Willcox, AZ to Peoria, AZ is 209.3 miles and takes about 3h 48m via Casa Grande-Tucson Highway and other surface roads, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Desert Southwest region of Arizona, traversing mostly surface roads with a low highway percentage. It’s a straightforward drive that’s well within the capabilities of a single day, making it a convenient option if you're looking to cover ground efficiently without the need for an overnight stop. Plan for a day of steady travel through the Arizona landscape.
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
104.7 miles from Willcox, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.5 mi
55m
Tucson-Benson Highway
42.9 mi
44m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38.1 mi
38m
Benson-Steins Pass Highway
33.6 mi
33m
Maricopa Freeway
12 mi
13m
Grand Avenue
11.1 mi
19m
South Freeway
6 mi
6m
Papago Freeway
5.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Willcox, AZ and Peoria, AZ.
1
Start on AZ 186; I 10 BUS
3.7 mi·6 min·North Haskell Avenue
2
Take the ramp onto I 10 BUS
0.4 mi·56 sec·I 10 BUS
Use the left lane.
3
Merge onto I 10; US 191
34 mi·33 min·Benson-Steins Pass Highway
4
Continue on I 10
43 mi·44 min·Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 10
6.0 mi·6 min·South 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
0.9 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 143CToward 19th Avenue, Grand AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto North 19th Avenue
0.3 mi·35 sec·North 19th Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
16
Turn slight left onto Grand Avenue
11 mi·19 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left / slight left lanes.
17
Turn left onto West Jefferson Street
51 ft·1 sec·West Jefferson Street
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on West Jefferson Street
66 ft·2 sec·West Jefferson Street
19
Turn right onto North 82nd Avenue
0.1 mi·35 sec·North 82nd Avenue
20
Turn right onto North 83rd Avenue
77 ft·2 sec·North 83rd Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
North 83rd Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 48m estimated drive time and 209.3 miles, starting your trip in Willcox, AZ, in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. With only one stop suggested, you have flexibility in pacing. The fuel cost is estimated at $41, so ensure your tank is full before departing Willcox. Pay attention to the longest stretch of 54.5 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, as this is where you'll cover the most ground consecutively before encountering more frequent towns and junctions. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you move away from larger towns.
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 104.7 miles from Willcox, AZ, or about 1h 51m 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 46 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.7 miles or 1h 51m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Peoria, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Willcox, 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 Willcox, AZ
This is one driving day of about 209.3 miles and 3h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Willcox, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.7 and 197.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.7 mi into trip|~6m in|I 10 BUS
Take the ramp onto I 10 BUS
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
90.5 mi into trip|~1h 36m 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
191.3 mi into trip|~3h 20m 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
193.3 mi into trip|~3h 22m 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.
8
197.4 mi into trip|~3h 27m in
Take the exit toward 19th Avenue, Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 143C
Toward 19th Avenue, Grand Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.09 one way
$74.18 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$39.72
$79.44
premium
$5.04
$41.55
$83.09
diesel
$4.80
$39.52
$79.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.8
0
$21.98
$10.05
Efficient EV
52.3
0
$18.31
$8.37
EV Truck/SUV
83.7
1
$29.30
$13.40
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Willcox, AZ
Night
in Willcox on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 8 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:30PM MST until July 18 at 6:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:29PM PDT until July 18 at 8:30PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Destination
Peoria, AZ
Night
in Peoria on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
MST
Current temp
96°F
Mostly Sunny
WSW 5 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:30PM MST until July 18 at 6:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:29PM PDT until July 18 at 8:30PM 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
8 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
3h 48m 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...
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 151.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly surface roads, with only about 11% of the drive on highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 54.5 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway before transitioning to more varied surface roads. Expect consistent driving without significant highway cruising, which means more opportunities to observe the changing scenery at a moderate pace. The transition away from higher-speed roads will likely involve more intersections and lower speed limits.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 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
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 3.7 miles in near I 10 BUS.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 209.3 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 3.7 miles (I 10 BUS): Lane positioning matters here; at 90.5 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 191.3 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Willcox is a small town in Cochise County, Southeast Arizona, and a convenient gateway to Chiricahua National Monument and other scenic sights in the region.
Top landmarks
•Willcox Women's Club — women's club in Willcox, United States of America
Peoria is a city inside of Phoenix, Arizona. Many visitors come to the area during the spring to see their favorite professional baseball team during Spring Training in the Cactus League.
Top landmarks
•Central School — school building in Peoria, Arizona
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 48m. Total distance: 209.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 48m 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 23 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 Peoria, 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 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles (I 10 BUS): Lane positioning matters here; at 90.5 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 191.3 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Saguaro National Park and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Peoria, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
