Traveling from Florence to Tucson is a straightforward 69.5-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 36 minutes. This desert drive is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. Budgeting approximately $14 for fuel will cover your transit through the heart of the Desert Southwest. Since the distance is relatively short, you have the flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal schedule. It is a practical, efficient route that connects two distinct hubs within Arizona while maintaining a consistent regional feel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.8 miles from Florence, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pinal Pioneer Parkway
35.9 mi
41m
North Oracle Road
14 mi
21m
South Pinal Parkway Avenue
6.2 mi
8m
Tucson-Globe Highway
3.2 mi
4m
North Country Club Road
3 mi
6m
North 1st Avenue
1.9 mi
3m
North Campbell Avenue
1.5 mi
3m
East River Road
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Pinal Pioneer Parkway
— 35.9 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florence, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on North Main Street
42 ft·8 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
0.5 mi·1 min·East Butte Avenue
3
Turn right onto AZ 79
6.2 mi·8 min·South Pinal Parkway Avenue
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist
36 mi·41 min·Pinal Pioneer Parkway
5
Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist
0.4 mi·29 sec·State Route 79
6
Turn right onto AZ 77; US 80 Hist
3.2 mi·4 min·Tucson-Globe Highway
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on AZ 77
14 mi·21 min·North Oracle Road
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto West Orange Grove Road
0.8 mi·1 min·West Orange Grove Road
9
Turn right onto North 1st Avenue
1.9 mi·3 min·North 1st Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto East River Road
1.2 mi·2 min·East River Road
11
Turn right onto North Campbell Avenue
1.5 mi·3 min·North Campbell Avenue
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto East Fort Lowell Road
1.0 mi·1 min·East Fort Lowell Road
13
Turn right onto North Country Club Road
3.0 mi·6 min·North Country Club Road
14
Continue on North Country Club Road
182 ft·15 sec·North Country Club Road
15
Arrive at destination
North Country Club Road
Trip Plan
Because this is a manageable 1.5-hour drive, you don't need to worry about intensive, multi-day planning or complex stop schedules. Since there are no mandatory stops built into this 69.5-mile itinerary, you can easily adjust your pace to suit your needs. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will be quite minimal at roughly $14, making this an economical trip to execute. Before heading out, check your vehicle’s fluids and tire pressure, as the desert heat can be demanding on your engine during the longer highway stretches. Flexibility is your greatest asset here; feel free to leave whenever you are ready to make the quick transition between these two Arizona cities.
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 34.8 miles from Florence, AZ, or about 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.9 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 15 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.8 miles or 41m 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 16m
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 Florence, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Florence, AZ
This is one driving day of about 69.5 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Florence, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pinal Pioneer Parkway for about 35.9 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 0.5 and 65.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|AZ 79 / South Pinal Parkway Avenue
Turn right onto AZ 79 / South Pinal Parkway Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
42.9 mi into trip|~51m in|AZ 77; US 80 Hist / Tucson-Globe Highway
Turn right onto AZ 77; US 80 Hist / Tucson-Globe Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
60.8 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|North 1st Avenue
Turn right onto North 1st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
64 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|North Campbell Avenue
Turn right onto North Campbell Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
65.5 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|East Fort Lowell Road
Turn left onto East Fort Lowell Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.85 one way
$27.69 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$14.65
$29.30
premium
$5.59
$15.30
$30.60
diesel
$5.61
$15.34
$30.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.8
0
$7.30
$3.34
Efficient EV
17.4
0
$6.08
$2.78
EV Truck/SUV
27.8
0
$9.73
$4.45
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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 15, 2026
Origin
Florence, AZ
Late night
in Florence on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tucson, AZ
Late night
in Tucson on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
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
35 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
1h 36m 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.
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...
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 69.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused route consists of 61% highway driving, blending stretches of open road with local transition zones. You will navigate primarily via the Pinal Pioneer Parkway, North Oracle Road, and South Pinal Parkway Avenue as you head south. The longest uninterrupted segment covers 35.9 miles on the Pinal Pioneer Parkway, providing a steady rhythm for your drive. Expect the road character to evolve from the rural stretches near Florence into the more suburban transition of North Oracle Road as you approach Tucson. Maintaining focus is key during the longer highway portions where the landscape remains consistent.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.9 mi on Pinal Pioneer Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pinal Pioneer Parkway and North Oracle Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near AZ 79 / South Pinal Parkway Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 36m 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: at 0.5 miles (AZ 79 / South Pinal Parkway Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.9 miles (AZ 77; US 80 Hist / Tucson-Globe Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 60.8 miles (North 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 35.9 miles on Pinal Pioneer Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 0.5 miles (AZ 79 / South Pinal Parkway Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.9 miles (AZ 77; US 80 Hist / Tucson-Globe Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 60.8 miles (North 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Saguaro National Park. 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.
