The drive from Bagdad, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 239.9 miles and takes about 5h 7m 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, Wickenburg–Kingman 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 $47.79 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
119.9 miles from Bagdad, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 57m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 7m. Total distance: 239.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 7m drive with frequent turns across 239.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 43 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. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 82 miles in near US 60 / Grand Avenue.
Driving Effort9/10
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 20 significant decision points across 239.9 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 82 miles (US 60 / Grand Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 102.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 111.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
82 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|US 60 / Grand Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60 / Grand Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
102.4 mi into trip|~2h 36m in
Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
8
111.7 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward I 10 East: Phoenix
6
126.6 mi into trip|~3h 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.
8
236.2 mi into trip|~4h 58m in
Take the exit toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard
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 258
Toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.6 mi
55m
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
43.4 mi
55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
37.8 mi
38m
Grand Avenue
26.6 mi
36m
Papago Freeway
14.9 mi
17m
Maricopa Freeway
12.3 mi
14m
Santa Maria-Bagdad Highway
10.9 mi
19m
Agua Fria Freeway
8.9 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.6 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bagdad, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on this road
2.1 mi·13 min·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto North Lindahl
0.7 mi·2 min·North Lindahl
3
Continue on Lindahl Road
1.6 mi·4 min·Lindahl Road
4
Turn left onto Main Street
0.3 mi·31 sec·Main Street
5
Continue on AZ 96
4.0 mi·7 min·Hillside-Bagdad Highway
6
Turn right onto AZ 97
11 mi·19 min·Santa Maria-Bagdad Highway
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
8
Merge onto US 93
27 mi·31 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
9
Continue on US 93
0.8 mi·54 sec·Wickenburg-Kingman Highway
10
Merge onto US 93
11 mi·12 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
0.6 mi·1 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
12
Enter roundabout onto US 93
138 ft·5 sec·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
13
Continue on US 93
1.2 mi·2 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
14
Enter roundabout onto US 93
139 ft·4 sec·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
15
Continue on US 93
0.9 mi·1 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
0.9 mi·1 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
0.5 mi·1 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
18
Continue on US 93
104 ft·4 sec·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
1.2 mi·2 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
20
Enter roundabout onto US 60
201 ft·8 sec·East Wickenburg Way
21
Continue on US 60
1.5 mi·2 min·East Wickenburg Way
22
Continue on US 60
8.7 mi·10 min·Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
23
Continue on US 60
5.2 mi·5 min·Grand Avenue
Use the right lane.
24
Continue on US 60
1.7 mi·1 min·Wickenburg–Phoenix Highway
25
Continue on US 60
1.1 mi·1 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
20 mi·29 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
27
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
28
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
8.9 mi·10 min·Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / left lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 10 East: PhoenixUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
30
Merge onto I 10
10 mi·12 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·35 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
32
Continue on I 10
3.2 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.2 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Merge onto I 10; US 60
12 mi·14 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Continue on I 10
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Continue on I 10
55 mi·55 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Continue on I 10
3.6 mi·4 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 258Toward Congress Street, Broadway BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Turn straight onto North Freeway Road
159 ft·4 sec·North Freeway Road
40
Turn left onto West Congress Street
0.3 mi·56 sec·West Congress Street
41
Continue on West Broadway Boulevard
2.9 mi·6 min·West Broadway Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
42
Turn left onto North Country Club Road
131 ft·8 sec·North Country Club Road
43
Arrive at destination
North Country Club Road
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 119.9 miles from Bagdad, AZ, or about 2h 57m 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 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.9 miles or 2h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tucson, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bagdad, 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 Bagdad, AZ
This is one driving day of about 239.9 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Bagdad, 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 119.9 mi from Bagdad, AZ
· 2h 57m into the drive
The midpoint is around 119.9 miles from Bagdad, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Tucson, AZ
The final approach into Tucson, 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 Tucson, 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
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
$25
near mile 239.9
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 165.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.79 one way
$95.58 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$50.58
$101.15
premium
$5.59
$52.81
$105.61
diesel
$5.61
$52.97
$105.93
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: 83.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72
0
$25.19
$11.52
Efficient EV
60
0
$20.99
$9.60
EV Truck/SUV
96
1
$33.59
$15.35
Gas CO2
84 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
Bagdad, AZ
Late night
in Bagdad on Friday
Local time
12:22 AM
MST
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tucson, AZ
Late night
in Tucson on Friday
Local time
12:22 AM
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
18 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
5h 7m 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 Bagdad, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 239.9 miles and takes about 5h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Wickenburg–Kingman 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 119.9 miles from Bagdad, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.79 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 is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 239.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 82 miles (US 60 / Grand Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 102.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 111.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bagdad, AZ to Tucson, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Saguaro National Park and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the
methodology page.
