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Trip from San Carlos, AZ to Tucson, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

2h

Distance

102.1 mi

164 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 52m ★
6 AM
2h 1m
8 AM
2h 18m
10 AM
2h 7m
12 PM
2h 5m
3 PM
2h 7m
5 PM
2h 17m
8 PM
1h 55m

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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Downtown San Carlos, AZ, AZ

San Carlos, AZ

Andrea Hinojosa

city in and county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States

Tucson, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Embark on a 102.1-mile journey from San Carlos, AZ, to Tucson, AZ, that's estimated to take around 2 hours. This drive, primarily on local roads with a small highway share, is perfectly suited for a single day trip. You can expect to spend about $20 on fuel for this excursion through the Desert Southwest. The route's character suggests it's more of a turn-heavy local experience rather than an open highway cruise. With no designated stops in the data, you'll have the flexibility to explore as you go. This trip is a straightforward and manageable drive within Arizona.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

51.1 miles from San Carlos, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h. Total distance: 102.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (10%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

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

Drive Character

This drive presents a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, with only a 10% highway share. You'll navigate segments of the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway and Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, alongside North Arizona Avenue. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 54.6 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. Expect a driving experience that involves more frequent turns and transitions between different road types, characteristic of local routes rather than long, open stretches of interstate.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 54.6 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 early in the drive.

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 drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (North Hartford Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (West Palomino Drive): Navigation decision point.

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 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Hartford Street

Turn right onto North Hartford Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | West Palomino Drive

At end of road, turn left onto West Palomino Drive

Navigation decision point

6
0.7 mi into trip | ~2m in | AZ 87 / North Arizona Avenue

Turn right onto AZ 87 / North Arizona Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
98.4 mi into trip | ~1h 51m 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
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway 54.6 mi 55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway 23.5 mi 23m
North Arizona Avenue 9.6 mi 16m
AZ 587 6.1 mi 9m
North Freeway 3.6 mi 4m
West Broadway Boulevard 2.9 mi 6m
West Palomino Drive 0.4 mi <1m
West Congress Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Casa Grande-Tucson Highway — 54.6 mi, about 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

102 ft · 13 sec · this road
2

Turn left

141 ft · 13 sec
3

Turn right onto North Hartford Street

0.3 mi · 45 sec · North Hartford Street
4

At end of road, turn left onto West Palomino Drive

0.4 mi · 57 sec · West Palomino Drive
5

Turn right onto AZ 87

9.6 mi · 16 min · North Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
6

Continue on AZ 587

6.1 mi · 9 min · AZ 587
7

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
8

Merge onto I 10

24 mi · 23 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on I 10

55 mi · 55 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 10

3.6 mi · 4 min · North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 44 sec
Exit 258 Toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Turn straight onto North Freeway Road

159 ft · 4 sec · North Freeway Road
13

Turn left onto West Congress Street

0.3 mi · 56 sec · West Congress Street
14

Continue on West Broadway Boulevard

2.9 mi · 6 min · West Broadway Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
15

Turn left onto North Country Club Road

131 ft · 8 sec · North Country Club Road
16

Arrive at destination

North Country Club Road

Trip Plan

Given the short 2-hour duration and 102.1-mile distance, this trip from San Carlos to Tucson offers great flexibility. You could depart any time of day, but an early start might allow for more spontaneous exploration. With a fuel cost estimated at $20, planning for one fuel stop is likely unnecessary, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Keep an eye on your navigation, as the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means you'll be making several turns. The longest stretch without a turn is over 54 miles, so be prepared for that segment.

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 51.1 miles from San Carlos, AZ, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 22 miles or 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 51.1 miles or 1h 2m 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 36m

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 San Carlos, 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 San Carlos, AZ

This is one driving day of about 102.1 miles and 2h.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from San Carlos, 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 54.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 51.1 mi from San Carlos, AZ · 1h 2m into the drive

census designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Arizona City, AZ

51 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

Casa Grande, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Eloy, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 51.1 miles from San Carlos, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

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...

10 mi from route ~26 min detour Free near mile 31.7
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...

10 mi from route ~25 min detour $25 near mile 102.1
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.34 one way

$40.68 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $21.53 $43.05
premium $5.59 $22.47 $44.95
diesel $5.61 $22.54 $45.08

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 35.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.6 0 $10.72 $4.90
Efficient EV 25.5 0 $8.93 $4.08
EV Truck/SUV 40.8 0 $14.29 $6.53

Gas CO2

36 kg

EV CO2

12 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

San Carlos, AZ

Night in San Carlos on Thursday

Local time

10:00 PM

MST

Current temp

90°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tucson, AZ

Night in Tucson on Thursday

Local time

10:00 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

36 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 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 San Carlos, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 102.1 miles and takes about 2h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, North Arizona Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.1 miles from San Carlos, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.34 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.
This is a straightforward 2h drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (North Hartford Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (West Palomino Drive): Navigation decision point.
The route from San Carlos, AZ to Tucson, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Saguaro National Park.

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