Origin
Phoenix, AZ
Morning in Phoenix on Saturday
Local time
10:34 AM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Phoenix, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 24m
Distance
185.8 mi
299 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 12m
★
6 AM
3h 24m
8 AM
3h 48m
10 AM
3h 33m
12 PM
3h 30m
3 PM
3h 34m
5 PM
3h 47m
8 PM
3h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Phoenix, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Sierra Vista, AZ
Leslie del Moral
Trip Overview
The drive from Phoenix, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ covers 185.8 miles and takes about 3h 24m 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 $37.01 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
92.9 miles from Phoenix, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m 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 Sierra Vista, 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
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North Freeway
14
Continue on Tucson-Benson Highway
41 mi
·
43 min
·
Tucson-Benson Highway
15
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
16
Turn right onto South State Highway 90
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South State Highway 90
17
Continue on Huachuca Boulevard
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Huachuca Boulevard
18
Continue on State Route 90
12 mi
·
14 min
·
State Route 90
19
Continue on North Huachuca Boulevard
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Huachuca Boulevard
20
Continue on State Route 90
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 90
21
Continue on Buffalo Soldier Trail
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Buffalo Soldier Trail
22
Continue on Buffalo Solder Trail
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Buffalo Solder Trail
23
Turn straight onto Buffalo Soldier Trail
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Buffalo Soldier Trail
24
Turn left onto West Fry Boulevard
381 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Fry Boulevard
25
Continue on West Fry Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
West Fry Boulevard
26
Turn left
59 ft
·
4 sec
27
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 92.9 miles from Phoenix, AZ, or about 1h 42m 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 41 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.9 miles or 1h 42m 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 47m
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 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 185.8 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 92.9 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
$37.01 one way
$74.03 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $39.17 | $78.34 |
| premium | $5.59 | $40.90 | $81.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.02 | $82.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.7 | 0 | $19.51 | $8.92 |
| Efficient EV | 46.5 | 0 | $16.26 | $7.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.3 | 0 | $26.01 | $11.89 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Destination
Sierra Vista, AZ
Morning in Sierra Vista on Saturday
Local time
10:34 AM
MST
Current temp
51°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
42 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 24m 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?
185.8 mi in 3h 24m 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.
27 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 Sierra Vista, AZ is easy. At 3h 24m 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 Sierra Vista, 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
Arriving in Sierra Vista, AZ
Full guide →Sierra Vista (Spanish: Mountain View) is a city in Southeast Arizona and the commercial hub of the region, making it a convenient base from which to explore the area. It is perhaps best known for historic Fort Huachuca, established in 1877 during the Apache Wars. Although still an active U.S. Army military base, its two military museums and historic cemetery are open to the general public. The landscape around the city is typical for the Southwestern United States, and the nearby mountains and canyons can be explored on foot, by bike, or on horseback. Because it is a major stopover point on avian migration routes, the area is popular with avid birdwatchers and naturalists, and is known as the "Hummingbird Capital of America".
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 3h 24m. Total distance: 185.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Sierra Vista, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Sierra Vista, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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