at 7:30PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
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
11 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
3h 44m 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
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
~23 min detour
$25
near mile 141.4
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 63.6
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...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 205
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly on surface roads, with highways making up 27% of the total distance. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of highway at 54.6 miles along the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. Expect a more rural cruising feel, especially after transitioning from highway segments to surface roads. The frequent exits on the highway portions might require your attention as you merge and diverge.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 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?
3/10
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 early in the drive near West Deer Valley Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 44m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Deer Valley Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,638 ft1,115 ft
Total Climb
3,603 ft
Total Descent
339 ft
Highest Point
4,638 ft
~205 mi in
Elevation Range
3,523 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Sierra Vista (Spanish: Mountain View) is a city in Southeast Arizona and the commercial hub of the region, making it a convenient base from which to explore the area. It is perhaps best known for historic Fort Huachuca, established in 1877 during the Apache Wars. Although still an active U.S. Army military base, its two military museums and historic cemetery are open to the general public.
The landscape around the city is typical for the Southwestern United States, and the nearby mountains and canyons can be explored on foot, by bike, or on horseback. Because it is a major stopover point on avian migration routes, the area is popular with avid birdwatchers and naturalists, and is known as the "Hummingbird Capital of America".
Top landmarks
•Fort Huachuca — military base in Arizona
•Fry Pioneer Cemetery — cemetery in Sierra Vista, Arizona
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 19 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: near the start (West Deer Valley Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Saguaro National Park, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Coronado National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Sierra Vista, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
