Trip from Maricopa, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ

Drive Time

3h 12m

Distance

177.3 mi

285 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
3h 1m ★
6 AM
3h 13m
8 AM
3h 36m
10 AM
3h 21m
12 PM
3h 19m
3 PM
3h 22m
5 PM
3h 35m
8 PM
3h 6m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Maricopa, AZ, AZ

Maricopa, AZ

Tom Fisk

Downtown Sierra Vista, AZ, AZ

Sierra Vista, AZ

Leslie del Moral

Trip Overview

The drive from Maricopa, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ covers 177.3 miles and takes about 3h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway, I 8 East, Phoenix Bypass Route for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.29 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

88.6 miles from Maricopa, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 12m drive with frequent turns across 177.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Maricopa, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ is easy. At 3h 12m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Maricopa, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway Unavailable Refreshing
I 8 East Unavailable Refreshing
Phoenix Bypass Route Unavailable Refreshing
I 10 East Unavailable Refreshing
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway Unavailable Refreshing
North Freeway Unavailable Refreshing
Tucson-Benson Highway Unavailable Refreshing
AZ 90 East Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Maricopa, AZ and Sierra Vista, AZ.

1

Start on North John Wayne Parkway

13 mi · 14 min · North John Wayne Parkway
2

At the end of the road, turn right onto Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway

5.7 mi · 6 min · Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
3

Take the exit sharp left toward I 8 East: Tucson

0.3 mi · 33 sec · I 8 East: Tucson
4

Merge slight left onto Phoenix Bypass Route

26 mi · 26 min · Phoenix Bypass Route
5

Keep slight right to continue on I 10 East: Tucson

0.6 mi · 38 sec · I 10 East: Tucson
6

Continue on Phoenix Bypass Route

0.4 mi · 28 sec · Phoenix Bypass Route
7

Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

55 mi · 55 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
8

Continue on North Freeway

6.1 mi · 6 min · North Freeway
9

Continue on Tucson-Benson Highway

41 mi · 43 min · Tucson-Benson Highway
10

Take the exit slight right toward AZ 90 East: Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista

0.6 mi · 1 min · AZ 90 East: Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista
11

Turn right onto South State Highway 90

1.2 mi · 1 min · South State Highway 90
12

Continue on Huachuca Boulevard

9.1 mi · 10 min · Huachuca Boulevard
13

Continue on State Route 90

12 mi · 14 min · State Route 90
14

Continue on North Huachuca Boulevard

2.2 mi · 3 min · North Huachuca Boulevard
15

Continue on State Route 90

3.0 mi · 3 min · State Route 90
16

Continue on Buffalo Soldier Trail

0.4 mi · 35 sec · Buffalo Soldier Trail
17

Continue on Buffalo Solder Trail

0.8 mi · 1 min · Buffalo Solder Trail
18

Turn straight onto Buffalo Soldier Trail

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Buffalo Soldier Trail
19

Turn left onto West Fry Boulevard

381 ft · 10 sec · West Fry Boulevard
20

Continue on West Fry Boulevard

0.1 mi · 19 sec · West Fry Boulevard
21

Turn left

59 ft · 4 sec
22

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 88.6 miles from Maricopa, AZ, or about 1h 36m 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 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 88.6 miles or 1h 36m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sierra Vista, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Maricopa, 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 Maricopa, AZ

This is one driving day of about 177.3 miles and 3h 12m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Maricopa, 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 88.6 mi from Maricopa, AZ · 1h 36m into the drive

Downtown Tucson, AZ, AZ

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tucson, AZ

89 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.

Popular next leg

Tucson, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ

71.7 mi · 1h 26m

Pacing Suggestions

Tucson, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tucson, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 88.6 miles from Maricopa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Sierra Vista, AZ

The final approach into Sierra Vista, 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 Sierra Vista, 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

$35.29 one way

$70.57 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.34 $37.26 $74.52
premium $5.59 $39.00 $78.00
diesel $5.64 $39.39 $78.78

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 62 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 53.2 0 $18.62 $8.51
Efficient EV 44.3 0 $15.51 $7.09
EV Truck/SUV 70.9 0 $24.82 $11.35

Gas CO2

62 kg

EV CO2

21 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Maricopa, AZ

Morning in Maricopa on Monday

Local time

10:59 AM

MST

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sierra Vista, AZ

Morning in Sierra Vista on Monday

Local time

10:59 AM

MST

Current temp

50°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

4 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

3h 12m 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 Maricopa, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ covers 177.3 miles and takes about 3h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway, I 8 East, Phoenix Bypass Route. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88.6 miles from Maricopa, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.29 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Maricopa, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ is easy. At 3h 12m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Maricopa, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Maricopa, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Sierra Vista, AZ to Maricopa, AZ

Plan the drive back the other way.

171.3 mi 3h 13m

Explore more options from Maricopa, AZ or browse trips ending in Sierra Vista, AZ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.

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