Surprise, AZ to Benson, AZ is 186.6 miles and takes about 3h 23m via Casa Grande-Tucson Highway and others, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward drive. You'll primarily navigate surface roads, making it a less demanding travel day. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a quick transition between these two Arizona locations.
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
93.3 miles from Surprise, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.6 mi
55m
Tucson-Benson Highway
42.9 mi
44m
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
North Freeway
6.1 mi
6m
Grand Avenue
4.6 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.6 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Surprise, AZ and Benson, AZ.
1
Start on North Nash Street
0.3 mi·53 sec·North Nash Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto West Santa Fe Drive
0.3 mi·36 sec·West Santa Fe Drive
3
Turn right onto West Greenway Road
217 ft·7 sec·West Greenway Road
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto US 60
4.6 mi·7 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
6
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
8.9 mi·10 min·Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 10 East: PhoenixUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 10
10 mi·12 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·35 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
10
Continue on I 10
3.2 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.2 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 10; US 60
12 mi·14 min·Maricopa Freeway
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
Continue on I 10
55 mi·55 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 10
6.1 mi·6 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 10
43 mi·44 min·Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit onto I 10 Business
0.3 mi·34 sec·I 10 Business
Exit 303Toward I 10 Business: Tombstone, Douglas
18
Continue on I 10 Bus; US 80 Hist
1.9 mi·3 min·I 10 Bus; US 80 Hist
Toward I 10 BUS, AZ 80: Benson, Douglas
19
Turn right onto South San Pedro Street
16 ft·0 sec·South San Pedro Street
20
Arrive at destination
South San Pedro Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 23m duration, departing Surprise, AZ in the morning is your best bet for a relaxed arrival in Benson, AZ. The drive is manageable enough to complete in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Plan for one stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer 54.6-mile stretch on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, as services might be less frequent in those areas.
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 93.3 miles from Surprise, AZ, or about 1h 45m 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 41 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.3 miles or 1h 45m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benson, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Surprise, 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 Surprise, AZ
This is one driving day of about 186.6 miles and 3h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Surprise, 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 184.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|West Santa Fe Drive
At end of road, turn left onto West Santa Fe Drive
Navigation decision point
7
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|West Greenway Road
Turn right onto West Greenway Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
14.5 mi into trip|~20m 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
29.5 mi into trip|~38m 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.
6
184.4 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|I 10 Business
Take the exit onto I 10 Business toward I 10 Business: Tombstone, Douglas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 303
Toward I 10 Business: Tombstone, Douglas
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.58 one way
$75.17 round trip
$5.12/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.43
$39.87
$79.74
premium
$5.67
$41.68
$83.37
diesel
$6.28
$46.11
$92.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56
0
$19.59
$8.96
Efficient EV
46.7
0
$16.33
$7.46
EV Truck/SUV
74.6
0
$26.12
$11.94
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Surprise, AZ
Late night
in Surprise on Wednesday
Local time
5:50 AM
MST
Current temp
68°F
Clear
NNE 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Benson, AZ
Late night
in Benson on Wednesday
Local time
5:50 AM
MST
Current temp
79°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SSE 3 mph65% 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
11 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 23m 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...
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 70.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive largely utilizes surface roads, making up 76% of the 186.6 miles. The main highway sections, accounting for 24% of the route, are found on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway and Tucson-Benson Highway. You'll experience a longest stretch of 54.6 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, which is a good indicator of the rural cruising you can expect. Be prepared for more frequent intersections and lower speed limits as you transition from the highway segments.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 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 0.3 miles in near West Santa Fe Drive.
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 11 significant decision points across 186.6 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 0.3 miles (West Santa Fe Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (West Greenway Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Sun City is a suburb 20 miles (30km) northwest of downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It was built as a planned retirement community in Maricopa County in the 1960s. An adjacent retirement community Sun City West was built in the late 1970s; there is also a Sun City Grand. Directly northwest of the three "Sun City" suburbs is Surprise, Arizona.
Benson is a historic rail town of 5,400 people (2020) in Southeast Arizona. For visitors there is little of interest in the town, but it does offer a range of options for accommodation and as such can be a good base for exploring the region.
Top landmarks
•Apache Powder Historic Residential District — historic area in Benson, Arizona
•Benson Railroad Historic District — historic district in Benson, Arizona
•Hi Wo Company Grocery — historic building in Benson, Arizona, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 23m. Total distance: 186.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 23m 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.
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 Benson, 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 0.3 miles (West Santa Fe Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (West Greenway Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Saguaro National Park and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Benson, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
