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Trip from Oro Valley, AZ to Glendale, AZ

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 18m

Distance

121 mi

195 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 9m ★
6 AM
2h 19m
8 AM
2h 38m
10 AM
2h 26m
12 PM
2h 24m
3 PM
2h 27m
5 PM
2h 37m
8 PM
2h 13m

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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town in Pima County, Arizona, United States

Oro Valley, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Glendale, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Oro Valley, AZ to Glendale, AZ covers 121 miles and takes about 2h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Maricopa Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.3 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.10 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.

Midpoint

60.5 miles from Oro Valley, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway 46.3 mi 46m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway 38.1 mi 38m
Maricopa Freeway 12 mi 13m
Grand Avenue 7.1 mi 12m
Papago Freeway 5.6 mi 6m
West Magee Road 3.7 mi 6m
West Cortaro Farms Road 3.4 mi 6m
North Oracle Road 2.9 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Casa Grande-Tucson Highway — 46.3 mi, about 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Oro Valley, AZ and Glendale, AZ.

1

Start on West Oro Place

249 ft · 14 sec · West Oro Place
2

Turn left onto North Valle del Oro Drive

0.1 mi · 26 sec · North Valle del Oro Drive
3

Turn right onto West Greenock Drive

0.1 mi · 27 sec · West Greenock Drive
4

Turn right onto AZ 77; US 80 Hist

2.9 mi · 4 min · North Oracle Road
5

Turn right onto West Magee Road

3.7 mi · 6 min · West Magee Road
Use the left lane.
6

Continue on West Cortaro Farms Road

3.4 mi · 6 min · West Cortaro Farms Road
Use the left lane.
7

Turn right onto North Casa Grande Highway

176 ft · 3 sec · North Casa Grande Highway
8

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 246 Toward I 10 West
9

Merge onto I 10

46 mi · 46 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 10

38 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on I 10

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

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

2.0 mi · 2 min · Papago Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

2.7 mi · 3 min · Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on I 10

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
15

Continue on I 10

0.9 mi · 1 min · Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec
Exit 143C Toward 19th Avenue, Grand Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Turn right onto North 19th Avenue

0.3 mi · 35 sec · North 19th Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
18

Turn slight left onto Grand Avenue

7.1 mi · 12 min · Grand Avenue
Use the left / slight left lanes.
19

Arrive at destination

US 60

Trip Plan

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 60.5 miles from Oro Valley, AZ, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.3 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 27 miles or 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 60.5 miles or 1h 9m 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 49m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Oro Valley, 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 Oro Valley, AZ

This is one driving day of about 121 miles and 2h 18m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Oro Valley, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 46.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Pinal County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Casa Grande, AZ

61 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

Marana, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Arizona City, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 60.5 miles from Oro Valley, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Rainforest Cafe

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Tempe, Arizona

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30 mile 103.7

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14807529100

Visit website

Rainforest Cafe

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30 mile 103.7

Tempe, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14807529100

Visit website

Otro Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour $20 to $30 mile 112.3

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 8 am–9 pm

+16022660831

Visit website

Enchanted Island Amusement Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 112.3

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–4 pm

+16022541200

Visit website

Arizona Science Center

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 112.3

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 10:30 am–4 pm

+16027162000

Visit website

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 103.7

Tempe, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+14805657081

Visit website

Villago Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 69.1

Casa Grande, Arizona

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+15204218600

Visit website

Oro Valley Archery Range

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Oro Valley, Arizona

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+15202295050

Visit website

Dorrance DOME

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 112.3

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 10:30 am–4 pm

Visit website

Tempe Festival of the Arts

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 103.7

Tempe, Arizona

+14803556060

Visit website

Tempe Town Lake

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 103.7

Tempe, Arizona

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 113.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
3.1 mi into trip | ~5m in | West Magee Road

Turn right onto West Magee Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
107.2 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in | I 10 / Papago Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
6
109.2 mi into trip | ~2h in | I 10 / Papago Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
113.3 mi into trip | ~2h 5m in

Take the exit toward 19th Avenue, Grand Avenue

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 143C Toward 19th Avenue, Grand Avenue
6
113.6 mi into trip | ~2h 6m in | North 19th Avenue

Turn right onto North 19th Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$24.10 one way

$48.21 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $25.51 $51.02
premium $5.59 $26.63 $53.27
diesel $5.61 $26.72 $53.43

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 36.3 0 $12.70 $5.81
Efficient EV 30.3 0 $10.59 $4.84
EV Truck/SUV 48.4 0 $16.94 $7.74

Gas CO2

42 kg

EV CO2

14 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Oro Valley, AZ

Afternoon in Oro Valley on Saturday

Local time

1:53 PM

MST

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Glendale, AZ

Afternoon in Glendale on Saturday

Local time

1:53 PM

MST

Current temp

92°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

35 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 18m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

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 ~27 min detour Free near mile 66.7
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...

17 mi from route ~42 min detour $25 near mile 4.2
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

121 mi in 2h 18m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.3 mi on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near West Magee Road.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 121 miles you will encounter 12 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 3.1 miles (West Magee Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 107.2 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 109.2 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 18m. Total distance: 121 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 46.3 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Glendale, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (West Magee Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 107.2 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 109.2 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Saguaro National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Glendale, AZ before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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