Traveling between Scottsdale and Tucson covers a distance of 122.7 miles through the heart of the Desert Southwest. Expect to spend approximately 1 hour and 52 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You will navigate a path that utilizes East Chaparral Road, AZ 101, and the Pima Freeway to exit the metropolitan area. Budgeting about $24 for fuel should be sufficient for the trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because the total duration is under two hours, you do not need to worry about booking an overnight stay; it is easily manageable as a quick round trip. This route offers a straightforward connection between two of Arizona’s major population hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.3 miles from Scottsdale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.6 mi
55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
37.8 mi
38m
Price Freeway
9.4 mi
10m
Pima Freeway
4.9 mi
5m
North Freeway
3.6 mi
4m
Santan Freeway
3.1 mi
3m
West Broadway Boulevard
2.9 mi
6m
East Chaparral Road
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.6 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsdale, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on this road
64 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
0.6 mi·1 min·East Chaparral Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
4
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
4.9 mi·5 min·Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
9.4 mi·10 min·Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 61BToward AZ 202 Loop WestUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
3.1 mi·3 min·Santan Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·41 sec
Exit 55A-BToward I 10 West: Tucson, Phoenix
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi·1 min
Exit 55BToward I 10 East: TucsonUse the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
55 mi·55 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 10
3.6 mi·4 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 258Toward Congress Street, Broadway BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto North Freeway Road
159 ft·4 sec·North Freeway Road
15
Turn left onto West Congress Street
0.3 mi·56 sec·West Congress Street
16
Continue on West Broadway Boulevard
2.9 mi·6 min·West Broadway Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Turn left onto North Country Club Road
131 ft·8 sec·North Country Club Road
18
Arrive at destination
North Country Club Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. You won't need to worry about planning formal rest stops given the 1 hour and 52-minute duration, allowing you to drive straight through if you prefer. Keep in mind that since the route is entirely local, traffic density can fluctuate significantly; checking local road conditions before you head out is a smart way to ensure a smooth transition. Ensure your tank is ready for the $24 fuel cost before you leave Scottsdale to avoid unnecessary stops along the way. Your best approach is to treat this as a direct, efficient connection that gets you from point A to point B without the need for complex travel logistics.
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 60.3 miles from Scottsdale, AZ, or about 1h 5m 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 27 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.3 miles or 1h 5m 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 44m
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 Scottsdale, 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 Scottsdale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 120.5 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Scottsdale, 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 116.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
15.3 mi into trip|~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 202 Loop West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 61B
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
6
19.3 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: Tucson, Phoenix
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 55A-B
Toward I 10 West: Tucson, Phoenix
8
19.8 mi into trip|~23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 55B
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
8
116.8 mi into trip|~2h 3m 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
$24.01 one way
$48.01 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$25.40
$50.81
premium
$5.59
$26.52
$53.05
diesel
$5.61
$26.60
$53.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.2
0
$12.65
$5.78
Efficient EV
30.1
0
$10.54
$4.82
EV Truck/SUV
48.2
0
$16.87
$7.71
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Scottsdale, AZ
Late night
in Scottsdale on Tuesday
Local time
2:26 AM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Clear
NNE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tucson, AZ
Late night
in Tucson on Tuesday
Local time
2:26 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
29 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
2h 12m 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.
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 120.5
Park Closure: Red Hills Visitor Center (TMD) theater closed for repairs
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
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 49.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 122.7-mile journey is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for a more involved driving experience as you navigate through local corridors. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on East Chaparral Road, the route demands your full attention as you transition between various turns and road segments. Unlike monotonous highway stretches, this drive keeps you engaged with the local infrastructure throughout the entire 1 hour and 52 minutes. You will find that the road surface and traffic patterns shift frequently, requiring a steady hand and constant awareness as you move through the desert landscape.
Only 17% 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?
7/10
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 1 miles in near AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 120.5 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 1 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Tucson, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Phoenix along the way.
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
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 12m. Total distance: 120.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.6 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 1 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
