Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 16m
Distance
299.5 mi
482 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$58
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tucson, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Houck, AZ
András Nyemczovszky
The drive from Tucson, AZ to Houck, AZ covers 299.5 miles and takes about 6h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Globe-Show Low Highway, Tucson-Globe Highway, Purple Heart Trail for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 83.4 miles on Globe-Show Low Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $58.05 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
149.8 miles from Tucson, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 23m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Globe-Show Low Highway | 83.4 mi | 1h 35m |
| Tucson-Globe Highway | 76.8 mi | 1h 43m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 60.5 mi | 1h |
| Show Low-Holbrook Highway | 37.1 mi | 44m |
| North Oracle Road | 14 mi | 21m |
| North Penrod Road | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| West Deuce of Clubs | 3 mi | 6m |
| North Country Club Road | 3 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Tucson, AZ and Houck, AZ.
Start on North Country Club Road
Turn left onto East Fort Lowell Road
Turn right onto North Campbell Avenue
Turn left onto East River Road
Turn right onto North 1st Avenue
Turn left onto East Orange Grove Road
Continue on West Orange Grove Road
Turn right onto AZ 77; US 80 Hist
Continue on AZ 77
Continue on AZ 77
Continue on AZ 77
At end of road, turn left onto US 70; AZ 77
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
Take the exit onto AZ 77
Merge onto US 60; AZ 77
Continue on US 60; AZ 77
Turn left onto AZ 77
Continue on AZ 77
Continue on AZ 77
Continue on AZ 77
Continue on AZ 77
Continue on AZ 77
Continue on AZ 77
Continue on AZ 77
Continue on US 180; AZ 77
Continue on US 180; AZ 77
Take the exit onto AZ 77
Merge onto I 40; AZ 77
Take the exit
Turn left
Continue on St. Anslem Road
Turn sharp right onto North Frontage Road
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 66 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.8 miles or 3h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Houck, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Tucson, 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 Tucson, AZ
This is one driving day of about 299.5 miles and 6h 16m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
150 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.
A short stop after about 66 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 149.8 miles from Tucson, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Globe-Show Low Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.7 and 299.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto North 1st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto AZ 77; US 80 Hist / North Oracle Road
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto AZ 77
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto AZ 77
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn sharp right onto North Frontage Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Regular Gas
$58.05 one way
$116.10 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.20 | $61.34 | $122.68 |
| premium | $5.44 | $64.11 | $128.22 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $66.02 | $132.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 89.9 | 1 | $31.45 | $14.38 |
| Efficient EV | 74.9 | 0 | $26.21 | $11.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 119.8 | 1 | $41.93 | $19.17 |
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Tucson on Friday
Local time
3:20 PM
MST
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Afternoon in Houck on Friday
Local time
4:20 PM
MDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
299.5 mi in 6h 16m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.7 miles in near North 1st Avenue.
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 299.5 miles you will encounter 14 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 6.7 miles (North 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (AZ 77; US 80 Hist / North Oracle Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 104.2 miles (AZ 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
Total Climb
7,397 ft
Total Descent
3,835 ft
Highest Point
6,386 ft
~192.5 mi in
Elevation Range
4,303 ft
Notable High Points
Founded 1775
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 16m. Total distance: 299.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 16m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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