Trip from Tucson, AZ to Rio Verde, AZ

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 56m

Distance

143.6 mi

231 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min

4 AM

2h 45m ★

6 AM

2h 56m

8 AM

3h 19m

10 AM

3h 4m

12 PM

3h 2m

3 PM

3h 5m

5 PM

3h 18m

8 PM

2h 50m

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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city in and county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States

Tucson, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Rio Verde, AZ

Guillermo Berlin

Trip Overview

This 143.6-mile drive from Tucson to Rio Verde, Arizona, will take you approximately 2 hours and 56 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, you can expect a fuel cost of around $29. The route primarily utilizes local roads with some highway segments, making it a more engaging drive than a pure interstate experience. Traveling within the Desert Southwest region, this journey offers a chance to experience the unique Arizona landscape. With only one recommended stop, this is a straightforward drive perfect for a focused day trip.

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

71.8 miles from Tucson, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway	54.5 mi	55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway	38.1 mi	38m
Price Freeway	9.9 mi	11m
East McDowell Mountain Road	8.1 mi	19m
Beeline Highway	6.7 mi	7m
North Beeline Highway	4.5 mi	5m
North Saguaro Boulevard	3.8 mi	6m
East Speedway Boulevard	3.3 mi	7m

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 Rio Verde, AZ.

Start on North Country Club Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · North Country Club Road

Turn left onto East Speedway Boulevard

3.3 mi · 7 min · East Speedway Boulevard

Turn right onto North Freeway Road

415 ft · 7 sec · North Freeway Road

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Toward I 10 West

Merge onto I 10

2.5 mi · 2 min · North Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

3.7 mi · 4 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

51 mi · 51 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

38 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 14 sec

Exit 161A-B Toward AZ 202 Loop Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min

Exit 161B Toward AZ 202 Loop East Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto AZ 202 Loop

3.1 mi · 3 min · Santan Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto Price Freeway

1.2 mi · 1 min · Price Freeway

Exit 50A Toward AZ 101 Loop North Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto AZ 101 Loop

8.7 mi · 10 min · Price Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Exit 51A; 51B Toward AZ 202 Loop West, AZ 202 Loop East Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min

Exit 51B Toward AZ 202 Loop East Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto AZ 202 Loop

2.5 mi · 2 min · Red Mountain Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec

Exit 13 Toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Payson Use the slight right lane.

Turn left onto AZ 87

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Country Club Drive

Continue on AZ 87

4.5 mi · 5 min · North Beeline Highway

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Continue on AZ 87

6.7 mi · 7 min · Beeline Highway

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto East Shea Boulevard

0.6 mi · 59 sec · East Shea Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto North Saguaro Boulevard

3.8 mi · 6 min · North Saguaro Boulevard

Use the right lane.

At end of road, turn right onto North Fountain Hills Boulevard

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Fountain Hills Boulevard

Use the right lane.

Continue on East McDowell Mountain Road

8.1 mi · 19 min · East McDowell Mountain Road

Use the left lane.

Continue on North Forest Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Forest Road

Turn left onto East Four Peaks Boulevard

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Four Peaks Boulevard

Turn right onto North Medelice Lane

0.1 mi · 26 sec · North Medelice Lane

Arrive at destination

North Medelice Lane

Trip Plan

Given the 2 hour and 56 minute duration, departing Tucson in the morning allows ample time to reach Rio Verde without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop and a total of 143.6 miles, you have flexibility in how you pace the journey. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 54.5-mile stretch on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, where services might be less frequent. Planning your departure to avoid peak traffic in the Phoenix area, where you'll use the Price Freeway, is a smart move.

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 71.8 miles from Tucson, AZ, or about 1h 19m 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 32 miles or 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 71.8 miles or 1h 19m 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 10m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rio Verde, 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 143.6 miles and 2h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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.

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Chandler, AZ

72 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

Marana, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Casa Grande, AZ

2 mi from route

Service Plaza

2 mi from route

Riverview Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

Mesa, Arizona

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Tempe, Arizona

+14803556060

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

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 99.9 and 117.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

99.9 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in

Take the exit toward AZ 202 Loop

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 161A-B Toward AZ 202 Loop

100.1 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in

Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 202 Loop East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 161B Toward AZ 202 Loop East

113.8 mi into trip | ~2h 4m in

Take the exit toward AZ 202 Loop West, AZ 202 Loop East

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 51A; 51B Toward AZ 202 Loop West, AZ 202 Loop East

114.1 mi into trip | ~2h 5m in

Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 202 Loop East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 51B Toward AZ 202 Loop East

117.3 mi into trip | ~2h 9m in

Take the exit toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Payson

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 13 Toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Payson

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.45 one way

$50.89 round trip

$4.50/gal 25.4 MPG avg 50 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.82	$27.25	$54.50
premium	$5.04	$28.51	$57.01
diesel	$4.80	$27.11	$54.23

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	43.1	$15.08	$6.89
Efficient EV	35.9	$12.57	$5.74
EV Truck/SUV	57.4	$20.10	$9.19

Gas CO2

50 kg

EV CO2

17 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 Jul 19, 2026

Origin

Tucson, AZ

Late night in Tucson on Sunday

Local time

12:05 AM

MST

Current temp

73°F

Partly Cloudy

SE 3 mph 8% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:11PM MST until July 19 at 12:15AM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:18PM PDT until July 18 at 10:15PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV

Destination

Rio Verde, AZ

Late night in Rio Verde on Sunday

Local time

12:05 AM

MST

Current temp

77°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

N 0 to 5 mph 37% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:11PM MST until July 19 at 12:15AM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:18PM PDT until July 18 at 10:15PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas 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.

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

4 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

2h 56m 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

Park Closure: Red Hills Visitor Center (TMD) theater closed for repairs

View on nps.gov

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 ~26 min detour Free near mile 69.3

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the majority of this 143.6-mile journey. While 13% of the route is on highways, the character leans towards navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 54.5 miles along the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. This means you'll be adjusting your speed and making more frequent turns compared to a purely highway route. The drive will likely feel like a mix of faster highway sections and more deliberate navigation through local areas.

Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

28 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?

10/10

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 99.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 17 significant decision points across 143.6 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 99.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 100.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 113.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,481 ft 1,160 ft

Total Climb

458 ft

Total Descent

1,321 ft

Highest Point

2,481 ft

Elevation Range

1,321 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 Rio Verde, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Payson along the way.

Payson

117.3 mi in | ~2h 9m

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Gold Bar Espresso

Cafe

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Tempe, AZ

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Th 06:00-20:00; Fr-Su 06:00-22:00

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Tempe, AZ

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Back East Bagel Company

Cafe

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Caffé Lucé

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Tucson, AZ

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Fountain Hills, AZ

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Su-Sa 08:00-20:00

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Tucson, AZ

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Cheba Hut

Fast_food

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Cuisine: sandwich

Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00

Visit website

Chipotle

Fast_food

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Marana, AZ

Cuisine: mexican

Hours: 10:45-23:00

Visit website

Little Caesars

Fast_food

Near the start, short detour

First break 1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Cuisine: pizza

Visit website

Subway

Fast_food

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Tucson, AZ

Cuisine: sandwich

Hours: 09:00-22:00

Visit website

New Town Buffet

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Cuisine: asian

Nello's

Oasis Motel (Rodeway Inn)

Motel

Near the start, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

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 Rio Verde, AZ

Full guide →

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 2h 56m. Total distance: 143.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads 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.

Yes — we found about 14 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 Rio Verde, 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. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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 Rio Verde, AZ before heading back.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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