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Trip from Alhambra, AZ to Douglas, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 38m

Distance

242.9 mi

391 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$48

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 25m ★
6 AM
4h 38m
8 AM
5h 5m
10 AM
4h 48m
12 PM
4h 45m
3 PM
4h 49m
5 PM
5h 4m
8 PM
4h 30m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Alhambra, AZ, AZ

Alhambra, AZ

David Vives

Downtown Douglas, AZ, AZ

Douglas, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Alhambra, AZ to Douglas, AZ covers 242.9 miles and takes about 4h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Tucson-Benson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.6 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.39 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

121.5 miles from Alhambra, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 38m. Total distance: 242.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Alhambra, AZ to Douglas, AZ covers 242.9 miles and takes about 4h 38m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 54.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near US 60 / West Thomas Road.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 242.9 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (US 60 / West Thomas Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
1.7 mi into trip | ~3m in | US 60 / West Thomas Road

Turn left onto US 60 / West Thomas Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / slight left lanes.
5
1.9 mi into trip | ~4m in | US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway

Turn right onto US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway

Navigation decision point

5
2.2 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the exit toward I 17 South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 17 South
5
2.3 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 17; US 60 / Black Canyon Freeway

Merge onto I 17; US 60 / Black Canyon Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
162 mi into trip | ~2h 51m in

Take the exit toward AZ 90 East: Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 302 Toward AZ 90 East: Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista

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 Alhambra, AZ to Douglas, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Sierra Vista along the way.

Sierra Vista

162 mi in | ~2h 51m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway 54.6 mi 55m
Tucson-Benson Highway 41.4 mi 43m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway 37.8 mi 38m
AZ 80 33.1 mi 45m
State Route 90 16.5 mi 19m
Maricopa Freeway 16.3 mi 18m
Whetstone TI-Junction SR 80 Highway 13.3 mi 16m
Huachuca Boulevard 9.1 mi 10m
Longest stretch: Casa Grande-Tucson Highway — 54.6 mi, about 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Alhambra, AZ and Douglas, AZ.

1

Start on North 35th Avenue

0.2 mi · 30 sec · North 35th Avenue
2

Turn left onto US 60

0.9 mi · 1 min · Grand Avenue
3

Take the exit onto US 60

0.5 mi · 1 min · US 60
Toward 27th Avenue
4

Turn left onto US 60

0.2 mi · 26 sec · West Thomas Road
Use the left / slight left lanes.
5

Turn right onto US 60

0.3 mi · 28 sec · North Black Canyon Highway
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward I 17 South
7

Merge onto I 17; US 60

3.5 mi · 4 min · Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I 17; US 60

16 mi · 18 min · Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on I 10

38 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 10

55 mi · 55 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on I 10

6.1 mi · 6 min · North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on I 10

41 mi · 43 min · Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 302 Toward AZ 90 East: Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista
14

Turn right onto AZ 90

1.2 mi · 1 min · South State Highway 90
15

Continue on AZ 90

9.1 mi · 10 min · Huachuca Boulevard
16

Continue on AZ 90

12 mi · 14 min · State Route 90
17

Continue on AZ 90

2.2 mi · 3 min · North Huachuca Boulevard
18

Continue on AZ 90

3.0 mi · 3 min · State Route 90
19

Turn left onto AZ 90

4.4 mi · 6 min · State Route 90 Bypass
20

Turn left onto AZ 90

1.5 mi · 2 min · Whetstone TI-Junction SR 80 Highway
Use the left lane.
21

Continue on AZ 90

1.6 mi · 2 min · State Route 90
22

Continue on AZ 90

12 mi · 14 min · Whetstone TI-Junction SR 80 Highway
23

At end of road, turn right onto AZ 80; US 80 Hist

10 mi · 16 min · AZ 80; US 80 Hist
24

Enter roundabout onto AZ 80

518 ft · 6 sec · AZ 80
25

Continue on AZ 80

23 mi · 28 min · AZ 80
26

Turn left onto US 80 Hist

0.5 mi · 1 min · East 10th Street
27

Arrive at destination

East 10th Street

Trip Plan

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 121.5 miles from Alhambra, AZ, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 53 miles or 59m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 121.5 miles or 2h 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 3h 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Douglas, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Alhambra, 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 Alhambra, AZ

This is one driving day of about 242.9 miles and 4h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Alhambra, 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 54.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 121.5 mi from Alhambra, AZ · 2h 9m into the drive

Downtown Tanque Verde, AZ, AZ

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tanque Verde, AZ

121 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

Casa Grande, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

South Tucson, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 121.5 miles from Alhambra, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Douglas, AZ

The final approach into Douglas, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Douglas, AZ.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Saguaro National Park

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...

9 mi from route ~24 min detour $25 near mile 125.6
View on nps.gov
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

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 ~27 min detour Free near mile 50.3
View on nps.gov
Coronado National Memorial

Coronado National Memorial

National Memorial

It was a journey of conquest filled with exploration, wonder - and cruelty. Inspired by tales of vast cities of gold, 339 European soldiers and over a thousand Aztec allies embarked on an epic journey...

15 mi from route ~38 min detour Free near mile 201
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$48.39 one way

$96.78 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 85 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $51.21 $102.42
premium $5.59 $53.47 $106.93
diesel $5.61 $53.63 $107.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$48

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$73–$98

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 85 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 72.9 0 $25.50 $11.66
Efficient EV 60.7 0 $21.25 $9.72
EV Truck/SUV 97.2 1 $34.01 $15.55

Gas CO2

85 kg

EV CO2

28 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Alhambra, AZ

Afternoon in Alhambra on Thursday

Local time

4:16 PM

MST

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Douglas, AZ

Afternoon in Douglas on Thursday

Local time

4:16 PM

MST

Current temp

47°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

12 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 38m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Alhambra, AZ to Douglas, AZ covers 242.9 miles and takes about 4h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Tucson-Benson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 121.5 miles from Alhambra, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.39 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 242.9 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (US 60 / West Thomas Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Alhambra, AZ to Douglas, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Sierra Vista along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Saguaro National Park, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Coronado National Memorial.

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