Origin
Cienega Springs, AZ
Afternoon in Cienega Springs on Wednesday
Local time
2:14 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cienega Springs, AZ to Tucson, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
4h 32m
Distance
276.2 mi
444 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 20m
★
6 AM
4h 33m
8 AM
5h 0m
10 AM
4h 42m
12 PM
4h 40m
3 PM
4h 44m
5 PM
4h 58m
8 PM
4h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tucson, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cienega Springs, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 276.2 miles and takes about 4h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Riverside Drive, Rio Vista Highway, California Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.02 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
138.1 miles from Cienega Springs, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 32m drive with frequent turns across 276.2 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.
Riverside Drive is one of the defining roads on this drive.
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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 32m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cienega Springs, AZ to Tucson, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside Drive | — | — |
| Rio Vista Highway | — | — |
| California Avenue | — | — |
| Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway | — | — |
| North Central Boulevard | — | — |
| East Main Street | — | — |
| Riggles Road | — | — |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Riverside Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cienega Springs, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on Cienega Springs Road
125 ft
·
11 sec
·
Cienega Springs Road
2
Turn left onto Riverside Drive
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Riverside Drive
3
Turn right onto Rio Vista Highway
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Rio Vista Highway
4
Turn left onto California Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
California Avenue
5
Continue on Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
6
Continue on Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
7
Continue on North Central Boulevard
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Central Boulevard
8
Turn left onto East Main Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
9
Turn right onto Riggles Road
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Riggles Road
10
Take the ramp left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
11
Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
105 mi
·
1 hr 45 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
12
Continue on Papago Freeway
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Papago Freeway
13
Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
14
Continue on Papago Freeway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Papago Freeway
15
Keep slight left to continue on Papago Freeway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
16
Merge slight right onto Maricopa Freeway
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
17
Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
18
Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
55 mi
·
55 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
19
Continue on North Freeway
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Freeway
20
Take the exit slight right toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard
21
Turn straight onto North Freeway Road
161 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Freeway Road
22
Turn left onto West Congress Street
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
West Congress Street
23
Continue on West Broadway Boulevard
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
West Broadway Boulevard
24
Turn left onto North Country Club Road
131 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Country Club Road
25
Arrive at your 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 138.1 miles from Cienega Springs, AZ, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
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 61 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.1 miles or 2h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 43m
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 Cienega Springs, 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 Cienega Springs, AZ
This is one driving day of about 276.2 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Cienega Springs, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 138.1 mi from Cienega Springs, AZ · 2h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
138 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 138.1 miles from Cienega Springs, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.02 one way
$110.05 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
97 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $58.23 | $116.46 |
| premium | $5.59 | $60.80 | $121.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.98 | $121.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.9 | 1 | $29.00 | $13.26 |
| Efficient EV | 69.1 | 0 | $24.17 | $11.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 110.5 | 1 | $38.67 | $17.68 |
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Destination
Tucson, AZ
Afternoon in Tucson on Wednesday
Local time
2:14 PM
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
36 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
4h 32m 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 Cienega Springs, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 276.2 miles and takes about 4h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Riverside Drive, Rio Vista Highway, California Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 138.1 miles from Cienega Springs, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $55.02 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 straightforward 4h 32m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cienega Springs, AZ to Tucson, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cienega Springs, AZ to Tucson, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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