Parker, AZ to Tucson, AZ is 278 miles and takes about 4h 59m via Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward drive through varied desert landscapes. Given its manageable length, you can comfortably complete this route in a single day. It's a practical option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two points without a lengthy overnight commitment.
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
139 miles from Parker, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m 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
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
37.8 mi
38m
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
30.9 mi
35m
Papago Freeway
24.2 mi
27m
Maricopa Freeway
12.3 mi
14m
North Freeway
3.6 mi
4m
North Central Boulevard
3.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 104.7 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Parker, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on AZ 95
0.8 mi·1 min·California Avenue
2
Continue on AZ 95
11 mi·13 min·Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
3
Continue on AZ 95
20 mi·22 min·Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
4
Continue on AZ 95
3.1 mi·3 min·North Central Boulevard
5
Turn left onto I 10 BUS
1.0 mi·2 min·East Main Street
6
Turn right onto I 10 Bus
0.2 mi·22 sec·Riggles Road
7
Take the ramp onto I 10 Business
0.5 mi·1 min·I 10 Business
8
Merge onto I 10
105 mi·1 hr 45 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
20 mi·22 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·35 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
11
Continue on I 10
3.2 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.2 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 10; US 60
12 mi·14 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 10
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 10
55 mi·55 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 10
3.6 mi·4 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 258Toward Congress Street, Broadway BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto North Freeway Road
159 ft·4 sec·North Freeway Road
19
Turn left onto West Congress Street
0.3 mi·56 sec·West Congress Street
20
Continue on West Broadway Boulevard
2.9 mi·6 min·West Broadway Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Turn left onto North Country Club Road
131 ft·8 sec·North Country Club Road
22
Arrive at destination
North Country Club Road
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from Parker in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon heat. With a duration of under 5 hours, this route is easily manageable in one day, so you have flexibility with stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer 104.7-mile stretch on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, as services might be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $55 should help you budget accordingly for this drive.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 139 miles from Parker, AZ, or about 2h 27m 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 61 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139 miles or 2h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 3m
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 Parker, 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 Parker, AZ
This is one driving day of about 278 miles and 4h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Parker, 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 34.8 and 274.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
34.8 mi into trip|~40m in|I 10 BUS / East Main Street
Turn left onto I 10 BUS / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
36.5 mi into trip|~44m in|I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
164.7 mi into trip|~2h 57m 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.
5
166 mi into trip|~2h 58m in|I 10; US 60 / Maricopa Freeway
Merge onto I 10; US 60 / Maricopa Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
274.3 mi into trip|~4h 50m 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
$49.26 one way
$98.53 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$52.75
$105.51
premium
$5.04
$55.18
$110.37
diesel
$4.80
$52.49
$104.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.4
1
$29.19
$13.34
Efficient EV
69.5
0
$24.33
$11.12
EV Truck/SUV
111.2
1
$38.92
$17.79
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Parker, AZ
Night
in Parker on Saturday
Local time
11:58 PM
MST
Current temp
81°F
Partly Cloudy
ENE 3 to 8 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:18PM MST until July 17 at 9:15PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:14PM PDT until July 17 at 9:45PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Destination
Tucson, AZ
Night
in Tucson on Saturday
Local time
11:58 PM
MST
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 3 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:18PM MST until July 17 at 9:15PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:14PM PDT until July 17 at 9:45PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
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
9 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
4h 59m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 210.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 278 miles, with 15% on highways and the remainder on surface roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 104.7 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway before transitioning to surface roads like Casa Grande-Tucson Highway and Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. Expect a less intense driving experience, with more opportunities to notice local scenery due to the prevalence of surface roads.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 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?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 34.8 miles in near I 10 BUS / East Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 278 miles you will encounter 7 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 34.8 miles (I 10 BUS / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 36.5 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 164.7 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Top landmarks
•Pima Air & Space Museum — aerospace museum in Tucson, Arizona, USA
•Arizona State Museum — museum in Arizona, United States
•Rialto Theatre — theater and concert venue in Tucson, Arizona, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 59m. Total distance: 278 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (15%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 34.8 miles (I 10 BUS / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 36.5 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 164.7 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Saguaro National Park and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 10.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Tucson, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
