The drive from Chandler, AZ to South Tucson, AZ covers 97.9 miles and takes about 1h 49m 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, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, North Arizona Avenue 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 $19.50 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
49 miles from Chandler, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 49m drive with frequent turns across 97.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 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 54.6 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 0.1 miles in near North Washington Street.
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 49m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (East Buffalo Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (AZ 87 / North Arizona Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North Washington Street
Turn right onto North Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|East Buffalo Street
Turn right onto East Buffalo Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|AZ 87 / North Arizona Avenue
Turn left onto AZ 87 / North Arizona Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
13.6 mi into trip|~22m in|I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
96.3 mi into trip|~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward 22nd Street - 29th Street, Starr Pass Boulevard, Silverlake Road
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 259
Toward 22nd Street - 29th Street, Starr Pass Bo...
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.6 mi
55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
23.5 mi
23m
North Arizona Avenue
6.9 mi
11m
AZ 587
6.1 mi
9m
North Freeway
4.6 mi
5m
West 22nd Street
0.7 mi
1m
South 6th Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
North Washington Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.6 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chandler, AZ and South Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on East Chandler Boulevard
357 ft·9 sec·East Chandler Boulevard
2
Turn right onto North Washington Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·North Washington Street
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto East Buffalo Street
393 ft·15 sec·East Buffalo Street
4
Turn left onto AZ 87
6.9 mi·11 min·North Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on AZ 587
6.1 mi·9 min·AZ 587
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
7
Merge onto I 10
24 mi·23 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 10
55 mi·55 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
4.6 mi·5 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 259Toward 22nd Street - 29th Street, Starr Pass Boulevard, Silverlake RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on South Freeway Road
377 ft·8 sec·South Freeway Road
12
Turn left onto West 22nd Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West 22nd Street
13
Turn right onto US 80 Hist
0.5 mi·57 sec·South 6th Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
US 80 Hist
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 49 miles from Chandler, AZ, or about 58m 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 22 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49 miles or 58m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Tucson, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chandler, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chandler, AZ
This is one driving day of about 97.9 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Chandler, 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 54.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 49 mi from Chandler, AZ
· 58m into the drive
The midpoint is around 49 miles from Chandler, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in South Tucson, AZ
The final approach into South Tucson, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
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.
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
$25
near mile 97.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.50 one way
$39.01 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$20.64
$41.28
premium
$5.59
$21.55
$43.10
diesel
$5.61
$21.62
$43.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.4
0
$10.28
$4.70
Efficient EV
24.5
0
$8.57
$3.92
EV Truck/SUV
39.2
0
$13.71
$6.27
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Chandler, AZ
Morning
in Chandler on Saturday
Local time
6:44 AM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Tucson, AZ
Morning
in South Tucson on Saturday
Local time
6:44 AM
MST
Current temp
55°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
35 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 49m 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 Chandler, AZ to South Tucson, AZ covers 97.9 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, North Arizona Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49 miles from Chandler, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.50 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 49m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (East Buffalo Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (AZ 87 / North Arizona Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Chandler, AZ to South 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.
