Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Alhambra, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 29m

Distance

191.7 mi

308 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 18m ★
6 AM
3h 30m
8 AM
3h 54m
10 AM
3h 38m
12 PM
3h 36m
3 PM
3h 40m
5 PM
3h 53m
8 PM
3h 22m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Alhambra, AZ, AZ

Alhambra, AZ

David Vives

Downtown Sierra Vista, AZ, AZ

Sierra Vista, AZ

Leslie del Moral

Trip Overview

The drive from Alhambra, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ covers 191.7 miles and takes about 3h 29m 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 turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.6 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.19 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

95.8 miles from Alhambra, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 29m. Total distance: 191.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (22%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 29m drive with frequent turns across 191.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 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?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 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 191.7 miles you will encounter 9 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 9 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

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
Maricopa Freeway 16.3 mi 18m
State Route 90 14.9 mi 17m
Huachuca Boulevard 9.1 mi 10m
North Freeway 6.1 mi 6m
Black Canyon Freeway 3.5 mi 4m
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 Sierra Vista, 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

Continue on Buffalo Soldier Trail

0.4 mi · 35 sec · Buffalo Soldier Trail
20

Continue on Buffalo Solder Trail

0.8 mi · 1 min · Buffalo Solder Trail
21

Turn straight onto Buffalo Soldier Trail

0.3 mi · 39 sec · Buffalo Soldier Trail
22

Turn left onto West Fry Boulevard

380 ft · 9 sec · West Fry Boulevard
23

Continue on West Fry Boulevard

0.1 mi · 19 sec · West Fry Boulevard
24

Turn left

59 ft · 4 sec
25

Arrive at destination

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 95.8 miles from Alhambra, AZ, or about 1h 42m 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 42 miles or 47m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 95.8 miles or 1h 42m 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 46m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sierra Vista, 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 191.7 miles and 3h 29m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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 95.8 mi from Alhambra, AZ · 1h 42m into the drive

town in Pima County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Oro Valley, AZ

96 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Marana, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 95.8 miles from Alhambra, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Sierra Vista, AZ

The final approach into Sierra Vista, 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 Sierra Vista, 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 ~22 min detour $25 near mile 132.2
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 52.9
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...

14 mi from route ~36 min detour Free near mile 191.7
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$38.19 one way

$76.38 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 67 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $40.42 $80.83
premium $5.59 $42.20 $84.39
diesel $5.61 $42.32 $84.65

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$38

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 67.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 57.5 0 $20.13 $9.20
Efficient EV 47.9 0 $16.77 $7.67
EV Truck/SUV 76.7 0 $26.84 $12.27

Gas CO2

67 kg

EV CO2

22 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 Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Alhambra, AZ

Afternoon in Alhambra on Thursday

Local time

2:28 PM

MST

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sierra Vista, AZ

Afternoon in Sierra Vista on Thursday

Local time

2:28 PM

MST

Current temp

51°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

8 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

3h 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Alhambra, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ covers 191.7 miles and takes about 3h 29m 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 95.8 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 $38.19 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 191.7 miles you will encounter 9 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.
The route from Alhambra, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Saguaro National Park, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Coronado National Memorial.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Sierra Vista, AZ

Glendale, AZ 195.5 mi · 3h 36m Phoenix, AZ 185.7 mi · 3h 23m Tucson, AZ 71.7 mi · 1h 25m

More from Alhambra, AZ

Douglas, AZ 242.9 mi · 4h 38m Flagstaff, AZ 139.9 mi · 2h 30m Chino Valley, AZ 104 mi · 1h 58m Eloy, AZ 70.7 mi · 1h 19m Gold Camp, AZ 62.5 mi · 1h 24m Maricopa, AZ 40.5 mi · 51m
Weekend drives from Alhambra, AZ Scenic drives in AZ

Explore more options from Alhambra, AZ or browse trips ending in Sierra Vista, AZ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.

Explore maps for Alhambra, AZ or Sierra Vista, AZ on MapSof.net.