Tucson to New River is 151.2 miles and takes about 2 hours 47 minutes via Casa Grande-Tucson Highway and Black Canyon Freeway, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Desert Southwest, moving from the Tucson area north towards Phoenix. You'll encounter a mix of highway and surface roads, making it a straightforward drive. With just one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion if you're looking to cover ground without an overnight commitment.
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
75.6 miles from Tucson, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.5 mi
55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38.1 mi
38m
Black Canyon Freeway
33.8 mi
37m
Maricopa Freeway
16.2 mi
18m
East Speedway Boulevard
3.3 mi
7m
North Freeway
2.5 mi
2m
North Country Club Road
1 mi
2m
West New River Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tucson, AZ and New River, 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
34 mi·37 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 232Toward New RiverUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto North New River Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·North New River Road
Use the right lane.
14
At end of road, turn left onto I-17 Frontage Road
0.3 mi·28 sec·I-17 Frontage Road
15
Turn right onto West New River Road
0.3 mi·37 sec·West New River Road
16
Turn right onto North Kelley Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·North Kelley Road
17
Arrive at destination
North Kelley Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 1-day drive, leaving Tucson in the morning gives you plenty of time to reach New River before dark. The route has only one suggested stop, but feel free to add more based on your needs. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $29, and it's wise to fill up before entering more built-up areas. Pay attention to the change in road profile, particularly as you merge onto the Black Canyon Freeway near Phoenix, where traffic can be heavier.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.6 miles from Tucson, AZ, or about 1h 23m 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 33 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.6 miles or 1h 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 2h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New River, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tucson, AZ
This is one driving day of about 151.2 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Tucson, 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 150.1 — 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
7
149.9 mi into trip|~2h 44m in
Take the exit toward New River
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 232
Toward New River
6
150.1 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|North New River Road
Turn right onto North New River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.69 one way
$55.37 round trip
$4.65/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.00
$29.79
$59.58
premium
$5.34
$31.79
$63.58
diesel
$6.37
$37.94
$75.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.4
0
$15.88
$7.26
Efficient EV
37.8
0
$13.23
$6.05
EV Truck/SUV
60.5
0
$21.17
$9.68
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Tucson, AZ
Morning
in Tucson on Sunday
Local time
7:18 AM
MST
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
E 13 to 21 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 4:59AM MST until October 17 at 2:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 4:59AM MST until October 17 at 2:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
Destination
New River, AZ
Morning
in New River on Sunday
Local time
7:18 AM
MST
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers
ENE 5 to 20 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 4:59AM MST until October 17 at 2:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 4:59AM MST until October 17 at 2:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
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
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
2h 47m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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
Danger: Loop Drive mostly closed in Tucson Mountain District due to storms.
Park Closure: Visitor Center will be closed on 9/16 (West Side) and 9/23 (East Side)
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is about 35% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on surface roads. The longest stretch without a significant break is 54.5 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. You'll notice a transition from more rural cruising to denser traffic as you approach the Phoenix metro area. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic during the latter half of the trip.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 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?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in near I 10 / North Freeway.
Driving Effort6/10
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 151.2 miles you will encounter 10 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 4.8 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.
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 2h 47m. Total distance: 151.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface 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.
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 New River, 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: 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 — Saguaro National Park and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. 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 New River, AZ before heading back.
