Spanning 142.7 miles through the heart of the Desert Southwest, this journey from Maryvale to Sahuarita is a straightforward drive that typically takes about 2 hours and 38 minutes. You will primarily navigate via the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, and the Nogales–Tucson Highway. Given the manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. With fuel costs estimated at around $28, it remains an economical way to travel between these two Arizona locations. Expect a practical, no-nonsense trip that keeps you moving efficiently through the desert landscape.
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
71.3 miles from Maryvale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.6 mi
55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
37.8 mi
38m
Nogales–Tucson Highway
16 mi
19m
Maricopa Freeway
12.3 mi
14m
Papago Freeway
9.3 mi
10m
North Freeway
5.4 mi
6m
North 51st Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
West Sahuarita Road
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.6 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maryvale, AZ and Sahuarita, AZ.
1
Start on North 55th Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·North 55th Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Indian School Road
0.5 mi·1 min·West Indian School Road
3
Turn right onto North 51st Avenue
2.3 mi·4 min·North 51st Avenue
4
Turn left
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward I 10 East: TucsonUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 10
4.9 mi·5 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·35 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
7
Continue on I 10
3.2 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.2 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 10; US 60
12 mi·14 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
Because this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal schedule. You will only need to account for one planned stop to keep your trip on track and your energy levels up. Keep that $28 fuel budget in mind when filling up, as prices can fluctuate significantly between the Phoenix metro area and the outskirts of Sahuarita. Since the route involves a mix of highway and local driving, try to tackle the longest 54.6-mile stretch during daylight hours for better visibility. Planning your single stop around the midpoint of the journey is a smart way to break up the technical driving sections and ensure a smooth arrival.
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 71.3 miles from Maryvale, AZ, or about 1h 19m 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 31 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.3 miles or 1h 19m 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 5m
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 Maryvale, 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 Maryvale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 142.7 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Maryvale, 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 140.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.2 mi into trip|~6m in
Turn left toward I 10 East: Tucson
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
5
3.7 mi into trip|~7m in|I 10 / Papago Freeway
Merge onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
12.2 mi into trip|~17m in|I 10 / Papago Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
123.6 mi into trip|~2h 13m 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
140.1 mi into trip|~2h 33m 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
$28.43 one way
$56.86 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$30.08
$60.17
premium
$5.59
$31.41
$62.82
diesel
$5.61
$31.51
$63.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.8
0
$14.98
$6.85
Efficient EV
35.7
0
$12.49
$5.71
EV Truck/SUV
57.1
0
$19.98
$9.13
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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
Maryvale, AZ
Night
in Maryvale on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sahuarita, AZ
Night
in Sahuarita on Saturday
Local time
9:27 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
41 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 38m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you transition between major corridors. While only 19% of your journey is spent on highways, the experience shifts significantly from the faster, open stretches to more technical segments. Your longest uninterrupted portion is a 54.6-mile run on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, providing the most consistent pace of the entire trip. Because the remainder of the route involves navigating tighter local roads, you should prepare for a varied driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate grind. Stay alert as the road character changes, ensuring you adjust your speed to match the local road conditions.
Only 19% 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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.2 miles in.
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 142.7 miles you will encounter 9 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 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 142.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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: at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sahuarita, AZ before heading back.
