Origin
Phoenix, AZ
Evening in Phoenix on Saturday
Local time
7:44 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Phoenix, AZ to Tucson, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 9m
Distance
116 mi
187 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 0m
★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 27m
10 AM
2h 16m
12 PM
2h 14m
3 PM
2h 16m
5 PM
2h 26m
8 PM
2h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Phoenix, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Tucson, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling between Phoenix and Tucson covers 118.1 miles through the heart of the Desert Southwest. Expect an estimated drive time of 1 hour and 51 minutes, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Since the journey is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you have a packed itinerary at your destination. Budget approximately $23 for fuel to complete the trip. Because you are traveling within the same desert region, you will notice consistent arid landscapes throughout the transition between these two major Arizona cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58 miles from Phoenix, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m 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 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| West Broadway Boulevard | 2.9 mi | 6m |
| South 7th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| East Lincoln Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West Congress Street | 0.3 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 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 East
Use 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
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 258
Toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn straight onto North Freeway Road
159 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Freeway Road
16
Turn left onto West Congress Street
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
West Congress Street
17
Continue on West Broadway Boulevard
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
West Broadway Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn left onto North Country Club Road
131 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Country Club Road
19
Arrive at destination
North Country Club Road
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 118.1-mile route, it is best to plan your departure for a time when local traffic is light to ensure a smoother experience. Because the drive is short, you have the flexibility to leave early or late in the day without feeling rushed. Since there are no scheduled stops in this data, you should handle your fuel and rest needs before you head out, keeping that $23 budget in mind for a full tank. Focus your attention on the local signage along South 1st Avenue and West Madison Street, as the lack of highway travel means you will be making frequent turns throughout the duration of the trip.
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 58 miles from Phoenix, AZ, or about 1h 4m 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 26 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58 miles or 1h 4m 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 42m
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 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 116 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58 miles from Phoenix, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 112.3 — 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
112.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 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
$23.11 one way
$46.22 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $24.46 | $48.91 |
| premium | $5.59 | $25.53 | $51.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.61 | $51.22 |
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: 40.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.8 | 0 | $12.18 | $5.57 |
| Efficient EV | 29 | 0 | $10.15 | $4.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.4 | 0 | $16.24 | $7.42 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
Tucson, AZ
Evening in Tucson on Saturday
Local time
7:44 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
39 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 9m 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.
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 116
Park Closure: Red Hills Visitor Center (TMD) theater closed for repairs
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 44
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. You will navigate using South 1st Avenue, West Madison Street, and South 1st Street to reach your destination. With a highway share of 0%, this route lacks the monotony of long, straight stretches of pavement. In fact, there is no single long stretch, as the longest segment remains 0 miles on South 1st Avenue. Prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention on local surface roads rather than passive highway driving.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 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 10 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 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 116 miles you will encounter 10 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,481 ft
1,088 ft
Total Climb
1,514 ft
Total Descent
121 ft
Highest Point
2,481 ft
~116 mi in
Elevation Range
1,393 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Phoenix, AZ
Full guide →Founded 1868
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
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 2h 9m. Total distance: 116 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 — Saguaro National Park and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. 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 Tucson, AZ before heading back.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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