Sacaton Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Grand Canyon Village, AZ to Tucson, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 22m
Distance
344.2 mi
554 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$69
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
16 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 10m
★
6 AM
6h 22m
8 AM
6h 47m
10 AM
6h 31m
12 PM
6h 28m
3 PM
6h 32m
5 PM
6h 46m
8 PM
6h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grand Canyon Village, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Tucson, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 344.2-mile drive from the Grand Canyon Village to Tucson is a solid day trip, estimated to take around 6 hours and 22 minutes. You'll primarily be on the Arizona Veterans Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, and Williams–Grand Canyon–Cameron Highway. With a fuel cost estimated at $69 and a single recommended stop, it's a manageable journey within the Desert Southwest region. This route offers a practical way to transition between two distinct parts of Arizona, making it a convenient option for a single-day adventure.
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
172.1 miles from Grand Canyon Village, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Veterans Highway | 93 mi | 1h 33m |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.6 mi | 55m |
| Williams–Grand Canyon–Cameron Highway | 51.4 mi | 1h 3m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 38.4 mi | 42m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 37.8 mi | 38m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 28.6 mi | 28m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 16.3 mi | 18m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 5.8 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Arizona Veterans Highway
— 93 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grand Canyon Village, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on Forest Service Road 328A
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Forest Service Road 328A
2
Turn right onto Maswik Laundry Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Maswik Laundry Road
3
Continue on Aspen Road
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Aspen Road
4
At end of road, turn right
116 ft
·
10 sec
5
At end of road, turn right onto Village Loop Drive
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Village Loop Drive
6
Continue on Village Loop Drive
0.2 mi
·
52 sec
·
Village Loop Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Turn right onto Center Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Center Road
8
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 64
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
South Entrance Road
9
Continue on US 180; AZ 64
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Williams–Grand Canyon–Cameron Highway
10
Enter roundabout onto US 180; AZ 64
131 ft
·
4 sec
·
Williams–Grand Canyon–Cameron Highway
11
Continue on US 180; AZ 64
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Williams–Grand Canyon–Cameron Highway
12
Enter roundabout onto US 180; AZ 64
160 ft
·
5 sec
·
Williams–Grand Canyon–Cameron Highway
13
Continue on US 180; AZ 64
50 mi
·
59 min
·
Williams–Grand Canyon–Cameron Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the ramp onto I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist
15
Merge onto I 40
29 mi
·
28 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 17, AZ 89A: Phoenix, Flagstaff
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 17 South, AZ 89A: Sedona, Phoenix
18
Merge onto I 17; AZ 89A
93 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
19
Continue on I 17
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 17
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on I 17
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
22
Continue on I 17
28 mi
·
32 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 17; US 60
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 10
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 10
55 mi
·
55 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on I 10
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 258
Toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Turn straight onto North Freeway Road
159 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Freeway Road
29
Turn left onto West Congress Street
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
West Congress Street
30
Continue on West Broadway Boulevard
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
West Broadway Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
31
Turn left onto North Country Club Road
131 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Country Club Road
32
Arrive at destination
North Country Club Road
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour, 22-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility. While it's manageable as a single-day trip with only one recommended stop, pacing yourself is key. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 93-mile stretch on Arizona Veterans Highway, as services might be less frequent. The $69 fuel estimate should help you budget accordingly. Planning for a mid-day break around Casa Grande could break up the drive nicely.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 172.1 miles from Grand Canyon Village, AZ, or about 3h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93 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 76 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.1 miles or 3h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 15m
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 Grand Canyon Village, 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 Grand Canyon Village, AZ
This is one driving day of about 344.2 miles and 6h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Grand Canyon Village, 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 Arizona Veterans Highway for about 93 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
172 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 172.1 miles from Grand Canyon Village, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Arizona Veterans Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Sunset Point Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
McGuireville Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
McGuireville Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Parks Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Parks Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Sacaton Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Xpress Fuel Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pride Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.9 mi from route
Rest Area
1.8 mi from route
Rest Area
2.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
2.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.5 mi from route
Villago Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
1.8 mi from route
~5 min detour
mile 270.4
Casa Grande, Arizona
Hours: 5 am–11 pm
+15204218600
Visit websiteYavapai Point
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
Hours: Open 24 hours
+19286387888
Visit websiteArizona History Museum
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
mile 344.2
Tucson, Arizona
Hours: 10 am–3 pm
+15206285774
Visit websiteEnchanted Island Amusement Park
4.3
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
3.7 mi from route
~9 min detour
mile 221.3
Phoenix, Arizona
Hours: 11 am–4 pm
+16022541200
Visit websiteValley of the Moon
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~9 min detour
3.7 mi from route
~9 min detour
mile 344.2
Tucson, Arizona
+15203231331
Visit websitePioneer Living History Museum
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
mile 196.7
Phoenix, Arizona
Hours: 9 am–4 pm
+16234651052
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 340.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
At end of road, turn right
Navigation decision point
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Village Loop Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Village Loop Drive
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
AZ 64 / South Entrance Road
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 64 / South Entrance Road
Navigation decision point
6
87.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 17 South, AZ 89A: Sedona, Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 17 South, AZ 89A: Sedona, Phoenix
8
340.5 mi into trip
|
~6h 13m 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
$68.57 one way
$137.14 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
120 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $72.57 | $145.13 |
| premium | $5.59 | $75.76 | $151.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $76.00 | $151.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$69
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$94–$119
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
16 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Shops at Norterra - Tesla Supercharger
Phoenix, AZ
Tesla
16 DCFC
The Collective Sedona - Tesla Supercharger
Sedona, AZ
Tesla
14 DCFC
The Grand Hotel - Tesla Supercharger
Tusayan, AZ
Tesla
12 DCFC
Grand Canyon Brewing - Tesla Supercharger
Williams, AZ
Tesla
12 DCFC
Courtyard Marriott Flagstaff - Tesla Supercharger
Flagstaff, AZ
Tesla
12 DCFC
Shell Gas Station - Tesla Supercharger
New River, AZ
Tesla
10 DCFC
Shell & Subway Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger
Mayer, AZ
Tesla
8 DCFC
Grand Canyon Visitor Center (Grand Canyon, AZ)
Grand Canyon Village, AZ
Electrify America
6 DCFC
Tesla: 7
Electrify America: 4
RIVIAN_ADVENTURE: 2
eVgo Network: 1
Non-Networked: 1
CIRCLE_K: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 103.3 | 1 | $36.14 | $16.52 |
| Efficient EV | 86.1 | 0 | $30.12 | $13.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 137.7 | 1 | $48.19 | $22.03 |
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Origin
Grand Canyon Village, AZ
Evening in Grand Canyon Village on Saturday
Local time
6:15 PM
MST
Current temp
28°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tucson, AZ
Evening in Tucson on Saturday
Local time
6:15 PM
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
26 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 22m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Grand Canyon National Park
National Park
Entirely within the state of Arizona, the park encompasses 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. Located on the ancestral homelands of 11 present day Tribal Communities, Grand...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
$35
View on nps.gov
Montezuma Castle National Monument
National Monument
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
$10
near mile 130.6
View on nps.gov
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 344.2
View on nps.gov
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
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 273
View on nps.gov
Walnut Canyon National Monument
National Monument
Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived and traveled throughout Walnut Canyon’s dynamic landscape. Vibrant communities built their homes in the cliffs and farmed along the canyon’s rim. T...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
$25
near mile 95
View on nps.gov
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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
$10
near mile 130.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with only about 17% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 93 miles along the Arizona Veterans Highway. This suggests a more intimate driving experience, likely involving navigating through various local roads and potentially experiencing more frequent changes in scenery and speed compared to a pure interstate experience. The road character shifts as you move through different parts of Arizona, transitioning from the Grand Canyon area towards Tucson.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93 mi on Arizona Veterans 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 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 344.2 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Village Loop Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.1 miles (AZ 64 / South Entrance Road): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Grand Canyon Village, AZ and Tucson, AZ, road signs point toward Flagstaff and Phoenix.
Flagstaff
86.9 mi in
|
~1h 49m
Phoenix
87.3 mi in
|
~1h 50m
About the Cities
Starting in Grand Canyon Village, AZ
Full guide →The Grand Canyon is in northern Arizona, and is one of the great tourist attractions in the United States as well as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The massive canyon encompasses several distinct areas, most famous of which is Grand Canyon National Park, a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors to the national park have many options, including: the remote North Rim; the more accessible (and therefore more crowded) South Rim; parts of the canyon, such as Phantom Ranch or the Colorado River, upon which many boating trips are made. In addition, parts of the southwestern end of the canyon are within the borders of two Indian reservations: the Havasupai Indian Reservation and the Hualapai Indian Reservation (which includes the development known as Grand Canyon West).
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 6h 22m. Total distance: 344.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 22m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Tucson, 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: at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Village Loop Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.1 miles (AZ 64 / South Entrance Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Grand Canyon National Park, Montezuma Castle National Monument and Saguaro National Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tucson, AZ before the return drive.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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