Springerville to Tucson is 236.2 miles and takes about 5h 7m via Globe-Show Low Highway and Tucson-Globe Highway, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Desert Southwest region, transitioning between different desert landscapes. It's primarily a surface road drive, meaning you'll encounter more local traffic and varying speed limits than on a dedicated interstate. Plan for a single day of travel, with only one recommended stop along the way. The estimated fuel cost is around $47, making it a budget-friendly option for a day trip.
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
118.1 miles from Springerville, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Springerville, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on this road
166 ft·17 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto US 60; US 180; US 191
44 mi·50 min·Main Street
3
Continue on US 60
4.7 mi·9 min·East Deuce of Clubs
4
Continue on US 60; AZ 77
83 mi·1 hr 35 min·Globe-Show Low Highway
5
Turn sharp left onto US 70; AZ 77
1.2 mi·1 min·East Ash Street
6
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
0.8 mi·1 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto AZ 77
61 mi·1 hr 21 min·Tucson-Globe Highway
8
Continue on AZ 77
2.0 mi·2 min·American Avenue
9
Continue on AZ 77
16 mi·21 min·Tucson-Globe Highway
10
Continue on AZ 77
14 mi·21 min·North Oracle Road
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto West Orange Grove Road
0.8 mi·1 min·West Orange Grove Road
12
Turn right onto North 1st Avenue
1.9 mi·3 min·North 1st Avenue
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto East River Road
1.2 mi·2 min·East River Road
14
Turn right onto North Campbell Avenue
1.5 mi·3 min·North Campbell Avenue
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto East Fort Lowell Road
1.0 mi·1 min·East Fort Lowell Road
16
Turn right onto North Country Club Road
3.0 mi·6 min·North Country Club Road
17
Continue on North Country Club Road
182 ft·15 sec·North Country Club Road
18
Arrive at destination
North Country Club Road
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, starting your drive from Springerville in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. The route has only one recommended stop, so consider breaking up the drive yourself if you prefer more frequent pauses, especially since the longest continuous stretch is 83.5 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as you'll be on surface roads for the entire trip, and plan your refueling stops accordingly. The estimated fuel cost of $47 suggests a moderately priced fill-up. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time.
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 118.1 miles from Springerville, AZ, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.5 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 52 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.1 miles or 2h 20m 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 59m
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 Springerville, 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 Springerville, AZ
This is one driving day of about 236.2 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Springerville, 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 Globe-Show Low Highway for about 83.5 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 131.9 and 232.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
131.9 mi into trip|~2h 36m in|US 70; AZ 77 / East Ash Street
Turn sharp left onto US 70; AZ 77 / East Ash Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
133.9 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|AZ 77 / Tucson-Globe Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto AZ 77 / Tucson-Globe Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
227.5 mi into trip|~4h 49m in|North 1st Avenue
Turn right onto North 1st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
230.6 mi into trip|~4h 54m in|North Campbell Avenue
Turn right onto North Campbell Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
232.2 mi into trip|~4h 58m in|East Fort Lowell Road
Turn left onto East Fort Lowell Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.86 one way
$83.71 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$44.82
$89.64
premium
$5.04
$46.89
$93.77
diesel
$4.80
$44.60
$89.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.9
0
$24.80
$11.34
Efficient EV
59.1
0
$20.67
$9.45
EV Truck/SUV
94.5
1
$33.07
$15.12
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 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
Springerville, AZ
Afternoon
in Springerville on Sunday
Local time
12:47 PM
MST
Current temp
79°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
NW 3 to 9 mph66% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tucson, AZ
Afternoon
in Tucson on Sunday
Local time
12:47 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 1 to 6 mph14% chanceLive 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
14 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
5h 7m 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 236.2
Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
$10
near mile 122.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is entirely on surface roads, with a 0% highway share. You'll spend the entire 5h 7m navigating local routes like the Globe-Show Low Highway and Tucson-Globe Highway. The longest stretch without a significant break is 83.5 miles on the Globe-Show Low Highway. Expect to encounter more intersections and varied speed limits compared to interstate driving.
Only 0% 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: 83.5 mi on Globe-Show Low Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 131.9 miles in near US 70; AZ 77 / East Ash Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 7m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 131.9 miles (US 70; AZ 77 / East Ash Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 133.9 miles (AZ 77 / Tucson-Globe Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 227.5 miles (North 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
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
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.5 miles on Globe-Show Low Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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.
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. There are 8 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 131.9 miles (US 70; AZ 77 / East Ash Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 133.9 miles (AZ 77 / Tucson-Globe Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 227.5 miles (North 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Saguaro National Park and Tonto National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tucson, AZ before the return drive.
