The drive from Blackwater, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 75.4 miles and takes about 1h 39m 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, Junction I-10-Mesa Highway, North Arizona Boulevard for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.7 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.02 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.
Midpoint
37.7 miles from Blackwater, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 75.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 39m drive with frequent turns across 75.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 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 42.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 1.4 miles in near Skousen Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 39m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (Skousen Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles (AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (AZ 87; AZ 287 / North Arizona Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|Skousen Road
At end of road, turn right onto Skousen Road
Navigation decision point
4
3.4 mi into trip|~7m in|AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
Turn left onto AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
Navigation decision point
6
5.4 mi into trip|~10m in|AZ 87; AZ 287 / North Arizona Boulevard
Turn right onto AZ 87; AZ 287 / North Arizona Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
25.4 mi into trip|~42m in|I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
71.7 mi into trip|~1h 30m 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
42.7 mi
43m
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
12.7 mi
18m
North Arizona Boulevard
8.6 mi
14m
North Freeway
3.6 mi
4m
West Broadway Boulevard
2.9 mi
6m
Skousen Road
2 mi
4m
Blackwater School Road
1.4 mi
2m
West Congress Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 42.7 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blackwater, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on Blackwater School Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Blackwater School Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Skousen Road
2.0 mi·4 min·Skousen Road
3
Turn left onto AZ 87
2.0 mi·2 min·Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
4
Turn right onto AZ 87; AZ 287
8.6 mi·14 min·North Arizona Boulevard
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on AZ 87
11 mi·15 min·Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
6
Turn left
0.8 mi·1 min
7
Merge onto I 10
43 mi·43 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 10
3.6 mi·4 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 258Toward Congress Street, Broadway BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto North Freeway Road
159 ft·4 sec·North Freeway Road
11
Turn left onto West Congress Street
0.3 mi·56 sec·West Congress Street
12
Continue on West Broadway Boulevard
2.9 mi·6 min·West Broadway Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn left onto North Country Club Road
131 ft·8 sec·North Country Club Road
14
Arrive at destination
North Country Club Road
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.7 miles from Blackwater, AZ, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.7 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 17 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.7 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 22m
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 Blackwater, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Blackwater, AZ
This is one driving day of about 75.4 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Blackwater, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 42.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.7 mi from Blackwater, AZ
· 54m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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 75.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.02 one way
$30.04 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$15.90
$31.79
premium
$5.59
$16.60
$33.19
diesel
$5.61
$16.65
$33.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.6
0
$7.92
$3.62
Efficient EV
18.9
0
$6.60
$3.02
EV Truck/SUV
30.2
0
$10.56
$4.83
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Blackwater, AZ
Afternoon
in Blackwater on Friday
Local time
3:46 PM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tucson, AZ
Afternoon
in Tucson on Friday
Local time
3:46 PM
MST
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
39 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
1h 39m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Blackwater, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 75.4 miles and takes about 1h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Junction I-10-Mesa Highway, North Arizona Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.7 miles from Blackwater, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.02 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 39m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (Skousen Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles (AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (AZ 87; AZ 287 / North Arizona Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Blackwater, AZ to Tucson, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Saguaro National Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
