Trip from Quartzsite, AZ to Tucson, AZ

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

4h 20m

Distance

245.2 mi

395 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$49

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 7m ★

6 AM

4h 21m

8 AM

4h 47m

10 AM

4h 30m

12 PM

4h 27m

3 PM

4h 31m

5 PM

4h 46m

8 PM

4h 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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Trip Overview

This 245.2-mile drive from Quartzsite to Tucson, Arizona, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes to complete. You'll primarily travel on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, and Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, with about 16% of the route on highways. Expect a fuel cost of around $49 for this journey through the Desert Southwest. The overall feel of this trip is more of a turn-heavy local drive than a high-speed interstate cruise, making it manageable for a day trip with just one recommended stop. It's a straightforward connection within Arizona, suitable for those who prefer a more grounded driving experience.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

122.6 miles from Quartzsite, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 7m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 20m. Total distance: 245.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (16%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

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

Drive Character

This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' so don't expect a monotonous interstate experience. While 16% of the journey is on highways, the majority involves more varied road conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 107.3 miles on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, offering a good segment of consistent travel. As you progress, the road will likely shift between these highway portions and more local road segments, requiring your attention for turns and varying speed limits. This dynamic character means you'll experience a bit of everything behind the wheel.

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.

Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 107.3 miles.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,481 ft 878 ft

Total Climb

2,236 ft

Total Descent

634 ft

Highest Point

2,481 ft

~245.2 mi in

Elevation Range

1,603 ft

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 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 245.2 miles you will encounter 7 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 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 132 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5

0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

5

1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

Merge onto I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

6

132 mi into trip | ~2h 17m 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.

5

133.2 mi into trip | ~2h 19m in | I 10; US 60 / Maricopa Freeway

Merge onto I 10; US 60 / Maricopa Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

8

241.5 mi into trip | ~4h 11m in

Take the exit toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard

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 258 Toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway	107.3 mi	1h 48m
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway	54.6 mi	55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway	37.8 mi	38m
Papago Freeway	24.2 mi	27m
Maricopa Freeway	12.3 mi	14m
North Freeway	3.6 mi	4m
West Broadway Boulevard	2.9 mi	6m
West Main Street	0.7 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway — 107.3 mi, about 1h 48m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Quartzsite, AZ and Tucson, AZ.

1

Start on Oldham Lane

41 ft · 8 sec · Oldham Lane

2

Turn left onto I 10 BUS; US 95

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

3

Turn left onto I 10 BUS; US 95

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Quartzsite Boulevard

4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 36 sec

5

Merge onto I 10

107 mi · 1 hr 48 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

6

Continue on I 10

20 mi · 22 min · Papago Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

7

Continue on I 10

0.5 mi · 35 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

8

Continue on I 10

3.2 mi · 3 min · Papago Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

1.2 mi · 1 min · Papago Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

10

Merge onto I 10; US 60

12 mi · 14 min · Maricopa Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

11

Continue on I 10

38 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

12

Continue on I 10

55 mi · 55 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

13

Continue on I 10

3.6 mi · 4 min · North Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

14

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 44 sec

Exit 258 Toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.

15

Turn straight onto North Freeway Road

159 ft · 4 sec · North Freeway Road

16

Turn left onto West Congress Street

0.3 mi · 56 sec · West Congress Street

17

Continue on West Broadway Boulevard

2.9 mi · 6 min · West Broadway Boulevard

Use the left / straight lanes.

18

Turn left onto North Country Club Road

131 ft · 8 sec · North Country Club Road

19

Arrive at destination

North Country Club Road

Trip Plan

Given the 4-hour and 20-minute duration, this route is comfortably achievable as a single-day trip from Quartzsite to Tucson. To make the most of your drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential midday heat in the Desert Southwest. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to break the journey, though planning a fuel stop around the 107.3-mile mark on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway might be practical. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition between highway and local road segments, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably.

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 122.6 miles from Quartzsite, AZ, or about 2h 7m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.3 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 54 miles or 55m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 122.6 miles or 2h 7m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 30m

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 Quartzsite, 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 Quartzsite, AZ

This is one driving day of about 245.2 miles and 4h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Quartzsite, 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 Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 107.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 122.6 mi from Quartzsite, AZ · 2h 7m into the drive

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Phoenix, AZ

123 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

Phoenix, AZ to Tucson, AZ

116 mi · 2h 9m

Pacing Suggestions

Buckeye, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Maryvale, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 122.6 miles from Quartzsite, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 107.3 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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 140.1

Tempe, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+14805657081

Visit website

Arizona History Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 245.2

Tucson, Arizona

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+15206285774

Visit website

Valley of the Moon

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 245.2

Tucson, Arizona

+15203231331

Visit website

Villago Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 175.1

Casa Grande, Arizona

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+15204218600

Visit website

Sundance Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 105.1

Buckeye, Arizona

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

Visit website

Tempe Festival of the Arts

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 140.1

Tempe, Arizona

+14803556060

Visit website

Enchanted Island Amusement Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 122.6

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–4 pm

+16022541200

Visit website

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

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...

10 mi from route ~25 min detour $25 near mile 245.2

Park Closure: Red Hills Visitor Center (TMD) theater closed for repairs

View on nps.gov

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...

12 mi from route ~29 min detour Free near mile 177.6

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$48.85 one way

$97.69 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 86 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.36	$51.69	$103.39
premium	$5.59	$53.97	$107.95
diesel	$5.61	$54.14	$108.27

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$49

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$74–$99

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 85.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	73.6	0	$25.75	$11.77
Efficient EV	61.3	0	$21.46	$9.81
EV Truck/SUV	98.1	1	$34.33	$15.69

Gas CO2

86 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

Quartzsite, AZ

Night in Quartzsite on Thursday

Local time

11:55 PM

MST

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tucson, AZ

Night in Tucson on Thursday

Local time

11:55 PM

MST

Current temp

54°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

30 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

4h 20m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Quartzsite, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 245.2 miles and takes about 4h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Pearl Harbor Memorial 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 122.6 miles from Quartzsite, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.85 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 245.2 miles you will encounter 7 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 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 132 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Quartzsite, AZ to Tucson, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 878 ft to 2,481 ft elevation with about 2,236 ft of total climbing.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Saguaro National Park and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.

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Trip from Quartzsite, AZ to Tucson, AZ

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

Elevation Profile

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Tucson, AZ

Nearby Places

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona

Arizona History Museum

Valley of the Moon

Villago Park

Sundance Park

Tempe Festival of the Arts

Enchanted Island Amusement Park

National Parks Near This Route

Saguaro National Park

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Quartzsite, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Same local time

30 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 20m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore More

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