Origin
Deer Valley, AZ
Afternoon in Deer Valley on Thursday
Local time
2:10 PM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Deer Valley, AZ to South Tucson, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 24m
Distance
134.2 mi
216 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 15m
★
6 AM
2h 25m
8 AM
2h 45m
10 AM
2h 32m
12 PM
2h 30m
3 PM
2h 33m
5 PM
2h 44m
8 PM
2h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Deer Valley, AZ
Line Knipst
South Tucson, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Deer Valley, AZ to South Tucson, AZ covers 134.2 miles and takes about 2h 24m 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, Black Canyon Freeway 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 $26.73 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
67.1 miles from Deer Valley, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 24m. Total distance: 134.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (28%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 24m drive with frequent turns across 134.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 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 early in the drive near West Deer Valley Road.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 24m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Deer Valley Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Deer Valley Road
Turn left onto West Deer Valley Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
North Black Canyon Highway
Turn right onto North Black Canyon Highway
Navigation decision point
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge onto I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
132.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 21m 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...
4
133.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
|
US 80 Hist / South 6th Avenue
Turn right onto US 80 Hist / South 6th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.6 mi | 55m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 37.8 mi | 38m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 17.1 mi | 19m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 16.3 mi | 18m |
| North Freeway | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| West Deer Valley Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| West 22nd Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Black Canyon Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.6 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Deer Valley, AZ and South Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on North 35th Avenue
37 ft
·
8 sec
·
North 35th Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Deer Valley Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Deer Valley Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto North Black Canyon Highway
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
North Black Canyon Highway
4
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
this road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 17
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
6
Continue on I 17; US 60
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 10
38 mi
·
38 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 259
Toward 22nd Street - 29th Street, Starr Pass Boulevard, Silverlake Road
Use 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 67.1 miles from Deer Valley, AZ, or about 1h 14m 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 30 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.1 miles or 1h 14m 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 58m
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 Deer Valley, 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 Deer Valley, AZ
This is one driving day of about 134.2 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Deer Valley, 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 67.1 mi from Deer Valley, AZ · 1h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 67.1 miles from Deer Valley, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around South 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
$26.73 one way
$53.47 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $28.29 | $56.59 |
| premium | $5.59 | $29.54 | $59.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.63 | $59.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.3 | 0 | $14.09 | $6.44 |
| Efficient EV | 33.6 | 0 | $11.74 | $5.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.7 | 0 | $18.79 | $8.59 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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.
Destination
South Tucson, AZ
Afternoon in South Tucson on Thursday
Local time
2:10 PM
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
33 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
2h 24m 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 Deer Valley, AZ to South Tucson, AZ covers 134.2 miles and takes about 2h 24m 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, Black Canyon Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 67.1 miles from Deer Valley, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.73 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 2h 24m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Deer Valley Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Deer Valley, AZ to South Tucson, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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