Drive Time
2h 21m
Distance
145.9 mi
235 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
Photo: Abhishek Navlakha
The drive from Cave Creek, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 145.9 miles and takes about 2h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Tatum Boulevard, AZ 101, Pima Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.44 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
72.9 miles from Cave Creek, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 21m drive with frequent turns across 145.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Tatum Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| AZ 101 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pima Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| AZ 51 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Piestewa Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Papago Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Maricopa Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Cave Creek, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
Start on East Cave Creek Road
Turn left onto North Tatum Boulevard
Take the ramp slight right toward AZ 101 Loop West
Merge slight left onto Pima Freeway
Take the exit slight left toward AZ 51 South
Merge slight right onto Piestewa Freeway
Merge slight left onto Papago Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Papago Freeway
Merge slight right onto Maricopa Freeway
Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Continue on North Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard
Turn straight onto North Freeway Road
Turn left onto West Congress Street
Continue on West Broadway Boulevard
Turn left onto North Country Club Road
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.9 miles or 1h 10m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tucson, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Cave Creek, 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 Cave Creek, AZ
This is one driving day of about 145.9 miles and 2h 21m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 72.9 mi from Cave Creek, AZ · 1h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
73 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.
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.
Regular Gas
$28.44 one way
$56.88 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $30.66 | $61.32 |
| premium | $5.57 | $31.97 | $63.94 |
| diesel | $6.37 | $36.57 | $73.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.8 | 0 | $15.32 | $7.00 |
| Efficient EV | 36.5 | 0 | $12.77 | $5.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58.4 | 0 | $20.43 | $9.34 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Cave Creek on Saturday
Local time
8:20 AM
MST
Current temp
57°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Tucson on Saturday
Local time
8:20 AM
MST
Current temp
53°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
59°F
Tempe, AZ
73 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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