Trip from Sierra Vista, AZ to Buckeye, AZ

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

Drive Time

4h 5m

Distance

221.7 mi

357 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

16 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

3h 52m ★

6 AM

4h 5m

8 AM

4h 31m

10 AM

4h 14m

12 PM

4h 12m

3 PM

4h 16m

5 PM

4h 30m

8 PM

3h 57m

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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Sierra Vista, AZ

Leslie del Moral

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Buckeye, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Sierra Vista, AZ to Buckeye, AZ covers 221.7 miles and takes about 4h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Tucson-Benson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.5 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.17 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

110.9 miles from Sierra Vista, AZ

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

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway	54.5 mi	55m
Tucson-Benson Highway	41.4 mi	43m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway	38.1 mi	38m
Papago Freeway	24.3 mi	28m
State Route 90	15 mi	17m
Maricopa Freeway	12 mi	13m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway	9.9 mi	10m
Huachuca Boulevard	9 mi	10m

Longest stretch: Casa Grande-Tucson Highway — 54.5 mi, about 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sierra Vista, AZ and Buckeye, AZ.

Start on this road

59 ft · 6 sec · this road

Turn right onto West Fry Boulevard

0.2 mi · 24 sec · West Fry Boulevard

Turn right onto Buffalo Soldier Trail

1.5 mi · 2 min · Buffalo Soldier Trail

Continue on AZ 90

3.0 mi · 3 min · State Route 90

Continue on AZ 90

2.2 mi · 3 min · South Huachuca Boulevard

Continue on AZ 90

12 mi · 13 min · State Route 90

Continue on AZ 90

9.0 mi · 10 min · Huachuca Boulevard

Continue on AZ 90

1.3 mi · 2 min · South State Highway 90

Turn left

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon

Merge onto I 10

41 mi · 43 min · Tucson-Benson Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

6.0 mi · 6 min · South Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

3.7 mi · 4 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

51 mi · 51 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

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

12 mi · 13 min · Maricopa Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

2.0 mi · 2 min · Papago Freeway

Use the slight left lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

2.7 mi · 3 min · Papago Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

Continue on I 10

20 mi · 22 min · Papago Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

9.9 mi · 10 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 59 sec

Exit 114 Toward Buckeye Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on South Miller Road

3.9 mi · 6 min · South Miller Road

Use the straight / left lanes.

Continue on North 1st Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North 1st Street

Turn left onto US 80 Hist

0.4 mi · 55 sec · East Monroe Avenue

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

US 80 Hist

Trip Plan

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 110.9 miles from Sierra Vista, AZ, or about 2h 2m 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 49 miles or 57m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 110.9 miles or 2h 2m 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 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buckeye, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Sierra Vista, 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 Sierra Vista, AZ

This is one driving day of about 221.7 miles and 4h 5m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Sierra Vista, 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.

town in Pima and Pinal counties in Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marana, AZ

111 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

Tanque Verde, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Marana, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 110.9 miles from Sierra Vista, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Rainforest Cafe

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Tempe, Arizona

Later in the drive, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30 mile 174.2

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14807529100

Visit website

Rainforest Cafe

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30 mile 174.2

Tempe, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14807529100

Visit website

China Red Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 205.9

Litchfield Park, Arizona

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 221.7

Buckeye, Arizona

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 174.2

Tempe, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+14805657081

Visit website

Villago Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 142.5

Casa Grande, Arizona

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+15204218600

Visit website

Enchanted Island Amusement Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 190

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–4 pm

+16022541200

Visit website

The Little Gym of Litchfield Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 205.9

Goodyear, Arizona

Hours: 9 am–7:30 pm

+16232505718

Visit website

5 of 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 29.1 and 216.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

29.1 mi into trip | ~36m in

Turn left toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon

80.9 mi into trip | ~1h 32m 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.

181.7 mi into trip | ~3h 15m 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 slight left lane.

183.7 mi into trip | ~3h 18m 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.

216.5 mi into trip | ~3h 55m in

Take the exit toward Buckeye

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 114 Toward Buckeye

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.17 one way

$88.33 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 78 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.36	$46.74	$93.48
premium	$5.59	$48.80	$97.60
diesel	$5.61	$48.95	$97.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$44

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$69–$94

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 77.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

16 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Shell Gas Station and Convenience Store - Tesla Supercharger

Tucson, AZ

Tesla

10 DCFC

Walmart 3807 (Benson, AZ)

Benson, AZ

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Environmental and General Services

Tucson, AZ

Blink Network

4 DCFC

Sports Complex

Sierra Vista, AZ

EV Connect

2 DCFC

Porsche - Tucson

Tucson, AZ

Non-Networked

2 DCFC

5151 E Broadway

Tucson, AZ

Non-Networked

2 DCFC

FasCharge 4614 Fast Market Valero Tucson Drexel Rd

Tucson, AZ

RED_E

2 DCFC

COCHISE COUNTY SIERRA VISTA L3

Sierra Vista, AZ

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 6 EV Connect: 4 Non-Networked: 2 Electrify America: 1 Tesla: 1 Blink Network: 1 RED_E: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	66.5	0	$23.28	$10.64
Efficient EV	55.4	0	$19.40	$8.87
EV Truck/SUV	88.7	1	$31.04	$14.19

Gas CO2

78 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (67% 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Sierra Vista, AZ

Morning in Sierra Vista on Sunday

Local time

7:38 AM

MST

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Buckeye, AZ

Morning in Buckeye on Sunday

Local time

7:38 AM

MST

Current temp

88°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

37 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

4h 5m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

221.7 mi in 4h 5m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

25 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?

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 29.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 221.7 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 29.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.9 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 181.7 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Sierra Vista, AZ to Buckeye, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Tuscon along the way.

Tuscon

29.1 mi in | ~36m

About the Cities

Starting in Sierra Vista, AZ

Full guide →

Sierra Vista (Spanish: Mountain View) is a city in Southeast Arizona and the commercial hub of the region, making it a convenient base from which to explore the area. It is perhaps best known for historic Fort Huachuca, established in 1877 during the Apache Wars. Although still an active U.S. Army military base, its two military museums and historic cemetery are open to the general public. The landscape around the city is typical for the Southwestern United States, and the nearby mountains and canyons can be explored on foot, by bike, or on horseback. Because it is a major stopover point on avian migration routes, the area is popular with avid birdwatchers and naturalists, and is known as the "Hummingbird Capital of America".

Arriving in Buckeye, AZ

Full guide →

Founded 1888

Top landmarks

• Buckeye Union High School — Buckeye, 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 5m. Total distance: 221.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 5m 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 Buckeye, 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.

Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Buckeye, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Sierra Vista, AZ to Buckeye, AZ

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Rainforest Cafe

Rainforest Cafe

China Red Cafe

Sacaton Rest Area

Sacaton Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

Flying J Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Pride Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Petro Stopping Centers

Love's Travel Stop

Pilot Travel Center

TA

Love's Travel Stop

Xpress Fuel Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Flying J Travel Center

Danny's Big Rig Resort

Love's Travel Stop

Pilot Travel Center

QuikTrip

Pilot Travel Center

QuikTrip

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Service Plaza

Hobo Joe Statue

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona

Villago Park

Enchanted Island Amusement Park

The Little Gym of Litchfield Park

Sundance Park

Arizona Science Center

Dorrance DOME

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Sierra Vista, AZ

Buckeye, AZ

Same local time

37 degrees warmer at arrival

4h 5m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Sierra Vista, AZ

Arriving in Buckeye, AZ

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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