Origin
Tucson, AZ
Evening in Tucson on Saturday
Local time
7:45 PM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tucson, AZ to Coolidge, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
68.6 mi
110 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tucson, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Coolidge, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through the Desert Southwest, the 68.6-mile journey from Tucson to Coolidge is a straightforward trek. You can comfortably complete this trip in about 1 hour and 27 minutes, making it an ideal choice for a single-day outing. Budget approximately $14 for fuel, which should cover your entire one-way transit. Navigating this route involves transitioning through the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, the Junction I-10-Mesa Highway, and finally onto J Street. Because the total duration is quite manageable, there is no need to worry about overnight lodging, allowing you to focus your time on your destination. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this drive offers a simple, efficient connection between these two Arizona hubs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 42.8 mi | 44m |
| Junction I-10-Mesa Highway | 10.5 mi | 15m |
| J Street | 6.9 mi | 11m |
| East Speedway Boulevard | 3.3 mi | 7m |
| North Freeway | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| North Country Club Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Central Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Freeway Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 42.8 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tucson, AZ and Coolidge, AZ.
1
Start on North Country Club Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Country Club Road
2
Turn left onto East Speedway Boulevard
3.3 mi
·
7 min
·
East Speedway Boulevard
3
Turn right onto North Freeway Road
415 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Freeway Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 10 West
5
Merge onto I 10
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 10
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
39 mi
·
39 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 211
Toward AZ 87 North: Coolidge, Florence
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
396 ft
·
9 sec
10
Turn straight onto AZ 87
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
11
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 287
6.9 mi
·
11 min
·
J Street
12
Turn right onto West Central Avenue
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
West Central Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
West Central Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.3 miles from Tucson, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 4.3 and 50.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
4.3 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
North Freeway Road
Turn right onto North Freeway Road
Navigation decision point
5
4.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 10 / North Freeway
Merge onto I 10 / North Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
11.1 mi into trip
|
~18m 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.
8
50.1 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward AZ 87 North: Coolidge, Florence
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 211
Toward AZ 87 North: Coolidge, Florence
4
50.8 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.67 one way
$27.33 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $14.46 | $28.93 |
| premium | $5.59 | $15.10 | $30.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.15 | $30.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 24 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.20 | $3.29 |
| Efficient EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.00 | $2.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.60 | $4.39 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Coolidge, AZ
Evening in Coolidge on Saturday
Local time
7:45 PM
MST
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
1h 27m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you transition between road types. While only 19% of the route consists of highways, you will spend your longest uninterrupted segment covering 42.8 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. This stretch provides the most consistent pace before the character of the road shifts toward more technical local segments. You will feel the transition from the broader, faster highway lanes into the more measured, turn-heavy sections as you approach Coolidge. It is not an interstate grind, so anticipate a more hands-on driving experience that requires you to stay alert through the various turns and junctions along the way.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.8 mi on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.3 miles in near North Freeway Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.6 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.3 miles (North Freeway Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (I 10 / North Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.1 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): 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.
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 Tucson, AZ to Coolidge, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Florence along the way.
Florence
50.1 mi in
|
~57m
About the Cities
Starting in Tucson, AZ
Full guide →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.
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 1h 27m. Total distance: 68.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (19%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.8 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.3 miles (North Freeway Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (I 10 / North Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.1 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Saguaro National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Coolidge, AZ before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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