Traveling from Phoenix to South Tucson covers 114.9 miles across the Desert Southwest. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 4 minutes behind the wheel, making this a straightforward day trip that doesn’t require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via South 1st Avenue, West Madison Street, and South 1st Street rather than sticking to major interstates. With a fuel budget of approximately $22, this is an affordable excursion for those looking to traverse the region. Since you are staying within Arizona, the transition between these two desert hubs remains consistent throughout the journey. It is a practical route for anyone prioritizing a local, turn-heavy driving experience over high-speed highway travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.4 miles from Phoenix, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.6 mi
55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
37.8 mi
38m
Maricopa Freeway
14 mi
16m
North Freeway
4.6 mi
5m
South 7th Street
0.9 mi
2m
West 22nd Street
0.7 mi
1m
South 6th Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
East Lincoln Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.6 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Phoenix, AZ and South Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on West Washington Street
322 ft·18 sec·West Washington Street
2
Turn left onto South 1st Avenue
436 ft·9 sec·South 1st Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Keep slight left at fork onto South 1st Avenue
350 ft·14 sec·South 1st Avenue
4
Turn left onto West Madison Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·West Madison Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto South 1st Street
0.3 mi·55 sec·South 1st Street
6
Turn left onto East Lincoln Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East Lincoln Street
7
Turn right onto South 7th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·South 7th Street
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto East Maricopa Freeway
290 ft·8 sec·East Maricopa Freeway
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 17 South, US 60 EastUse the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 17; US 60
14 mi·16 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 10
55 mi·55 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 10
4.6 mi·5 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 259Toward 22nd Street - 29th Street, Starr Pass Boulevard, Silverlake RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on South Freeway Road
377 ft·8 sec·South Freeway Road
16
Turn left onto West 22nd Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West 22nd Street
17
Turn right onto US 80 Hist
0.5 mi·57 sec·South 6th Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
US 80 Hist
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 4-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time to avoid peak local traffic. Since the route consists entirely of local roads without dedicated highway stretches, ensure your vehicle is ready for frequent stops and turns. Budget roughly $22 for fuel to cover the full distance comfortably. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily complete it in a single day, allowing you to spend more time at your destination in South Tucson. A helpful tip for this specific route is to keep a reliable navigation app running, as the turn-heavy nature of the local streets makes it easy to miss a turn if you aren't paying close attention.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57.4 miles from Phoenix, AZ, or about 1h 3m 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 25 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.4 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Tucson, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Phoenix, 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 Phoenix, AZ
This is one driving day of about 114.9 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Phoenix, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 0.1 and 113.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South 1st Avenue
Turn left onto South 1st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South 1st Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto South 1st Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
2 mi into trip|~5m in|East Maricopa Freeway
Turn left onto East Maricopa Freeway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
2 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 17 South, US 60 East
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 17 South, US 60 East
8
113.2 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward 22nd Street - 29th Street, Starr Pass Boulevard, Silverlake Road
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 259
Toward 22nd Street - 29th Street, Starr Pass Bo...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.89 one way
$45.78 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$24.22
$48.45
premium
$5.59
$25.29
$50.58
diesel
$5.61
$25.37
$50.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.5
0
$12.06
$5.52
Efficient EV
28.7
0
$10.05
$4.60
EV Truck/SUV
46
0
$16.09
$7.35
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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 13, 2026
Origin
Phoenix, AZ
Evening
in Phoenix on Saturday
Local time
7:47 PM
MST
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny
WSW 0 to 10 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 7:45PM MST until April 13 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Destination
South Tucson, AZ
Evening
in South Tucson on Saturday
Local time
7:47 PM
MST
Current temp
55°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
25 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 4m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 43.6
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
$25
near mile 114.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by its turn-heavy local nature, as the route maintains a 0% highway share throughout the entire 114.9-mile distance. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, you will find yourself navigating city streets and local roads that demand your full attention. Because the longest stretch of road is effectively 0 miles on South 1st Avenue, you should anticipate constant maneuvering and frequent turns. The character of the drive remains consistent from start to finish, offering a hands-on experience behind the wheel. Prepare for an engaging, albeit technical, drive that keeps you focused on the road ahead rather than coasting at high speeds.
Only 16% 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?
5/10
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 around 0.1 miles in near South 1st Avenue.
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 114.9 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: at 0.1 miles (South 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (South 1st Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2 miles (East Maricopa Freeway): Lane positioning matters here.
Phoenix is the capital of the state of Arizona, the most populous city in the American Southwest. Warm and sunny winter weather have ensured a thriving tourism industry, and the city has become the region's primary political, cultural, economic, and transportation center. Phoenix is extremely hot and dry in the summertime, so always have sunscreen with you! It had about 1,625,000 residents in 2021, and is the fifth largest city in the United States.
Top landmarks
•Arizona State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Arizona
•Phoenix Art Museum — art museum in Phoenix, Arizona
•St. Mary's Basilica — Roman Catholic church in Phoenix, Arizona
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 114.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (16%). 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 54.6 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (South 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (South 1st Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2 miles (East Maricopa Freeway): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Saguaro National 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 South Tucson, AZ before heading back.
