Origin
Rio Rico, AZ
Morning in Rio Rico on Tuesday
Local time
8:56 AM
MST
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rio Rico, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 12m
Distance
174 mi
280 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 0m
★
6 AM
3h 12m
8 AM
3h 36m
10 AM
3h 20m
12 PM
3h 18m
3 PM
3h 21m
5 PM
3h 34m
8 PM
3h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rio Rico, AZ
Bruno Scramgnon
Scottsdale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Rio Rico to Scottsdale is 174 miles and takes about 3h 12m via Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arizona, traversing the Desert Southwest region from start to finish. Expect a driving experience that involves frequent turns and local road segments, rather than a continuous interstate cruise. With a drive time under four hours and a relatively low fuel cost, this route is very manageable for a single day. It’s a straightforward journey that gets you from point A to point B without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
87 miles from Rio Rico, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.5 mi | 55m |
| Nogales–Tucson Highway | 52 mi | 57m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 38.1 mi | 38m |
| Price Freeway | 10.5 mi | 12m |
| South Freeway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| Pima Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Santan Freeway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Rio Rico Drive | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rio Rico, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ.
1
Start on this road
204 ft
·
20 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Yeso Court
290 ft
·
15 sec
·
Yeso Court
3
Turn right onto Avenida Leon
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenida Leon
4
At end of road, turn right onto Avenida Coatimundi
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Avenida Coatimundi
5
At end of road, turn right onto Pendleton Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pendleton Drive
6
Turn left onto Rio Rico Drive
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Rio Rico Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
8
Merge onto I 19
52 mi
·
57 min
·
Nogales–Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
10
Merge onto I 10
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
51 mi
·
51 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 10
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 161A-B
Toward AZ 202 Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 161B
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
Use the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Santan Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit onto Price Freeway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Price Freeway
Exit 50A
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
Use the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Use the slight right lane.
21
Turn left onto East Chaparral Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Chaparral Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
22
Turn left
64 ft
·
4 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a single-day drive of just over 3 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Rio Rico in the morning will allow you to arrive in Scottsdale with plenty of daylight remaining. While the longest stretch is 54.5 miles, the overall drive is broken up by various road segments, so you won't be on one continuous highway for too long. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading out, as the $35 fuel cost is an estimate, and the turn-heavy nature of the drive can influence consumption. The single recommended stop suggests planning for a brief break around the halfway point.
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 87 miles from Rio Rico, AZ, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 38 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87 miles or 1h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scottsdale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rio Rico, 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 Rio Rico, AZ
This is one driving day of about 174 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Rio Rico, 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 Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 54.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 87 miles from Rio Rico, 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 64.7 and 172.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
64.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
153.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 46m in
Take the exit toward AZ 202 Loop
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A-B
Toward AZ 202 Loop
8
153.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 202 Loop East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 161B
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
7
157.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 51m in
|
Price Freeway
Take the exit onto Price Freeway toward AZ 101 Loop North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 50A
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
7
172.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 9m in
Take the exit toward Chaparral Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.66 one way
$69.33 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $36.68 | $73.37 |
| premium | $5.59 | $38.30 | $76.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.42 | $76.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.2 | 0 | $18.27 | $8.35 |
| Efficient EV | 43.5 | 0 | $15.23 | $6.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.6 | 0 | $24.36 | $11.14 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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
Scottsdale, AZ
Morning in Scottsdale on Tuesday
Local time
8:56 AM
MST
Current temp
83°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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 12m 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.
Tumacácori National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Tumacácori sits at a cultural crossroads in the Santa Cruz River valley. Here O’odham, Yaqui, and Apache people met and mingled with European Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries, settlers, and soldiers...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
$10
near mile 12
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 126.1
View on nps.gov
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...
13 mi from route
~34 min detour
$25
near mile 54
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 presents a turn-heavy local drive, with only 14% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a mix of road types, including segments of the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway and the Nogales–Tucson Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 54.5 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. Be prepared for a driving experience that requires more attention to navigation and speed adjustments due to the frequent transitions between different road types and local traffic.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.5 mi on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 64.7 miles in near I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 174 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 64.7 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 153.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 153.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Scottsdale, AZ
Full guide →Founded 1894
Scottsdale is a city in the state of Arizona. Scottsdale is home to many galleries, high quality resorts, and golf courses. It is also one of the wealthier parts of the Phoenix Metro Area.
Top landmarks
- • Taliesin West — Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and school, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
- • Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art — art museum
- • Little Red Schoolhouse — now used as the Scottsdale Historical Museum, NRHP-listed
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 3h 12m. Total distance: 174 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.5 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Scottsdale, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 64.7 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 153.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 153.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Tumacácori National Historical Park, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Saguaro National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Scottsdale, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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