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Trip from Tucson, AZ to Parker, AZ

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h

Distance

278 mi

447 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$54

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 47m ★
6 AM
5h 0m
8 AM
5h 27m
10 AM
5h 10m
12 PM
5h 7m
3 PM
5h 11m
5 PM
5h 26m
8 PM
4h 52m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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Download GPX
city in and county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States

Tucson, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

town in and county seat of La Paz County, Arizona, United States

Parker, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Tucson, AZ to Parker, AZ covers 278 miles and takes about 5h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.88 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

139 miles from Tucson, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 32m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway 105 mi 1h 45m
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway 54.5 mi 55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway 38.1 mi 38m
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway 30.9 mi 35m
Papago Freeway 24.3 mi 28m
Maricopa Freeway 12 mi 13m
East Speedway Boulevard 3.3 mi 7m
North Central Boulevard 3.1 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway — 105 mi, about 1h 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tucson, AZ and Parker, 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 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

105 mi · 1 hr 45 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit onto I 10 Business

0.4 mi · 41 sec · I 10 Business
Toward US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma
16

Turn right onto I 10 Bus

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Riggles Road
17

Turn left onto I 10 Bus

1.0 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
18

Turn right onto AZ 95

3.1 mi · 3 min · North Central Boulevard
19

Continue on AZ 95

20 mi · 22 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Use the straight lane.
20

Turn left onto AZ 95

11 mi · 13 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
21

Continue on AZ 95

0.8 mi · 1 min · California Avenue
22

Arrive at destination

AZ 95

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 139 miles from Tucson, AZ, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105 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 61 miles or 1h 8m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 139 miles or 2h 32m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Parker, 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 278 miles and 5h.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 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 Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 105 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

urban village in Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Maryvale, AZ

139 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

Casa Grande, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Goodyear, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 139 miles from Tucson, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best coffee break

Cafe Desta

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Tucson, Arizona

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15203707000

Visit website

Coronet Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Tucson, Arizona

2.7 mi

Cafe Desta

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Tucson, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15203707000

Visit website

Coronet Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

Tucson, Arizona

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+15204445243

Visit website

Enchanted Island Amusement Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–4 pm

+16022541200

Visit website

Arizona History Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Tucson, Arizona

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+15206285774

Visit website

Arizona Science Center

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 10:30 am–4 pm

+16027162000

Visit website

Dorrance DOME

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 10:30 am–4 pm

Visit website

Valley of the Moon

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Tucson, Arizona

+15203231331

Visit website

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

Halfway reset 4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 2–9 pm

+16234015867

Visit website

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 241.7 — 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.
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.
5
241.7 mi into trip | ~4h 16m in | I 10 Business

Take the exit onto I 10 Business toward US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$53.88 one way

$107.76 round trip

$4.92/gal 25.4 MPG avg 97 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.20 $56.94 $113.87
premium $5.44 $59.51 $119.01
diesel $5.60 $61.28 $122.56

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$54

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$79–$104

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 97.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 83.4 1 $29.19 $13.34
Efficient EV 69.5 0 $24.33 $11.12
EV Truck/SUV 111.2 1 $38.92 $17.79

Gas CO2

97 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (66% 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 Sep 4, 2026

Origin

Tucson, AZ

Evening in Tucson on Saturday

Local time

6:01 PM

MST

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Parker, AZ

Evening in Parker on Saturday

Local time

6:01 PM

MST

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

6 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

5h on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

278 mi in 5h across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

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 Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 278 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 (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,481 ft 422 ft

Total Climb

380 ft

Total Descent

2,438 ft

Highest Point

2,481 ft

Elevation Range

2,058 ft

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 Parker, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Yuma along the way.

Yuma

241.7 mi in | ~4h 16m | via I 10 Business

About the Cities

Starting in Tucson, AZ

Full guide →

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

  • • 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

Arriving in Parker, AZ

Full guide →

Founded 1908

Top landmarks

  • • Parker Jail — United States historic place in La Paz County, Arizona

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 5h. Total distance: 278 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 105 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 Parker, 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 (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Parker, AZ before the return drive.

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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Return Trip

Parker, AZ to Tucson, AZ

Plan the drive back the other way.

278 mi 4h 59m

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