Origin
Tucson, AZ
Evening in Tucson on Saturday
Local time
6:10 PM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tucson, AZ to Willow Valley, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 36m
Distance
350.3 mi
564 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$70
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 24m
★
6 AM
6h 36m
8 AM
7h 0m
10 AM
6h 45m
12 PM
6h 42m
3 PM
6h 46m
5 PM
6h 59m
8 PM
6h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tucson, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Willow Valley, AZ
Önder Karagülle
Trip Overview
This 350.3-mile journey from Tucson, AZ to Willow Valley, AZ is a substantial drive, estimated to take about 6 hours and 36 minutes. While it's possible to complete in a single day, consider that the driving profile is quite turn-heavy, suggesting a more relaxed pace might be beneficial. You'll primarily be on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, and Route 95. With a fuel cost estimated at $70 and only one recommended stop, this trip is best suited for those who enjoy navigating local roads. Both your starting and ending points are within the Desert Southwest region, so expect consistent arid landscapes.
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
175.1 miles from Tucson, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 9m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 105 mi | 1h 45m |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.5 mi | 55m |
| Route 95 | 47.5 mi | 55m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 38.1 mi | 38m |
| Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway | 30.9 mi | 35m |
| Papago Freeway | 24.3 mi | 28m |
| Aqueduct Road | 16.5 mi | 24m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 12 mi | 13m |
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 Willow Valley, 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
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
California Avenue
22
Continue on CA 62
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
CA 62
23
At end of road, turn left onto CA 62
16 mi
·
24 min
·
Aqueduct Road
24
Turn sharp right onto US 95
48 mi
·
55 min
·
Route 95
25
Take the exit onto US 95
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 95
26
Merge onto I 40; US 95
0.8 mi
·
51 sec
·
Needles Freeway
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
Toward J Street
28
Turn right onto J Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
J Street
29
At end of road, turn left onto Front Street
465 ft
·
14 sec
·
Front Street
30
Turn right onto North K Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North K Street
31
Continue on AZ 95
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Harbor Avenue
32
Continue on AZ 95
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Mohave Valley Highway
33
Turn left onto Willow Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Willow Drive
34
Arrive at destination
Willow Drive
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour and 36-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Tucson to maximize daylight hours. Since there's only one recommended stop, plan it strategically to break up the 350.3 miles. The longest stretch without a break is 105 miles on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, so ensure you're fueled up before that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the highway share is low, meaning service stations might be less frequent between towns. The $70 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting this one-day trip.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 175.1 miles from Tucson, AZ, or about 3h 9m 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 77 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 175.1 miles or 3h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Willow Valley, 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 350.3 miles and 6h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
175 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 77 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 175.1 miles from Tucson, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 344.8 — 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.
6
344.8 mi into trip
|
~6h 25m in
|
Front Street
At end of road, turn left onto Front Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$69.78 one way
$139.57 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
123 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $73.85 | $147.71 |
| premium | $5.59 | $77.11 | $154.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $77.34 | $154.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 105.1 | 1 | $36.78 | $16.81 |
| Efficient EV | 87.6 | 1 | $30.65 | $14.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 140.1 | 1 | $49.04 | $22.42 |
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Willow Valley, AZ
Evening in Willow Valley on Saturday
Local time
6:10 PM
MST
Current temp
54°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
6h 36m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive with a significant number of turns, characteristic of a more local road experience rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. Only 25% of this route is on highways, meaning you'll spend most of your time on two-lane roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 105 miles on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. This road profile suggests a driving experience where you'll be actively engaged with the steering wheel, with frequent changes in direction and potentially varying speed limits as you move through different communities.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
34 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?
9/10
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
9/10
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 19 significant decision points across 350.3 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.
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.
On the drive from Tucson, AZ to Willow Valley, 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 →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 6h 36m. Total distance: 350.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 36m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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 Willow Valley, 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 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Willow Valley, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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