Trip from Quartzsite, AZ to Tucson, AZ

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 20m

Distance

245.2 mi

395 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 7m ★

6 AM

4h 21m

8 AM

4h 47m

10 AM

4h 30m

12 PM

4h 27m

3 PM

4h 31m

5 PM

4h 46m

8 PM

4h 13m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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town in La Paz County, Arizona, United States

Quartzsite, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States

Tucson, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 245.2-mile drive from Quartzsite to Tucson, Arizona, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes to complete. You'll primarily travel on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, and Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, with about 16% of the route on highways. Expect a fuel cost of around $49 for this journey through the Desert Southwest. The overall feel of this trip is more of a turn-heavy local drive than a high-speed interstate cruise, making it manageable for a day trip with just one recommended stop. It's a straightforward connection within Arizona, suitable for those who prefer a more grounded driving experience.

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

122.6 miles from Quartzsite, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 7m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway	107.3 mi	1h 48m
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway	54.6 mi	55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway	37.8 mi	38m
Papago Freeway	24.2 mi	27m
Maricopa Freeway	12.3 mi	14m
North Freeway	3.6 mi	4m
West Broadway Boulevard	2.9 mi	6m
West Main Street	0.7 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway — 107.3 mi, about 1h 48m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Quartzsite, AZ and Tucson, AZ.

Start on Oldham Lane

41 ft · 8 sec · Oldham Lane

Turn left onto I 10 BUS; US 95

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

Turn left onto I 10 BUS; US 95

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Quartzsite Boulevard

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Merge onto I 10

107 mi · 1 hr 48 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

20 mi · 22 min · Papago Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

0.5 mi · 35 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

Continue on I 10

3.2 mi · 3 min · Papago Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

1.2 mi · 1 min · Papago Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 10; US 60

12 mi · 14 min · Maricopa Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

38 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

55 mi · 55 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

3.6 mi · 4 min · North Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 44 sec

Exit 258 Toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto North Freeway Road

159 ft · 4 sec · North Freeway Road

Turn left onto West Congress Street

0.3 mi · 56 sec · West Congress Street

Continue on West Broadway Boulevard

2.9 mi · 6 min · West Broadway Boulevard

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn left onto North Country Club Road

131 ft · 8 sec · North Country Club Road

Arrive at destination

North Country Club Road

Trip Plan

Given the 4-hour and 20-minute duration, this route is comfortably achievable as a single-day trip from Quartzsite to Tucson. To make the most of your drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential midday heat in the Desert Southwest. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to break the journey, though planning a fuel stop around the 107.3-mile mark on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway might be practical. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition between highway and local road segments, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably.

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 122.6 miles from Quartzsite, AZ, or about 2h 7m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.3 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 54 miles or 55m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 122.6 miles or 2h 7m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 30m

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 Quartzsite, 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 Quartzsite, AZ

This is one driving day of about 245.2 miles and 4h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Quartzsite, 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 107.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

seat of Maricopa County, largest city in, and capital of, the State of Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Phoenix, AZ

123 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

Buckeye, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Maryvale, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 122.6 miles from Quartzsite, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

2.3 mi from route

Service Plaza

2.5 mi from route

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Tempe, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+14805657081

Visit website

Arizona History Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Tucson, Arizona

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+15206285774

Visit website

Valley of the Moon

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

Home stretch 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Tucson, Arizona

+15203231331

Visit website

Villago Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

Final third 4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour

Casa Grande, Arizona

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+15204218600

Visit website

Sundance Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

Halfway reset 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour

Buckeye, Arizona

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

Visit website

Tempe Festival of the Arts

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

Halfway reset 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour

Tempe, Arizona

+14803556060

Visit website

Enchanted Island Amusement Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

Halfway reset 5 mi from route ~12 min detour

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–4 pm

+16022541200

Visit website

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 0.9 and 241.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

1.1 mi into trip | ~2m 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.

132 mi into trip | ~2h 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.

133.2 mi into trip | ~2h 19m 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.

241.5 mi into trip | ~4h 11m 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

$43.45 one way

$86.90 round trip

$4.50/gal 25.4 MPG avg 86 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.82	$46.53	$93.06
premium	$5.04	$48.67	$97.35
diesel	$4.80	$46.30	$92.60

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$43

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 85.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	73.6	0	$25.75	$11.77
Efficient EV	61.3	0	$21.46	$9.81
EV Truck/SUV	98.1	1	$34.33	$15.69

Gas CO2

86 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

Quartzsite, AZ

Late night in Quartzsite on Sunday

Local time

3:25 AM

MST

Current temp

82°F

Partly Cloudy

SSE 5 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Destination

Tucson, AZ

Late night in Tucson on Sunday

Local time

3:25 AM

MST

Current temp

72°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SE 3 mph 15% chance 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

10 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 20m 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...

10 mi from route ~25 min detour $25 near mile 245.2

Park Closure: Red Hills Visitor Center (TMD) theater closed for repairs

View on nps.gov

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...

12 mi from route ~29 min detour Free near mile 177.6

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' so don't expect a monotonous interstate experience. While 16% of the journey is on highways, the majority involves more varied road conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 107.3 miles on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, offering a good segment of consistent travel. As you progress, the road will likely shift between these highway portions and more local road segments, requiring your attention for turns and varying speed limits. This dynamic character means you'll experience a bit of everything behind the wheel.

Only 16% 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: 107.3 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 0.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 245.2 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 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 132 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,481 ft 878 ft

Total Climb

2,236 ft

Total Descent

634 ft

Highest Point

Halfway reset 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Goodyear, AZ

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Starbucks

Cafe

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Goodyear, AZ

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Restaurant

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Visit website

Cheba Hut

Fast_food

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Cuisine: sandwich

Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00

Visit website

BoSa Donuts

Fast_food

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Goodyear, AZ

Cuisine: donut

T Rocks

Attraction

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Quartzsite, AZ

Washington Mini Park Site

Park

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Eloy, AZ

Central Park

Park

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Eloy, AZ

Tempe Municipal Stadium

Park

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Tuhavi Park

Park

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Monument

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

University Inn Tucson

Motel

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Oasis Motel (Rodeway Inn)

Motel

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

About the Cities

Starting in Quartzsite, AZ

Full guide →

Founded 1989

Quartzsite is a former mining town in La Paz County, Arizona. In 2020, it hosted a permanent population of 2,400 people, but during the balmy winters from December to February the population explodes to well over 100,000 as RV campers descend in droves in recreational vehicles to camp on the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Lands surrounding the town. Quartzite is also well known for gem shows, which draw over a million visitors yearly.

Top landmarks

• Hi Jolly Monument — grave in Quartzsite, Arizona

Arriving in Tucson, AZ

Full guide →

Founded 1775

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

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 4h 20m. Total distance: 245.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 20m 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 107.3 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 36 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.

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 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Tucson, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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