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Trip from Phoenix, AZ to East Sahuarita, AZ

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

Drive Time

2h 31m

Distance

135.6 mi

218 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 21m ★
6 AM
2h 32m
8 AM
2h 52m
10 AM
2h 39m
12 PM
2h 37m
3 PM
2h 40m
5 PM
2h 51m
8 PM
2h 26m

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

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 Phoenix, AZ to East Sahuarita, AZ covers 135.6 miles and takes about 2h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South 1st Avenue, West Madison Street, South 1st Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.01 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

67.8 miles from Phoenix, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South 1st Avenue
West Madison Street
South 1st Street
East Lincoln Street
South 7th Street
East Maricopa Freeway
I 17 South
Maricopa Freeway

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: South 1st Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Phoenix, AZ and East Sahuarita, AZ.

1

Start on West Washington Street

322 ft · 19 sec · West Washington Street
2

Turn left onto South 1st Avenue

436 ft · 10 sec · South 1st Avenue
3

Keep slight left to continue on South 1st Avenue

351 ft · 14 sec · South 1st Avenue
4

Turn left onto West Madison Street

0.1 mi · 32 sec · West Madison Street
5

At the end of the road, turn right onto South 1st Street

0.3 mi · 55 sec · South 1st Street
6

Turn left onto East Lincoln Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Lincoln Street
7

Turn right onto South 7th Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · South 7th Street
8

Turn left onto East Maricopa Freeway

292 ft · 8 sec · East Maricopa Freeway
9

Take the ramp slight left toward I 17 South, US 60 East

0.2 mi · 28 sec · I 17 South, US 60 East
10

Merge slight left onto Maricopa Freeway

14 mi · 16 min · Maricopa Freeway
11

Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

38 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
12

Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

55 mi · 55 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
13

Continue on North Freeway

5.4 mi · 6 min · North Freeway
14

Take the exit slight right toward I 19 South: Nogales

0.5 mi · 38 sec · I 19 South: Nogales
15

Continue on Nogales–Tucson Highway

16 mi · 19 min · Nogales–Tucson Highway
16

Take the exit slight right toward Sahuarita Road

0.4 mi · 58 sec · Sahuarita Road
17

Turn left onto West Sahuarita Road

3.5 mi · 6 min · West Sahuarita Road
18

Turn right onto South Country Club Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Country Club Road
19

At the end of the road, turn left onto East El Toro Road

315 ft · 9 sec · East El Toro Road
20

Arrive at your destination

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.8 miles from Phoenix, AZ, or about 1h 15m 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 30 miles or 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 67.8 miles or 1h 15m 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 4m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Phoenix, 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 Phoenix, AZ

This is one driving day of about 135.6 miles and 2h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Phoenix, 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.

census designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Arizona City, AZ

68 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

Guadalupe, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Arizona City, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 67.8 miles from Phoenix, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$27.01 one way

$54.03 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 47 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $28.59 $57.18
premium $5.59 $29.85 $59.70
diesel $5.61 $29.94 $59.88

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.7 0 $14.24 $6.51
Efficient EV 33.9 0 $11.86 $5.42
EV Truck/SUV 54.2 0 $18.98 $8.68

Gas CO2

47 kg

EV CO2

16 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Phoenix, AZ

Afternoon in Phoenix on Saturday

Local time

1:35 PM

MST

Current temp

93°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

East Sahuarita, AZ

Afternoon in East Sahuarita on Saturday

Local time

1:35 PM

MST

Current temp

52°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

2h 31m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

135.6 mi in 2h 31m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: South 1st Avenue.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Phoenix, AZ to East Sahuarita, AZ is easy. At 2h 31m 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 Phoenix, AZ to East Sahuarita, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

About the Cities

Starting in Phoenix, AZ

Full guide →

Founded 1868

Phoenix is the capital of the state of Arizona, the most populous city in the American Southwest. Warm and sunny winter weather have ensured a thriving tourism industry, and the city has become the region's primary political, cultural, economic, and transportation center. Phoenix is extremely hot and dry in the summertime, so always have sunscreen with you! It had about 1,625,000 residents in 2021, and is the fifth largest city in the United States.

Top landmarks

  • Arizona State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Arizona
  • Phoenix Art Museum — art museum in Phoenix, Arizona
  • St. Mary's Basilica — Roman Catholic church in Phoenix, Arizona

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 31m. Total distance: 135.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

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

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

How this page is built

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

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