Origin
First Mesa, AZ
Afternoon in First Mesa on Monday
Local time
3:02 PM
MST
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from First Mesa, AZ to Tucson, AZ
Drive Time
6h 5m
Distance
354.1 mi
570 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$70
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 52m
★
6 AM
6h 5m
8 AM
6h 31m
10 AM
6h 14m
12 PM
6h 12m
3 PM
6h 15m
5 PM
6h 30m
8 PM
5h 57m
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 First Mesa, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 354.1 miles and takes about 6h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 264, Winslow–Kayenta Highway, AZ 87 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $70.47 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
177.1 miles from First Mesa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 2m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 5m drive with frequent turns across 354.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 264 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 5m, 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 First Mesa, AZ to Tucson, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 264 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Winslow–Kayenta Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| AZ 87 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Purple Heart Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 17 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 17 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Arizona Veterans Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Highway 264
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between First Mesa, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on the route
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
the route
2
At the end of the road, turn left
285 ft
·
14 sec
3
Turn right
246 ft
·
12 sec
4
At the end of the road, turn right onto Arizona State Highway 264
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Arizona State Highway 264
5
Turn left onto Winslow–Kayenta Highway
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Winslow–Kayenta Highway
6
Continue on AZ 87
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
AZ 87
7
Continue on Winslow–Kayenta Highway
39 mi
·
44 min
·
Winslow–Kayenta Highway
8
Take the ramp right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
9
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
61 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 17 South, AZ 89A North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 17 South, AZ 89A North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 17, AZ 89A South: Sedona, Phoenix
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
I 17, AZ 89A South: Sedona, Phoenix
12
Merge slight left onto Arizona Veterans Highway
93 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
13
Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
14
Continue on Black Canyon Freeway
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
15
Continue on North Black Canyon Highway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Black Canyon Highway
16
Continue on Black Canyon Freeway
28 mi
·
32 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
17
Continue on Maricopa Freeway
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
18
Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
19
Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
55 mi
·
55 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
20
Continue on North Freeway
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Freeway
21
Take the exit slight right toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard
22
Turn straight onto North Freeway Road
161 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Freeway Road
23
Turn left onto West Congress Street
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
West Congress Street
24
Continue on West Broadway Boulevard
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
West Broadway Boulevard
25
Turn left onto North Country Club Road
131 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Country Club Road
26
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 177.1 miles from First Mesa, AZ, or about 3h 2m 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 80 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.1 miles or 3h 2m 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 3m
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 First Mesa, 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 First Mesa, AZ
This is one driving day of about 354.1 miles and 6h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from First Mesa, 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 177.1 mi from First Mesa, AZ · 3h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
177 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 177.1 miles from First Mesa, 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
$70.47 one way
$140.94 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
124 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $74.42 | $148.83 |
| premium | $5.59 | $77.89 | $155.78 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $78.67 | $157.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 106.2 | 1 | $37.18 | $17.00 |
| Efficient EV | 88.5 | 1 | $30.98 | $14.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 141.6 | 1 | $49.57 | $22.66 |
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 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 Monday
Local time
3:02 PM
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
18 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
6h 5m 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 First Mesa, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 354.1 miles and takes about 6h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 264, Winslow–Kayenta Highway, AZ 87. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 177.1 miles from First Mesa, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $70.47 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 5m, 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 First Mesa, AZ to Tucson, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from First Mesa, AZ to Tucson, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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