Tucson to Kaibito is 379.1 miles and takes about 7h 27m via East Speedway Boulevard and I-10 West, with a fuel budget near $71 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, primarily utilizing surface roads for most of the journey. Given its single-day recommendation and the profile of mostly surface roads, expect a more grounded travel experience rather than high-speed interstate cruising. It’s a straightforward trip through the state, suitable for those who prefer a less highway-intensive approach to covering ground.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
189.6 miles from Tucson, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 25m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Tucson, AZ and Kaibito, 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
51 mi·51 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 10
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
12 mi·13 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
4.2 mi·4 min·Maricopa Freeway
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: FlagstaffUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 17; US 60
41 mi·45 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 17
8.9 mi·9 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 17
13 mi·13 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 17
77 mi·1 hr 17 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
15
Continue on I 17; AZ 89A
0.6 mi·43 sec·Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 East, Albuquerque
17
Merge onto I 40
5.1 mi·5 min·Purple Heart Trail
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 89 North: Page
19
Turn left onto US 180; I 40 Bus
0.5 mi·50 sec·Country Club Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Turn right onto US 89
2.3 mi·3 min·Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
Use the right lane.
21
Continue on US 89
6.4 mi·8 min·US Highway 89
22
Continue on US 89
38 mi·44 min·Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
23
Enter roundabout onto US 89
156 ft·2 sec·Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway
24
Continue on US 89
1.4 mi·2 min·Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway
25
Continue on US 89
0.3 mi·27 sec·US 89
26
Continue on US 89
14 mi·16 min·Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway
27
Turn right onto US 160
31 mi·34 min·Navajo Trail
28
Turn left onto N6262
2.1 mi·5 min·Navajo Route 6262
29
Turn left onto N21
19 mi·46 min·Navajo Route 21
30
Continue on N6331
1.2 mi·2 min·Navajo Route 6331
31
Arrive at destination
Navajo Route 6331
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 379.1-mile drive, consider an early morning departure from Tucson to maximize daylight. Since the route is recommended for a single day and consists entirely of surface roads, you'll have flexibility in pacing your stops. With a fuel cost estimated around $71, it’s wise to monitor your fuel levels, especially in more rural stretches where services might be spaced further apart. Pay attention to local speed limits, as these will be in effect for the majority of the 7h 27m drive.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 189.6 miles from Tucson, AZ, or about 3h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.6 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 83 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.6 miles or 3h 25m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kaibito, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tucson, AZ
This is one driving day of about 379.1 miles and 7h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Tucson, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Arizona Veterans Highway for about 90.6 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 263.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
111.9 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|US 60 / Maricopa Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60 / Maricopa Freeway toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
6
263.4 mi into trip|~4h 41m in|US 180; I 40 Bus / Country Club Drive
Turn left onto US 180; I 40 Bus / Country Club Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
263.9 mi into trip|~4h 42m in|US 89 / Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
Turn right onto US 89 / Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$69.21 one way
$138.42 round trip
$4.64/gal25.4 MPG avg133 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.99
$74.49
$148.98
premium
$5.33
$79.48
$158.95
diesel
$6.39
$95.30
$190.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$69
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$94–$119
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.6 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113.7
1
$39.81
$18.20
Efficient EV
94.8
1
$33.17
$15.16
EV Truck/SUV
151.6
1
$53.07
$24.26
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Tucson, AZ
Morning
in Tucson on Sunday
Local time
9:59 AM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Chance Rain Showers
ESE 13 mph26% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Kaibito, AZ
Morning
in Kaibito on Sunday
Local time
10:59 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Chance Rain Showers
SE 5 mph25% 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
13 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
7h 27m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
National Monument
Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
$10
near mile 209.2
Caution: Visiting During Monsoon Season (July-September)
The lava flow lies on the land like a dream, a wonderland of rock. A thousand years ago the ground was torn open and lava erupted into the sky, forever changing the landscape and the lives of the peop...
Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived and traveled throughout Walnut Canyon’s dynamic landscape. Vibrant communities built their homes in the cliffs and farmed along the canyon’s rim. T...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
$25
near mile 261.5
Nestled between the Painted Desert and ponderosa highlands of northern Arizona, Wupatki National Monument is an unlikely landscape for a thriving community. The early 1100's marked a time of cooler an...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
$25
near mile 287.6
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 65.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 379.1 miles, with 0% on highways, meaning the entire drive is on surface roads. You'll spend approximately 7 hours and 27 minutes behind the wheel, navigating through varied terrain. Expect a consistent pace without the rapid acceleration and deceleration common on interstates, offering a more direct connection to the landscape. The absence of highway driving suggests a more rural or town-centric progression for the majority of your trip.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.6 mi on Arizona Veterans 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 4.8 miles in near I 10 / North Freeway.
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 15 significant decision points across 379.1 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 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; at 111.9 miles (US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,706 ft1,143 ft
Total Climb
7,152 ft
Total Descent
3,827 ft
Highest Point
6,706 ft
~270.8 mi in
Elevation Range
5,563 ft
Notable High Points
4,080 ft at ~189.6 miles+223 ft prominence
6,706 ft at ~270.8 miles+7 ft prominence
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 Kaibito, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Albuquerque along the way.
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
•Pima Air & Space Museum — aerospace museum in Tucson, Arizona, USA
•Arizona State Museum — museum in Arizona, United States
•Rialto Theatre — theater and concert venue in Tucson, Arizona, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 27m. Total distance: 379.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 27m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.6 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 23 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Kaibito, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 111.9 miles (US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Montezuma Castle National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Walnut Canyon National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 14.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kaibito, AZ before the return drive.
