Tucson to Los Angeles is 488.5 miles and takes about 8h 46m via Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, and San Bernardino Freeway, with a fuel budget near $95 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Desert Southwest into the Pacific Coast region. It's a fairly straightforward drive that can be completed in a single day if you start early, but splitting it into two days is also a good option. You'll encounter a mix of road types, so be prepared for varying driving conditions.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
244.3 miles from Tucson, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
262.1 mi
4h 35m
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.5 mi
55m
San Bernardino Freeway
45.3 mi
52m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38.1 mi
38m
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
33.7 mi
36m
Papago Freeway
24.3 mi
28m
Maricopa Freeway
12 mi
13m
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
9.3 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 262.1 mi, about 4h 35m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 165 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~5,800 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,748
Quietest
2 AM
~1,317 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
4.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 90 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tucson, AZ and Los Angeles, CA.
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 left at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi·2 min·Papago Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.7 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
13
Continue on I 10
20 mi·22 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 10
125 mi·2 hr 7 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 Truck; US 95 Truck
0.2 mi·18 sec·I 10 Truck; US 95 Truck
16
Merge onto I 10; US 95
97 mi·1 hr 43 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
17
Continue on I 10
34 mi·36 min·Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 10
40 mi·43 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 10
14 mi·15 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR
9.3 mi·9 min·I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 10
1.2 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.9 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.3 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.9 mi·2 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.9 mi·2 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.6 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.4 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.5 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.1 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
30
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi·2 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.6 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.6 mi·2 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
12 mi·14 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Merge onto US 101
0.4 mi·36 sec·Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 2BToward Alameda Street, Union StationUse the slight right lane.
36
Continue on I 10 EXPR
0.2 mi·32 sec·East Arcadia Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
37
Turn left onto North Los Angeles Street
0.3 mi·44 sec·North Los Angeles Street
38
Turn right onto East 1st Street
461 ft·17 sec·East 1st Street
39
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 46m estimated drive time, starting before sunrise is recommended if you plan to complete this in one day. You'll have 2 planned stops, which is a good pace for a drive of this length. The fuel cost is estimated at $95, so factor that into your budget. Since a significant portion of the drive is on surface roads, pay close attention to local speed limits and traffic signals, especially around towns. Consider breaking the drive into two days, perhaps stopping around the Casa Grande area, to make the travel more relaxed.
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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 244.3 miles from Tucson, AZ, or about 4h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 262.1 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 107 miles or 1h 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 244.3 miles or 4h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 244.3 miles or 4h 19m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Los Angeles, CA 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tucson, AZ
Aim for roughly 244 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Los Angeles, CA
Aim for roughly 244 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 107 miles from Tucson, AZ.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 262.1 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 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.1 and 487.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
6
111.9 mi into trip|~2h 1m 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
113.8 mi into trip|~2h 4m 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
446.6 mi into trip|~7h 58m in|I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
487.8 mi into trip|~8h 44m in
Take the exit toward Alameda Street, Union Station
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 2B
Toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$98.39 one way
$196.78 round trip
$5.12/gal25.4 MPG avg171 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.43
$104.37
$208.75
premium
$5.67
$109.12
$218.25
diesel
$6.28
$120.70
$241.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$98
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$228–$338
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 170.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $51 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
146.6
1
$51.29
$23.45
Efficient EV
122.1
1
$42.74
$19.54
EV Truck/SUV
195.4
2
$68.39
$31.26
Gas CO2
171 kg
EV CO2
57 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 23, 2026
Origin
Tucson, AZ
Morning
in Tucson on Friday
Local time
10:51 AM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 22 at 7:55PM MST until October 23 at 7:45AM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 22 at 7:48PM MST until October 22 at 10:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
Destination
Los Angeles, CA
Morning
in Los Angeles on Friday
Local time
10:51 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
ESE 5 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued October 22 at 1:58PM PDT until October 24 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 22 at 11:36AM PDT until October 23 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Reno NV
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
3 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
8h 46m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
$25
Caution: Vehicle Break-Ins
Park Closure: Loop Drive closed in Tucson Mountain District (West Side) due to storms.
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 67.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with only 26% of the route on highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 262.1 miles on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. Expect frequent exits and changes in speed limits as you transition between different types of roadways. The latter part of the drive, likely on the San Bernardino Freeway, will involve more urban merging.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 262.1 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 11.1 miles in near I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 488.5 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 11.1 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.9 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 113.8 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
•Tucson station — Amtrak station in Tucson, Arizona
Frank Lloyd Wright is said to have quipped, "Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles," a quote that has since been repeated both by those who love and hate L.A. The "City of Angels" is home to people who hail from all parts of the globe and an important center of culture, business, media, and international trade. However, it's most famous for being a major center of the world's television, motion picture, and music industry, which forms the base of the city's status and lures visitors for its show business history and celebrity culture. Visitors are also drawn to Los Angeles for its Mediterranean climate and numerous beaches, which gave birth to California's famed surf culture.
Top landmarks
•Hollywood Walk of Fame — more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks...
•Hollywood Sign — sign reading "HOLLYWOOD" located in Los Angeles, California, United States
•Getty Center — campus of the Getty Museum and other programs of the Getty Trust in Los Angeles
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 262.1 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 244 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 59 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 Los Angeles, CA 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 59 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.1 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.9 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 113.8 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.8 hours each way, a round trip means 17.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Los Angeles, CA before the return drive.
