Tucson to Pinetop-Lakeside is 198.9 miles and takes about 4h 27m via Globe-Show Low Highway and Tucson-Globe Highway, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arizona, moving from the Desert Southwest region to another part of the Desert Southwest. Expect a drive primarily on surface roads rather than interstates. With a drive time under five hours, this route is manageable for a single day, making it a good option if you want to maximize time at your destination or have a flexible start time. It's a straightforward path across the state.
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
99.4 miles from Tucson, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Tucson, AZ and Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ.
1
Start on North Country Club Road
3.0 mi·6 min·North Country Club Road
2
Turn left onto East Fort Lowell Road
1.0 mi·1 min·East Fort Lowell Road
3
Turn right onto North Campbell Avenue
1.5 mi·3 min·North Campbell Avenue
4
Turn left onto East River Road
1.2 mi·2 min·East River Road
5
Turn right onto North 1st Avenue
1.9 mi·3 min·North 1st Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto East Orange Grove Road
0.5 mi·51 sec·East Orange Grove Road
7
Continue on West Orange Grove Road
0.3 mi·41 sec·West Orange Grove Road
8
Turn right onto AZ 77; US 80 Hist
14 mi·21 min·North Oracle Road
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on AZ 77
16 mi·21 min·Tucson-Globe Highway
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on AZ 77
2.0 mi·2 min·American Avenue
11
Continue on AZ 77
61 mi·1 hr 22 min·Tucson-Globe Highway
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 70; AZ 77
0.9 mi·1 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
13
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
1.1 mi·1 min·East Ash Street
14
Take the exit onto AZ 77
239 ft·6 sec·AZ 77
Use the right lane.
15
Merge onto US 60; AZ 77
83 mi·1 hr 35 min·Globe-Show Low Highway
16
Continue on US 60; AZ 77
0.6 mi·1 min·West Deuce of Clubs
17
Turn right onto West Whipple Street
0.8 mi·1 min·West Whipple Street
18
Turn right onto South Central Avenue
1.1 mi·2 min·South Central Avenue
19
Continue on East Woolford
0.2 mi·28 sec·East Woolford
20
Turn right onto AZ 260
2.5 mi·3 min·South White Mountain Road
21
Continue on AZ 260
5.7 mi·10 min·West White Mountain Boulevard
22
Turn right onto West Summer Haven Lane
0.2 mi·41 sec·West Summer Haven Lane
23
Continue on West Summer Haven Lane
478 ft·20 sec·West Summer Haven Lane
24
Arrive at destination
West Summer Haven Lane
Trip Plan
Since this is a 4-hour, 27-minute drive that can comfortably be done in one day, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Tucson in the morning should get you to Pinetop-Lakeside with plenty of daylight. Plan for one stop, perhaps around Globe, which is roughly midway and where the Tucson-Globe Highway transitions. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you move onto the Globe-Show Low Highway, as services might be more spread out in the latter half of the trip. The $41 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices before you go.
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 99.4 miles from Tucson, AZ, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.4 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 44 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.4 miles or 2h 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 3h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pinetop-Lakeside, 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 198.9 miles and 4h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 Globe-Show Low Highway for about 83.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 104.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3 mi into trip|~6m in|East Fort Lowell Road
Turn left onto East Fort Lowell Road
Navigation decision point
4
4 mi into trip|~8m in|North Campbell Avenue
Turn right onto North Campbell Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
6.7 mi into trip|~14m in|North 1st Avenue
Turn right onto North 1st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
9.4 mi into trip|~19m in|AZ 77; US 80 Hist / North Oracle Road
Turn right onto AZ 77; US 80 Hist / North Oracle Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
104.2 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|AZ 77
Take the exit onto AZ 77
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.62 one way
$81.24 round trip
$5.19/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$43.21
$86.42
premium
$5.72
$44.78
$89.57
diesel
$5.35
$41.89
$83.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.7
0
$20.88
$9.55
Efficient EV
49.7
0
$17.40
$7.96
EV Truck/SUV
79.6
0
$27.85
$12.73
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Tucson, AZ
Afternoon
in Tucson on Wednesday
Local time
12:06 PM
MST
Current temp
67°F
Clear
SE 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ
Afternoon
in Pinetop-Lakeside on Wednesday
Local time
12:06 PM
MST
Current temp
47°F
Clear
S 7 mph0% 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
20 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 27m 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...
Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$10
near mile 116.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with no highway driving according to the data. You'll encounter your longest stretch of continuous driving on the Globe-Show Low Highway for 83.4 miles. The main roads include North Oracle Road, Tucson-Globe Highway, and Globe-Show Low Highway. Given the lack of highway share, anticipate a more rural cruising experience with potential for varying speed limits and local traffic.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.4 mi on Globe-Show Low Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near East Fort Lowell Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 27m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (East Fort Lowell Road): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (North Campbell Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (North 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
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
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.4 miles on Globe-Show Low Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (East Fort Lowell Road): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (North Campbell Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (North 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Saguaro National Park and Tonto National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
