Traveling from Goodyear to Sahuarita covers 147.9 miles, a journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 46 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $29 on fuel for the trek. You will navigate through the heart of the Desert Southwest, transitioning between the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas. It serves as a straightforward connection across the Arizona landscape, perfect for those looking to reach their destination efficiently. Since the entire route stays within Arizona, you will experience a consistent regional climate and terrain throughout the drive.
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
74 miles from Goodyear, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.6 mi
55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
37.8 mi
38m
Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway
19.6 mi
22m
Nogales–Tucson Highway
16 mi
19m
West Buckeye Road
8.9 mi
13m
North Freeway
5.4 mi
6m
West Sahuarita Road
2.1 mi
3m
East Western Avenue
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.6 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Goodyear, AZ and Sahuarita, AZ.
1
Start on South Litchfield Road
8 ft·4 sec·South Litchfield Road
2
Turn right onto East Western Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·East Western Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
At end of road, turn right onto South Dysart Road
495 ft·17 sec·South Dysart Road
4
Turn left onto US 80 Hist
8.9 mi·13 min·West Buckeye Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto South 59th Avenue
446 ft·7 sec·South 59th Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop South
7
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
20 mi·22 min·Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 55A-BToward I 10: Phoenix, TucsonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 55BToward I 10 East: TucsonUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 10
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
55 mi·55 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 10
5.4 mi·6 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·37 sec
Exit 260Toward I 19 South: NogalesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 19
16 mi·19 min·Nogales–Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
Exit 75Toward Sahuarita RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto West Sahuarita Road
2.1 mi·3 min·West Sahuarita Road
17
Continue on East Sahuarita Road
403 ft·16 sec·East Sahuarita Road
18
Arrive at destination
East Sahuarita Road
Trip Plan
Plan for at least one stop to break up the nearly three-hour drive, as the shift from major freeways to local roads can be tiring. Since the route is manageable in a single day, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when transitioning between the major highway segments and the more rural local stretches. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, stay alert during the local road segments where navigation changes occur more frequently. Aiming for a mid-morning departure can help you avoid the heaviest traffic periods near the metropolitan hubs at either end of your journey.
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 74 miles from Goodyear, AZ, or about 1h 24m 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 33 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74 miles or 1h 24m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sahuarita, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Goodyear, 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 Goodyear, AZ
This is one driving day of about 147.9 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Goodyear, 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 0 and 145.4 — 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|East Western Avenue
Turn right onto East Western Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
30 mi into trip|~39m in
Take the exit toward I 10: Phoenix, Tucson
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 55A-B
Toward I 10: Phoenix, Tucson
8
30.2 mi into trip|~39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 East: Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 55B
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
7
128.9 mi into trip|~2h 21m in
Take the exit toward I 19 South: Nogales
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 260
Toward I 19 South: Nogales
7
145.4 mi into trip|~2h 41m in
Take the exit toward Sahuarita Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 75
Toward Sahuarita Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.46 one way
$58.93 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$31.18
$62.36
premium
$5.59
$32.56
$65.11
diesel
$5.61
$32.65
$65.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.4
0
$15.53
$7.10
Efficient EV
37
0
$12.94
$5.92
EV Truck/SUV
59.2
0
$20.71
$9.47
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 19, 2026
Origin
Goodyear, AZ
Night
in Goodyear on Saturday
Local time
9:26 PM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sahuarita, AZ
Night
in Sahuarita on Saturday
Local time
9:26 PM
MST
Current temp
52°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
36 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 46m 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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 61.2
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$25
near mile 127.5
Tumacácori sits at a cultural crossroads in the Santa Cruz River valley. Here O’odham, Yaqui, and Apache people met and mingled with European Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries, settlers, and soldiers...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
$10
near mile 147.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that requires your full attention as you transition off the major freeways. While you will utilize the Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway and the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, only 17% of your total mileage is spent on highways. The remainder of the trip relies on local roads, including the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, which hosts your longest uninterrupted stretch of 54.6 miles. This mix creates a varied driving experience that shifts from high-speed corridors to more technical, localized sections. Be prepared for a road personality that demands more engagement than a standard interstate cruise.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 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?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Western Avenue.
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 147.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 (East Western Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 30 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Goodyear, AZ to Sahuarita, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Tucson along the way.
Tucson
30 mi in|~39m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 147.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
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.
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 Sahuarita, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Western Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 30 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Saguaro National Park and Tumacácori National Historical 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 Sahuarita, AZ before heading back.
