Origin
Tucson, AZ
Late night in Tucson on Tuesday
Local time
3:27 AM
MST
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tucson, AZ to Paulden, AZ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 17m
Distance
233 mi
375 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 5m
★
6 AM
4h 18m
8 AM
4h 44m
10 AM
4h 27m
12 PM
4h 24m
3 PM
4h 28m
5 PM
4h 43m
8 PM
4h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tucson, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Paulden, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
Tucson, AZ to Paulden, AZ is 233 miles and takes about 4h 17m via Casa Grande-Tucson Highway and Black Canyon Freeway, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, transitioning from the immediate surroundings of Tucson to areas north of Phoenix. Expect a mix of highway speeds and surface roads as you make your way toward Paulden. Given the relatively short drive time, you'll have plenty of flexibility for your departure and any brief stops along the way.
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
116.5 miles from Tucson, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 7m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.5 mi | 55m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 41.3 mi | 45m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 38.1 mi | 38m |
| AZ 69 | 21.6 mi | 25m |
| Prescott–Ash Fork Highway | 17.8 mi | 20m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 16.2 mi | 18m |
| Arizona Veterans Highway | 13.4 mi | 13m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 8.9 mi | 9m |
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 Paulden, 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: Flagstaff
Use 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 right at fork onto AZ 69
22 mi
·
25 min
·
AZ 69
Toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, Prescott
15
Turn right onto Fain Road
7.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Fain Road
16
Continue on AZ 89A
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 317
Toward AZ 89: Prescott, Chino Valley
18
Turn right onto AZ 89
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Prescott–Ash Fork Highway
19
Enter roundabout onto AZ 89
103 ft
·
1 sec
·
Prescott–Ash Fork Highway
20
Continue on AZ 89
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Prescott–Ash Fork Highway
21
Enter roundabout onto AZ 89
136 ft
·
1 sec
·
Prescott–Ash Fork Highway
22
Continue on AZ 89
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Prescott–Ash Fork Highway
23
Enter roundabout onto AZ 89
150 ft
·
2 sec
·
Prescott–Ash Fork Highway
24
Continue on AZ 89
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
Prescott–Ash Fork Highway
25
Enter roundabout onto AZ 89
151 ft
·
2 sec
·
Prescott–Ash Fork Highway
26
Continue on AZ 89
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Prescott–Ash Fork Highway
27
Enter roundabout onto AZ 89
146 ft
·
1 sec
·
Prescott–Ash Fork Highway
28
Continue on AZ 89
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Prescott–Ash Fork Highway
29
Arrive at destination
AZ 89
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour drive, consider leaving Tucson in the morning to allow ample time for your destination. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you leave the more populated areas; the fuel cost estimate is $46, so plan accordingly. The longest stretch without a significant break is over 50 miles, so ensure you're comfortable before starting that segment.
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 116.5 miles from Tucson, AZ, or about 2h 7m 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 51 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.5 miles or 2h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paulden, 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 233 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
117 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 116.5 miles from Tucson, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 214.7 — 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.
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
179.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 15m in
|
AZ 69
Keep slight right at fork onto AZ 69 toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, Prescott
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, Prescott
6
214.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 56m in
Take the exit toward AZ 89: Prescott, Chino Valley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 317
Toward AZ 89: Prescott, Chino Valley
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.42 one way
$92.83 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
82 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $49.12 | $98.25 |
| premium | $5.59 | $51.29 | $102.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.44 | $102.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.9 | 0 | $24.46 | $11.18 |
| Efficient EV | 58.3 | 0 | $20.39 | $9.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93.2 | 1 | $32.62 | $14.91 |
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Destination
Paulden, AZ
Late night in Paulden on Tuesday
Local time
3:27 AM
MST
Current temp
68°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
15 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
4h 17m 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.
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
Park Closure: Red Hills Visitor Center (TMD) theater closed for repairs
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 72.3
View on nps.gov
Tuzigoot National Monument
National Monument
Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs that well up from the ancient sedimentary ro...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
$10
near mile 208.9
View on nps.gov
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...
25 mi from route
~64 min detour
$10
near mile 200.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a 35% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 54.5 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. You'll experience the transition from more built-up areas around Phoenix to more open terrain as you head north. Be prepared for merging traffic and a higher density of exits as you pass through the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 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?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 13 significant decision points across 233 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Tucson, AZ and Paulden, AZ, road signs point toward Prescott and Chino Valley.
Prescott
179.6 mi in
|
~3h 15m
|
via AZ 69
Chino Valley
214.7 mi in
|
~3h 56m
About the Cities
Starting in Tucson, AZ
Full guide →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.
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 4h 17m. Total distance: 233 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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.
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 Paulden, 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, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Tuzigoot National Monument (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Paulden, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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