Tubac, AZ to Maryvale, AZ is 166.7 miles and takes about 3h 5m via Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Desert Southwest, traversing Arizona for its entirety. It's characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, so don't expect a straightforward highway cruise. With a single recommended day and a reasonable fuel cost, this trip is well-suited for a day excursion.
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
83.3 miles from Tubac, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.5 mi
55m
Nogales–Tucson Highway
41.1 mi
46m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38.1 mi
38m
Maricopa Freeway
12 mi
13m
Papago Freeway
9.5 mi
10m
South Freeway
5.4 mi
6m
North 51st Avenue
2.2 mi
3m
North 55th Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tubac, AZ and Maryvale, AZ.
1
Start on Luger Lane
65 ft·4 sec·Luger Lane
2
Turn right onto Calle Iglesia
0.1 mi·30 sec·Calle Iglesia
3
At end of road, turn right onto Burruel Street
187 ft·12 sec·Burruel Street
4
Turn left onto Plaza Road
0.2 mi·1 min·Plaza Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto East Frontage Road
0.4 mi·1 min·East Frontage Road
6
Turn right
469 ft·14 sec
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
8
Merge onto I 19
41 mi·46 min·Nogales–Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
10
Merge onto I 10
5.4 mi·6 min·South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
3.7 mi·4 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
51 mi·51 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
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
12 mi·13 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi·2 min·Papago Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.7 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
18
Continue on I 10
4.9 mi·5 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 139Toward 51st Avenue, 59th AvenueUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn right onto North 51st Avenue
2.2 mi·3 min·North 51st Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto West Indian School Road
0.5 mi·1 min·West Indian School Road
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto North 55th Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·North 55th Avenue
23
Continue on North 55th Avenue
169 ft·16 sec·North 55th Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
North 55th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 5m estimated drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to allow for flexibility and potential brief stops along the way. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially since the longest stretch without potential refueling points is 54.5 miles. The route's turn-heavy nature means paying close attention to your GPS or map is crucial to avoid missing any necessary turns.
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 83.3 miles from Tubac, AZ, or about 1h 33m 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 37 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.3 miles or 1h 33m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maryvale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tubac, 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 Tubac, AZ
This is one driving day of about 166.7 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Tubac, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 163 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Calle Iglesia
Turn right onto Calle Iglesia
Navigation decision point
6
52.2 mi into trip|~1h 2m 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.
6
153 mi into trip|~2h 45m 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.
6
155 mi into trip|~2h 48m 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
163 mi into trip|~2h 57m in
Take the exit toward 51st Avenue, 59th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 139
Toward 51st Avenue, 59th Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.21 one way
$66.42 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$35.14
$70.29
premium
$5.59
$36.69
$73.39
diesel
$5.61
$36.81
$73.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50
0
$17.50
$8.00
Efficient EV
41.7
0
$14.59
$6.67
EV Truck/SUV
66.7
0
$23.34
$10.67
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Tubac, AZ
Night
in Tubac on Saturday
Local time
9:40 PM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Maryvale, AZ
Night
in Maryvale on Saturday
Local time
9:40 PM
MST
Current temp
89°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
4 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 5m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Tumacácori National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Tumacácori sits at a cultural crossroads in the Santa Cruz River valley. Here O’odham, Yaqui, and Apache people met and mingled with European Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries, settlers, and soldiers...
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
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 109.2
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a dynamic driving experience, leaning towards a turn-heavy local drive rather than an open highway journey. With only 16% of the drive on highways, you'll navigate a more varied landscape. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 54.5 miles along the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. Expect a mix of road types, necessitating attention to navigation as you transition between different segments.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 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?
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 early in the drive near Calle Iglesia.
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 16 significant decision points across 166.7 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: near the start (Calle Iglesia): Navigation decision point; at 52.2 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 153 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 166.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 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 Maryvale, 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: near the start (Calle Iglesia): Navigation decision point; at 52.2 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 153 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Tumacácori National Historical Park, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Saguaro National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Maryvale, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
