Origin
Rowood, AZ
Afternoon in Rowood on Thursday
Local time
1:10 PM
MST
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rowood, AZ to Tucson, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 46m
Distance
133.7 mi
215 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 35m
★
6 AM
2h 46m
8 AM
3h 8m
10 AM
2h 54m
12 PM
2h 52m
3 PM
2h 55m
5 PM
3h 7m
8 PM
2h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rowood, AZ
Mark Stebnicki
Tucson, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 133.7-mile drive from Rowood, AZ to Tucson, AZ is a feasible day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 46 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via North Tucson-Ajo Highway and West Ajo Highway, with a significant portion being on these local roads rather than interstates. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $27. Given its manageable length and the nature of the drive, it's best suited for a single day of travel. Both your origin and destination are within the Desert Southwest region, so expect consistent arid landscapes throughout your journey.
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
66.9 miles from Rowood, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 133.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
This route offers a turn-heavy local drive experience, with 100% of the journey on local roads. You won't encounter any interstate driving here. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll cover is 93.7 miles on North Tucson-Ajo Highway, indicating a substantial period of consistent travel on this particular road. The profile suggests a drive that requires more attention to turns and local road navigation compared to a straightforward highway cruise. Expect the road to feel more intimate and less like a high-speed transit corridor.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Tucson-Ajo Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 93.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 9.8 miles in near AZ 86 / North Tucson-Ajo Highway.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 46m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.8 miles (AZ 86 / North Tucson-Ajo Highway): Navigation decision point; at 128.1 miles (I 19 / Nogales–Tucson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 128.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
9.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
AZ 86 / North Tucson-Ajo Highway
Turn left onto AZ 86 / North Tucson-Ajo Highway
Navigation decision point
3
128.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 35m in
|
I 19 / Nogales–Tucson Highway
Merge onto I 19 / Nogales–Tucson Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
9
128.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 29th Street/22nd Street, Silverlake Road, Starr Pass Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 102
Toward 29th Street/22nd Street, Silverlake Road...
5
132.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 43m in
|
East Broadway Boulevard
Turn right onto East Broadway Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Tucson-Ajo Highway | 93.7 mi | 1h 51m |
| West Ajo Highway | 23 mi | 28m |
| Tucson-Ajo Highway | 8.8 mi | 10m |
| West 22nd Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| West Ajo Way | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| East Broadway Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
| Gila Bend-Lukeville Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Nogales–Tucson Highway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Tucson-Ajo Highway
— 93.7 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rowood, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on AZ 85
8.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Tucson-Ajo Highway
2
Continue on AZ 85
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Gila Bend-Lukeville Highway
3
Continue on AZ 85
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Tucson-Ajo Highway
4
Continue on AZ 85
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Sonoita Highway
5
Turn left onto AZ 86
94 mi
·
1 hr 51 min
·
North Tucson-Ajo Highway
6
Continue on AZ 86
23 mi
·
28 min
·
West Ajo Highway
7
Continue on AZ 86
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Ajo Way
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
9
Merge onto I 19
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
·
Nogales–Tucson Highway
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 102
Toward 29th Street/22nd Street, Silverlake Road, Starr Pass Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on South Freeway Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Freeway Road
12
Turn right onto West 22nd Street
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West 22nd Street
13
Turn slight left
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
14
Turn straight onto South Kino Parkway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Kino Parkway
15
Continue on South Campbell Avenue
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
South Campbell Avenue
16
Turn right onto East Broadway Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Broadway Boulevard
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto North Country Club Road
131 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Country Club Road
18
Arrive at destination
North Country Club Road
Trip Plan
With a duration of under three hours, this trip from Rowood to Tucson is best tackled in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon heat, especially in the Desert Southwest. You'll encounter one designated stop along the way, but with flexibility, you can choose your own points of interest. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without major route changes is over 90 miles. A good tip is to ensure you have a full tank before leaving Rowood, as services might be more spaced out on the North Tucson-Ajo Highway.
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 66.9 miles from Rowood, AZ, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.7 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 29 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.9 miles or 1h 20m 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 11m
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 Rowood, 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 Rowood, AZ
This is one driving day of about 133.7 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Rowood, 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 North Tucson-Ajo Highway for about 93.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 66.9 mi from Rowood, AZ · 1h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 66.9 miles from Rowood, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North Tucson-Ajo Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93.7 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.63 one way
$53.27 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $28.19 | $56.38 |
| premium | $5.59 | $29.43 | $58.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.52 | $59.04 |
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: 46.8 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 | 40.1 | 0 | $14.04 | $6.42 |
| Efficient EV | 33.4 | 0 | $11.70 | $5.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.5 | 0 | $18.72 | $8.56 |
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.
Destination
Tucson, AZ
Afternoon in Tucson on Thursday
Local time
1:10 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
2h 46m 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 Rowood, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 133.7 miles and takes about 2h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Tucson-Ajo Highway, West Ajo Highway, Tucson-Ajo Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.9 miles from Rowood, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.63 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 straightforward 2h 46m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.8 miles (AZ 86 / North Tucson-Ajo Highway): Navigation decision point; at 128.1 miles (I 19 / Nogales–Tucson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 128.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Rowood, AZ to Tucson, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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