Origin
Nogales, AZ
Late night in Nogales on Monday
Local time
3:45 AM
MST
Current temp
94°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nogales, AZ to Tucson, AZ
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
67.9 mi
109 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tucson, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
Traveling from Nogales to Tucson covers 67.9 miles of the Arizona Desert Southwest, making for a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 21 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $13 for fuel, keeping the costs quite low for this regional transit. The drive utilizes a combination of North Grand Avenue, the Nogales–Tucson Highway, and West 22nd Street to navigate the transition between these two desert hubs. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a day of exploration, this path offers a reliable, no-fuss connection across the southern Arizona landscape.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
33.9 miles from Nogales, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 39m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience as you transition away from the border region. While the route features a 60-mile stretch on the Nogales–Tucson Highway, the overall highway share remains quite low at only 2 percent. This means you will spend most of your time navigating local roads rather than high-speed interstate lanes. The personality of the drive shifts from the initial turn-heavy segments to more consistent stretches as you settle into the main highway portion. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience where your attention will be required more for local navigation than for long-distance highway cruising.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Nogales–Tucson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 60 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.9 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (I 19 / Nogales–Tucson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 19 North: Tucson
Navigation decision point
Toward I 19 North: Tucson
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 19 / Nogales–Tucson Highway
Merge onto I 19 / Nogales–Tucson Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
63.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 29th Street/22nd Street, Silverlake Road, Starr Pass Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 102
Toward 29th Street/22nd Street, Silverlake Road...
5
66.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
East Broadway Boulevard
Turn right onto East Broadway Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Nogales–Tucson Highway | 60 mi | 1h 5m |
| North Grand Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| West 22nd Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| East Broadway Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Mariposa Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Freeway Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Kino Parkway | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Campbell Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Nogales–Tucson Highway
— 60 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nogales, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on North Wayside Drive
91 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Wayside Drive
2
Turn right onto North Morley Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Morley Avenue
3
Turn left
129 ft
·
9 sec
4
Turn right onto I 19 BUS
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Grand Avenue
5
Turn left onto AZ 189
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Mariposa Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 19 North: Tucson
7
Merge onto I 19
60 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
Nogales–Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 102
Toward 29th Street/22nd Street, Silverlake Road, Starr Pass Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on South Freeway Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Freeway Road
10
Turn right onto West 22nd Street
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West 22nd Street
11
Turn slight left
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
12
Turn straight onto South Kino Parkway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Kino Parkway
13
Continue on South Campbell Avenue
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
South Campbell Avenue
14
Turn right onto East Broadway Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Broadway Boulevard
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto North Country Club Road
131 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Country Club Road
16
Arrive at destination
North Country Club Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to leave whenever suits your plans best. With no mandatory stops required to cover the 67.9 miles, you can drive straight through, though keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is a good habit given the $13 estimated cost. Because the route relies heavily on local roads like North Grand Avenue and West 22nd Street, be prepared for varying speed limits and traffic patterns that differ from a standard interstate commute. Focus on staying alert during the turns on the local sections to ensure a smooth transition into Tucson. Utilizing the Nogales–Tucson Highway for the bulk of your travel will provide the most consistent pace, so prioritize that stretch when planning your timing.
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 33.9 miles from Nogales, AZ, or about 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60 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 67.9 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.9 miles or 39m 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 5m
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 Nogales, 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 Nogales, AZ
This is one driving day of about 67.9 miles and 1h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Nogales, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Nogales–Tucson Highway for about 60 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.9 mi from Nogales, AZ · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 67.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.9 miles from Nogales, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Nogales–Tucson Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60 miles.
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
$13.51 one way
$27.03 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $14.27 | $28.54 |
| premium | $5.59 | $14.94 | $29.87 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $15.09 | $30.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.13 | $3.26 |
| Efficient EV | 17 | 0 | $5.94 | $2.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.2 | 0 | $9.51 | $4.35 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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
Tucson, AZ
Late night in Tucson on Monday
Local time
3:45 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
41 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
1h 21m 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 Nogales, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 67.9 miles and takes about 1h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Nogales–Tucson Highway, North Grand Avenue, West 22nd Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.9 miles from Nogales, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.51 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.9 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (I 19 / Nogales–Tucson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Nogales, AZ to Tucson, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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