This 147.4-mile drive from Sun City West to Tucson, Arizona, will take you about 2 hours and 27 minutes. It's a straightforward, turn-heavy local road experience, making it an ideal one-day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $29, this route offers an economical way to travel between two points in the Desert Southwest. You'll primarily navigate local streets, so expect a steady pace rather than high-speed highway cruising. This journey is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
73 miles from Sun City West, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.6 mi
55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
37.8 mi
38m
Papago Freeway
14.9 mi
17m
Maricopa Freeway
12.3 mi
14m
Agua Fria Freeway
8.9 mi
10m
Grand Avenue
5.5 mi
9m
North Freeway
3.6 mi
4m
West Broadway Boulevard
2.9 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.6 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sun City West, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on West Marble Drive
257 ft·14 sec·West Marble Drive
2
Turn left onto North Camino Del Sol
0.1 mi·19 sec·North Camino Del Sol
3
Turn left onto North 133rd Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·North 133rd Avenue
4
Turn left onto North R H Johnson Boulevard
1.4 mi·2 min·North R H Johnson Boulevard
5
Turn right onto West Bell Road
0.4 mi·51 sec·West Bell Road
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto North Dysart Road
0.4 mi·47 sec·North Dysart Road
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on North Dysart Road
336 ft·10 sec·North Dysart Road
8
Turn left onto US 60
5.5 mi·9 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
10
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
8.9 mi·10 min·Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 10 East: PhoenixUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 10
10 mi·12 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·35 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
14
Continue on I 10
3.2 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.2 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 10; US 60
12 mi·14 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 10
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 10
55 mi·55 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 10
3.6 mi·4 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 258Toward Congress Street, Broadway BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn straight onto North Freeway Road
159 ft·4 sec·North Freeway Road
22
Turn left onto West Congress Street
0.3 mi·56 sec·West Congress Street
23
Continue on West Broadway Boulevard
2.9 mi·6 min·West Broadway Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Turn left onto North Country Club Road
131 ft·8 sec·North Country Club Road
25
Arrive at destination
North Country Club Road
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 27 minute duration for this 147.4-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility for departure times. The estimated fuel cost of $29 makes it an affordable outing, so you can focus on the drive itself. Since this is a turn-heavy local route with no long highway stretches, plan for a steady pace and be mindful of frequent turns. There are no designated long stretches, so you can make spontaneous stops as needed along the way. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as refueling opportunities might be more spread out on local roads compared to major interstates.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73 miles from Sun City West, AZ, or about 1h 27m 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 32 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73 miles or 1h 27m 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 15m
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 Sun City West, 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 Sun City West, AZ
This is one driving day of about 146 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Sun City West, 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 54.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 142.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|West Bell Road
Turn right onto West Bell Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
2.6 mi into trip|~5m in|North Dysart Road
Turn left onto North Dysart Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
17.8 mi into trip|~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward I 10 East: Phoenix
6
32.8 mi into trip|~44m 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.
8
142.3 mi into trip|~2h 38m 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
$29.09 one way
$58.17 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$30.78
$61.56
premium
$5.59
$32.14
$64.27
diesel
$5.61
$32.23
$64.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.8
0
$15.33
$7.01
Efficient EV
36.5
0
$12.77
$5.84
EV Truck/SUV
58.4
0
$20.44
$9.34
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 19, 2026
Origin
Sun City West, AZ
Morning
in Sun City West on Sunday
Local time
7:40 AM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tucson, AZ
Morning
in Tucson on Sunday
Local time
7:40 AM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
88°F
Guadalupe, AZ
73 mi in
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
34 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
2h 47m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 147.4-mile journey, as indicated by the 0% highway share. You won't encounter any long, uninterrupted stretches of highway; instead, the route emphasizes navigating through local streets and avenues. This means a more engaged driving experience, with frequent turns and varied speed limits. The character of the road remains consistent, focusing on efficient travel through populated areas rather than scenic open highways. Prepare for a drive that requires your attention to local road conditions and traffic patterns.
Only 27% 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: 54.6 mi on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 2.2 miles in near West Bell Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 146 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 2.2 miles (West Bell Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (North Dysart Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 146 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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. 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 2.2 miles (West Bell Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (North Dysart Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tucson, AZ before heading back.
