Origin
Scottsdale, AZ
Afternoon in Scottsdale on Sunday
Local time
4:07 PM
MST
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scottsdale, AZ to Tucson, AZ
Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
122.7 mi
197 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 44m
★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 8m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scottsdale, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Tucson, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
Traveling between Scottsdale and Tucson covers a distance of 122.7 miles through the heart of the Desert Southwest. Expect to spend approximately 1 hour and 52 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You will navigate a path that utilizes East Chaparral Road, AZ 101, and the Pima Freeway to exit the metropolitan area. Budgeting about $24 for fuel should be sufficient for the trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because the total duration is under two hours, you do not need to worry about booking an overnight stay; it is easily manageable as a quick round trip. This route offers a straightforward connection between two of Arizona’s major population hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
61.3 miles from Scottsdale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 122.7-mile journey is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for a more involved driving experience as you navigate through local corridors. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on East Chaparral Road, the route demands your full attention as you transition between various turns and road segments. Unlike monotonous highway stretches, this drive keeps you engaged with the local infrastructure throughout the entire 1 hour and 52 minutes. You will find that the road surface and traffic patterns shift frequently, requiring a steady hand and constant awareness as you move through the desert landscape.
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.
East Chaparral Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Tucson, AZ is easy. At 1h 52m 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 Scottsdale, AZ to Tucson, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Chaparral Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| AZ 101 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pima Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Price Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| AZ 202 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Santan Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 10 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 10 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Chaparral Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsdale, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on the route
62 ft
·
7 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Chaparral Road
3
Take the ramp right toward AZ 101 Loop South
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
AZ 101 Loop South
4
Merge slight left onto Pima Freeway
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Pima Freeway
5
Continue on Price Freeway
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Price Freeway
6
Keep slight right to continue on AZ 202 Loop West
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
AZ 202 Loop West
7
Merge slight left onto Santan Freeway
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Santan Freeway
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 10 West: Tucson, Phoenix
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
I 10 West: Tucson, Phoenix
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 10 East: Tucson
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10 East: Tucson
10
Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
11
Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
55 mi
·
55 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
12
Continue on North Freeway
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Freeway
13
Take the exit slight right toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard
14
Turn straight onto North Freeway Road
161 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Freeway Road
15
Turn left onto West Congress Street
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
West Congress Street
16
Continue on West Broadway Boulevard
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
West Broadway Boulevard
17
Turn left onto North Country Club Road
131 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Country Club Road
18
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. You won't need to worry about planning formal rest stops given the 1 hour and 52-minute duration, allowing you to drive straight through if you prefer. Keep in mind that since the route is entirely local, traffic density can fluctuate significantly; checking local road conditions before you head out is a smart way to ensure a smooth transition. Ensure your tank is ready for the $24 fuel cost before you leave Scottsdale to avoid unnecessary stops along the way. Your best approach is to treat this as a direct, efficient connection that gets you from point A to point B without the need for complex travel logistics.
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 61.3 miles from Scottsdale, AZ, or about 56m 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 80 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.3 miles or 56m 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 31m
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 Scottsdale, 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 Scottsdale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 122.7 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Scottsdale, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 61.3 mi from Scottsdale, AZ · 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 61.3 miles from Scottsdale, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.42 one way
$48.84 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $25.79 | $51.57 |
| premium | $5.59 | $26.99 | $53.98 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $27.26 | $54.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.8 | 0 | $12.88 | $5.89 |
| Efficient EV | 30.7 | 0 | $10.74 | $4.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49.1 | 0 | $17.18 | $7.85 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
Tucson, AZ
Afternoon in Tucson on Sunday
Local time
4:07 PM
MST
Current temp
53°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
5 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
1h 52m 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 Scottsdale, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 122.7 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Chaparral Road, AZ 101, Pima Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 61.3 miles from Scottsdale, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.42 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.
The drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Tucson, AZ is easy. At 1h 52m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Tucson, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Scottsdale, AZ to Tucson, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Tucson, AZ
More trips to Tucson, AZ
Explore more options from Scottsdale, AZ or browse trips ending in Tucson, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.
Explore maps for Scottsdale, AZ or Tucson, AZ on MapSof.net.