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Trip from Nogales, AZ to Phoenix, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 13m

Distance

177.6 mi

286 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
3h 2m ★
6 AM
3h 14m
8 AM
3h 37m
10 AM
3h 22m
12 PM
3h 20m
3 PM
3h 23m
5 PM
3h 36m
8 PM
3h 7m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Nogales, AZ, AZ

Nogales, AZ

András Nyemczovszky

seat of Maricopa County, largest city in, and capital of, the State of Arizona, United States

Phoenix, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Nogales, AZ to Phoenix, AZ covers 177.6 miles and takes about 3h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Nogales–Tucson Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 60 miles on Nogales–Tucson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.38 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

88.8 miles from Nogales, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 13m. Total distance: 177.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 13m drive with frequent turns across 177.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 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. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 177.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 72.8 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 173.6 miles (US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These 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

6
72.8 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in | I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
173.6 mi into trip | ~3h 6m in | US 60 / Maricopa Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 60 / Maricopa Freeway toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
8
175.6 mi into trip | ~3h 8m in

Take the exit toward 7th Street, Central Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 195B Toward 7th Street, Central Avenue
6
177.1 mi into trip | ~3h 12m in | East Washington Street

Turn left onto East Washington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Nogales–Tucson Highway 60 mi 1h 5m
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway 54.5 mi 55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway 38.1 mi 38m
Maricopa Freeway 13.9 mi 16m
South Freeway 5.4 mi 6m
North Grand Avenue 1.8 mi 2m
South 7th Street 1.3 mi 2m
West Mariposa Road 0.7 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 Phoenix, 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 left at fork

0.6 mi · 49 sec
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
9

Merge onto I 10

5.4 mi · 6 min · South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 10

3.7 mi · 4 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

51 mi · 51 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on I 10

38 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on I 10

12 mi · 13 min · Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight right at fork onto US 60

1.9 mi · 2 min · Maricopa Freeway
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff Use the slight right lane.
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 195B Toward 7th Street, Central Avenue Use the slight right lane.
16

Turn straight onto East Maricopa Freeway

134 ft · 2 sec · East Maricopa Freeway
17

Turn right onto South 7th Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · South 7th Street
Use the straight lane.
18

Turn left onto East Washington Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Washington Street
Use the left lane.
19

Arrive at destination

West Washington Street

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 88.8 miles from Nogales, AZ, or about 1h 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 88.8 miles or 1h 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 2h 36m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Phoenix, 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 177.6 miles and 3h 13m.

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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
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 88.8 mi from Nogales, AZ · 1h 39m into the drive

town in Pima and Pinal counties in Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marana, 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

Marana, AZ to Phoenix, AZ

92.9 mi · 1h 42m

Pacing Suggestions

Marana, AZ

Fuel and coffee

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

Marana, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 88.8 miles from Nogales, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Nogales–Tucson Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60 miles.

Arriving in Phoenix, AZ

The final approach into Phoenix, 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 Phoenix, AZ.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Tumacácori National Historical Park

Tumacácori National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Tumacácori sits at a cultural crossroads in the Santa Cruz River valley. Here O’odham, Yaqui, and Apache people met and mingled with European Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries, settlers, and soldiers...

0 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 near mile 18.4
View on nps.gov
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

National Monument

An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour Free near mile 134.7
View on nps.gov
Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park

National Park

Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are pr...

14 mi from route ~34 min detour $25 near mile 61.2
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$35.38 one way

$70.76 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $37.44 $74.89
premium $5.59 $39.09 $78.19
diesel $5.61 $39.21 $78.42

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: 62.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 53.3 0 $18.65 $8.52
Efficient EV 44.4 0 $15.54 $7.10
EV Truck/SUV 71 0 $24.86 $11.37

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 as of Jun 21, 2022

Origin

Nogales, AZ

Morning in Nogales on Thursday

Local time

10:52 AM

MST

Current temp

94°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Phoenix, AZ

Morning in Phoenix on Thursday

Local time

10:52 AM

MST

Current temp

93°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

1 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 13m 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 Phoenix, AZ covers 177.6 miles and takes about 3h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Nogales–Tucson Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88.8 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 $35.38 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 177.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 72.8 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 173.6 miles (US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Nogales, AZ to Phoenix, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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