Origin
Willcox, AZ
Evening in Willcox on Saturday
Local time
7:45 PM
MST
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Willcox, AZ to Tucson, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
81.3 mi
131 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Willcox, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Tucson, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 81.3 miles across the heart of the Desert Southwest, this journey from Willcox to Tucson is a straightforward drive that typically takes about 1 hour and 22 minutes. You can easily complete this trip in a single day, as it functions perfectly as a quick transit between these two Arizona hubs. With a fuel budget of approximately $16, the route is both efficient and budget-friendly for solo travelers or families. While the trip does not cross into different regions, you will experience a clear transition from the high desert landscapes near Willcox to the expansive metropolitan environment of Tucson. It is an ideal option if you prefer to spend your time at your destination rather than behind the wheel, offering a practical alternative to longer, more complex regional traverses.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tucson-Benson Highway | 37.9 mi | 38m |
| Benson-Steins Pass Highway | 33.6 mi | 33m |
| North Haskell Avenue | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| South Alvernon Way | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| South Country Club Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| East Barraza Aviation Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| I 10 BUS | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Country Club Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tucson-Benson Highway
— 37.9 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Willcox, AZ and Tucson, 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
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 265
Toward Alvernon Way North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn straight onto South Alvernon Way
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Alvernon Way
Use the left lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto South Alvernon Way
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Alvernon Way
Toward Alvernon Way
8
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
9
Turn straight onto AZ 210
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Barraza Aviation Highway
10
Turn right onto South Country Club Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Country Club Road
11
Continue on North Country Club Road
91 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Country Club Road
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
North Country Club Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.6 miles from Willcox, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 3.7 and 77.6 — 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.
3
4.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 10; US 191 / Benson-Steins Pass Highway
Merge onto I 10; US 191 / Benson-Steins Pass Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
75.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward Alvernon Way North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 265
Toward Alvernon Way North
3
76.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
South Alvernon Way
Turn straight onto South Alvernon Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
77.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
South Alvernon Way
Keep slight right at fork onto South Alvernon Way toward Alvernon Way
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Alvernon Way
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.20 one way
$32.39 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $17.14 | $34.28 |
| premium | $5.59 | $17.90 | $35.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.95 | $35.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$16
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.54 | $3.90 |
| Efficient EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.11 | $3.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.5 | 0 | $11.38 | $5.20 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Tucson, AZ
Evening in Tucson on Saturday
Local time
7:45 PM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
10 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
1h 29m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route avoids major highway stretches entirely. You will navigate a series of local roads, starting on the Benson-Steins Pass Highway, transitioning to the Tucson-Benson Highway, and finishing your approach on Alvernon Way North. Because there are no long, uninterrupted highway segments, your focus will need to remain on the road as you handle the varied turns and local intersections. This configuration provides a more hands-on driving experience that differs significantly from a standard freeway commute. By staying off the major interstates, you gain a closer look at the terrain between these two cities, though you should be prepared for a slower, more deliberate pace throughout the entire 81.3-mile trip.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.9 mi on Tucson-Benson 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 3.7 miles in near I 10 BUS.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 29m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles (I 10 BUS): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (I 10; US 191 / Benson-Steins Pass Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 75.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Willcox, AZ to Tucson, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Alvernon Way North along the way.
Alvernon Way North
75.7 mi in
|
~1h 19m
About the Cities
Arriving 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 1h 29m. Total distance: 81.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.9 miles on Tucson-Benson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles (I 10 BUS): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (I 10; US 191 / Benson-Steins Pass Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 75.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tucson, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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