Mohave Valley, AZ to Tucson, AZ is 351.8 miles and takes about 6h 37m via Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway and Route 95, with a fuel budget near $70 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip traverses the Desert Southwest region of Arizona, offering a direct path between two points within the state. Given the drive's profile, expect a local road experience with frequent turns rather than a high-speed interstate journey. It's a route best suited for those who prefer a more involved driving experience and don't mind navigating through towns and varied road conditions. Planning for this drive means acknowledging the terrain and the nature of the roads you'll be on.
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
175.9 miles from Mohave Valley, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
104.7 mi
1h 45m
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.6 mi
55m
Route 95
47.4 mi
55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
37.8 mi
38m
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
30.9 mi
35m
Papago Freeway
24.2 mi
27m
Aqueduct Road
16.5 mi
24m
Maricopa Freeway
12.3 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 104.7 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mohave Valley, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on Winter Haven Drive
10 ft·1 sec·Winter Haven Drive
2
Turn right onto Calle del Media
276 ft·14 sec·Calle del Media
3
Turn right onto Valley Parkway
0.4 mi·1 min·Valley Parkway
4
Turn slight left onto Cimarron Boulevard
0.2 mi·46 sec·Cimarron Boulevard
5
At end of road, turn left onto AZ 95
4.5 mi·6 min·Mohave Valley Highway
6
Continue on AZ 95
1.2 mi·2 min·Harbor Avenue
7
Continue on North K Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North K Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto Front Street
465 ft·14 sec·Front Street
9
Turn right onto J Street
0.3 mi·37 sec·J Street
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·15 sec
11
Merge onto I 40; US 95
0.8 mi·52 sec·Needles Freeway
12
Take the exit onto US 95
0.3 mi·22 sec·US 95
Toward US 95 South: East Broadway, Blythe
13
Turn right onto US 95; US 66 Hist
47 mi·55 min·Route 95
14
Turn left onto CA 62
16 mi·24 min·Aqueduct Road
15
Turn right onto CA 62
0.4 mi·46 sec·CA 62
16
Continue on AZ 95 Truck
1.7 mi·3 min·California Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on AZ 95
11 mi·13 min·Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
18
Continue on AZ 95
20 mi·22 min·Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
19
Continue on AZ 95
3.1 mi·3 min·North Central Boulevard
20
Turn left onto I 10 BUS
1.0 mi·2 min·East Main Street
21
Turn right onto I 10 Bus
0.2 mi·22 sec·Riggles Road
22
Take the ramp onto I 10 Business
0.5 mi·1 min·I 10 Business
23
Merge onto I 10
105 mi·1 hr 45 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 10
20 mi·22 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·35 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
26
Continue on I 10
3.2 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.2 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Merge onto I 10; US 60
12 mi·14 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on I 10
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on I 10
55 mi·55 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on I 10
3.6 mi·4 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 258Toward Congress Street, Broadway BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Turn straight onto North Freeway Road
159 ft·4 sec·North Freeway Road
34
Turn left onto West Congress Street
0.3 mi·56 sec·West Congress Street
35
Continue on West Broadway Boulevard
2.9 mi·6 min·West Broadway Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
36
Turn left onto North Country Club Road
131 ft·8 sec·North Country Club Road
37
Arrive at destination
North Country Club Road
Trip Plan
With a 6h 37m estimated duration, this drive is manageable in a single day. It's advisable to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight hours and allow ample time for navigation, especially given the 'turn-heavy' nature of the route. You'll encounter Route 95 and the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, so familiarize yourself with these road names beforehand. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without significant breaks is over 100 miles, and fuel stops might be less frequent in certain areas. Budgeting around $70 for fuel is a good estimate for this 351.8-mile journey.
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 175.9 miles from Mohave Valley, AZ, or about 3h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.7 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 77 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 175.9 miles or 3h 28m 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 31m
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 Mohave 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 Mohave Valley, AZ
This is one driving day of about 351.8 miles and 6h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 miles from Mohave 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 Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 104.7 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 348.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~2m in|AZ 95 / Mohave Valley Highway
At end of road, turn left onto AZ 95 / Mohave Valley Highway
Navigation decision point
5
7.1 mi into trip|~13m in|J Street
Turn right onto J Street
Navigation decision point
5
8.4 mi into trip|~15m in|US 95
Take the exit onto US 95 toward US 95 South: East Broadway, Blythe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 95 South: East Broadway, Blythe
6
238.6 mi into trip|~4h 35m 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.
8
348.1 mi into trip|~6h 28m 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
$70.08 one way
$140.17 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg123 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$74.17
$148.34
premium
$5.59
$77.44
$154.88
diesel
$5.61
$77.67
$155.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.5
1
$36.94
$16.89
Efficient EV
88
1
$30.78
$14.07
EV Truck/SUV
140.7
1
$49.25
$22.52
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Mohave Valley, AZ
Evening
in Mohave Valley on Saturday
Local time
6:13 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tucson, AZ
Evening
in Tucson on Saturday
Local time
6:13 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
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
6h 37m 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.
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 351.8
Park Closure: Red Hills Visitor Center (TMD) theater closed for repairs
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
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 279
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a significant portion of local roads, with only 26% on highways. The drive is characterized as 'turn-heavy,' so be prepared for frequent adjustments in direction and speed. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 104.7 miles along the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before you transition back to more varied road segments. You'll likely experience a mix of open desert driving and passages through smaller communities, requiring constant attention to navigation and road signs.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.7 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial 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 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near AZ 95 / Mohave Valley Highway.
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 351.8 miles you will encounter 18 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 0.6 miles (AZ 95 / Mohave Valley Highway): Navigation decision point; at 7.1 miles (J Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.4 miles (US 95): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 37m. Total distance: 351.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 37m 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 104.7 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 37 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.
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. There are 37 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (AZ 95 / Mohave Valley Highway): Navigation decision point; at 7.1 miles (J Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.4 miles (US 95): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Saguaro National Park and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.3 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.
