Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Morning in Los Angeles on Monday
Local time
10:48 AM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Los Angeles, CA to Tucson, AZ
Drive Time
7h 32m
Distance
490 mi
789 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$113
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 22m
★
6 AM
7h 32m
8 AM
7h 52m
10 AM
7h 39m
12 PM
7h 37m
3 PM
7h 40m
5 PM
7h 51m
8 PM
7h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Tucson, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
The drive from Los Angeles, CA to Tucson, AZ covers 490 miles and takes about 7h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Main Street, East Aliso Street, US 101 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $113.47 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
245 miles from Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 46m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 32m drive with frequent turns across 490 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Main Street 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
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 32m, 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 Los Angeles, CA to Tucson, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Aliso Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 101 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Santa Ana Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 10 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| San Bernardino Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-10 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on West 1st Street
69 ft
·
10 sec
·
West 1st Street
2
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Main Street
3
Turn right onto East Aliso Street
338 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Aliso Street
4
Take the ramp straight toward US 101 South, I 10 East, I 5 South
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 101 South, I 10 East, I 5 South
5
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
6
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 East: San Bernardino
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 10 East: San Bernardino
7
Continue on San Bernardino Freeway
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
8
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
9
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
10
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
11
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
12
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
13
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
14
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
15
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
16
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
17
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
18
Keep slight left to continue on I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
9.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
19
Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway
14 mi
·
16 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
20
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
40 mi
·
44 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
21
Keep slight left to continue on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
32 mi
·
34 min
·
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
22
Keep slight left to continue on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
23
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
222 mi
·
3 hr 50 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
24
Continue on Papago Freeway
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Papago Freeway
25
Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
26
Continue on Papago Freeway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Papago Freeway
27
Keep slight left to continue on Papago Freeway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
28
Merge slight right onto Maricopa Freeway
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
29
Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
30
Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
55 mi
·
55 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
31
Continue on North Freeway
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Freeway
32
Take the exit slight right toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard
33
Turn straight onto North Freeway Road
161 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Freeway Road
34
Turn left onto West Congress Street
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
West Congress Street
35
Continue on West Broadway Boulevard
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
West Broadway Boulevard
36
Turn left onto North Country Club Road
131 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Country Club Road
37
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 245 miles from Los Angeles, CA, or about 3h 46m 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 108 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 245 miles or 3h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 37m
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 Los Angeles, CA 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Los Angeles, CA
This is one driving day of about 490 miles and 7h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 108 miles from Los Angeles, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 245 mi from Los Angeles, CA · 3h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
245 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 108 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 245 miles from Los Angeles, CA, 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
$113.47 one way
$226.94 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
171 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $117.02 | $234.04 |
| premium | $6.24 | $120.44 | $240.87 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $108.86 | $217.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$113
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$138–$163
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 171.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $51 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 147 | 1 | $51.45 | $23.52 |
| Efficient EV | 122.5 | 1 | $42.88 | $19.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 196 | 2 | $68.60 | $31.36 |
Gas CO2
171 kg
EV CO2
57 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
10:48 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
24 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
7h 32m 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 Los Angeles, CA to Tucson, AZ covers 490 miles and takes about 7h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Main Street, East Aliso Street, US 101 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 245 miles from Los Angeles, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $113.47 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 2 meaningful breaks 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 7h 32m, 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 Los Angeles, CA to Tucson, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Los Angeles, CA to Tucson, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Tucson, AZ
More trips to Tucson, AZ
Explore more options from Los Angeles, CA or browse trips ending in Tucson, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for Los Angeles, CA or Tucson, AZ on MapSof.net.