Origin
Cottonwood, AZ
Morning in Cottonwood on Monday
Local time
10:42 AM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cottonwood, AZ to Tucson, AZ
Drive Time
6h 54m
Distance
368.7 mi
593 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$73
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 43m
★
6 AM
6h 55m
8 AM
7h 18m
10 AM
7h 3m
12 PM
7h 1m
3 PM
7h 4m
5 PM
7h 17m
8 PM
6h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cottonwood, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Tucson, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
The drive from Cottonwood, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 368.7 miles and takes about 6h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Route 4, Route 25, Navajo Routes 25 and 251 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $73.38 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
184.4 miles from Cottonwood, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 27m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 54m drive with frequent turns across 368.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Route 4 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
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 54m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cottonwood, AZ to Tucson, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Route 4 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Route 25 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Navajo Routes 25 and 251 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 264 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| the route | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Purple Heart Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Navajo Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Route 4
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cottonwood, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on the route
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
the route
2
Continue straight
499 ft
·
24 sec
3
Turn right onto Navajo Route 4
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Navajo Route 4
4
Turn right onto Navajo Route 25
5.6 mi
·
13 min
·
Navajo Route 25
5
Turn slight left onto Navajo Routes 25 and 251
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Navajo Routes 25 and 251
6
Turn right onto Navajo Route 25
19 mi
·
44 min
·
Navajo Route 25
7
Turn left onto Arizona State Highway 264
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Arizona State Highway 264
8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
177 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
9
Exit the roundabout
5.9 mi
·
6 min
10
Turn right
38 mi
·
56 min
11
Take the ramp right
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
12
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
46 mi
·
45 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 40 Business, AZ 77 South, AZ 377 South, US 180 East: Show Low, Heber
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 40 Business, AZ 77 South, AZ 377 South, US 180 East: Show Low, Heber
14
Turn left onto Navajo Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Navajo Boulevard
15
Continue on Holbrook-Springerville Highway
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Holbrook-Springerville Highway
16
Continue on Show Low-Holbrook Highway
24 mi
·
28 min
·
Show Low-Holbrook Highway
17
Continue on Arizona State Highway 77
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Arizona State Highway 77
18
Continue on Show Low-Holbrook Highway
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Show Low-Holbrook Highway
19
Continue on North Main Street
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
North Main Street
20
Continue on Show Low-Holbrook Highway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Show Low-Holbrook Highway
21
Continue on South Main Street
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
South Main Street
22
Continue on Show Low-Holbrook Highway
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Show Low-Holbrook Highway
23
Continue on North Penrod Road
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
North Penrod Road
24
Turn right onto East Deuce of Clubs
3.0 mi
·
6 min
·
East Deuce of Clubs
25
Continue on Globe-Show Low Highway
83 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
Globe-Show Low Highway
26
Turn sharp left onto East Ash Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
East Ash Street
27
Continue on Globe-Lordsburg Highway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
28
Keep slight right to continue on Tucson-Globe Highway
61 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
Tucson-Globe Highway
29
Continue on American Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
American Avenue
30
Continue on Tucson-Globe Highway
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Tucson-Globe Highway
31
Continue on North Oracle Road
14 mi
·
21 min
·
North Oracle Road
32
Turn left onto West Orange Grove Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Orange Grove Road
33
Turn right onto North 1st Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
North 1st Avenue
34
Turn left onto East River Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East River Road
35
Turn right onto North Campbell Avenue
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North Campbell Avenue
36
Turn left onto East Fort Lowell Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Fort Lowell Road
37
Turn right onto North Country Club Road
3.0 mi
·
6 min
·
North Country Club Road
38
Continue on North Country Club Road
184 ft
·
15 sec
·
North Country Club Road
39
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 184.4 miles from Cottonwood, AZ, or about 3h 27m 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 81 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 184.4 miles or 3h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 47m
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 Cottonwood, 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 Cottonwood, AZ
This is one driving day of about 368.7 miles and 6h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Cottonwood, 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 184.4 mi from Cottonwood, AZ · 3h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
184 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 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 184.4 miles from Cottonwood, 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
$73.38 one way
$146.75 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
129 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $77.49 | $154.97 |
| premium | $5.59 | $81.10 | $162.20 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $81.91 | $163.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$73
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$98–$123
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 110.6 | 1 | $38.71 | $17.70 |
| Efficient EV | 92.2 | 1 | $32.26 | $14.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 147.5 | 1 | $51.62 | $23.60 |
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 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
Morning in Tucson on Monday
Local time
9:42 AM
MST
Current temp
53°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
13 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 54m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cottonwood, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 368.7 miles and takes about 6h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Route 4, Route 25, Navajo Routes 25 and 251. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 184.4 miles from Cottonwood, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $73.38 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 54m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cottonwood, AZ to Tucson, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cottonwood, AZ to Tucson, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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