Origin
Sierra Vista, AZ
Evening in Sierra Vista on Sunday
Local time
6:08 PM
MST
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sierra Vista, AZ to Tucson, AZ
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
71.7 mi
115 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sierra Vista, AZ
Leslie del Moral
Tucson, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
Spanning 71.7 miles across the Desert Southwest, this trip from Sierra Vista to Tucson is a straightforward journey typically taking about 1 hour and 25 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $14 for fuel to complete the trip. Utilizing a combination of State Route 90, Huachuca Boulevard, and the Tucson-Benson Highway, you will find this path offers an efficient connection between these two Southern Arizona hubs. It serves as a practical, no-fuss route for travelers looking to navigate the region quickly.
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
35.8 miles from Sierra Vista, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience as you transition between various road types. Only 23% of your journey involves highway driving, so be prepared for a more hands-on experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Your longest uninterrupted segment occurs on the Tucson-Benson Highway, which stretches for 36.4 miles. As you move away from Sierra Vista, the character of the road shifts from local boulevard navigation to the more sustained pace of the highway. Staying alert is essential, as the frequent turns require more focus than a typical high-speed freeway trek.
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.
Tucson-Benson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 36.4 miles.
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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Fry Boulevard.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (West Fry Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 29.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.7 miles (I 10 / Tucson-Benson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Fry Boulevard
Turn right onto West Fry Boulevard
Navigation decision point
6
29.1 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Turn left toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
5
29.7 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
I 10 / Tucson-Benson Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Tucson-Benson Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
66.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward Alvernon Way North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 265
Toward Alvernon Way North
5
68 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
South Alvernon Way
Keep slight right at fork onto South Alvernon Way toward Alvernon Way
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Alvernon Way
Towns Along This Route
Between Sierra Vista, AZ and Tucson, AZ, road signs point toward Tuscon and Alvernon Way North.
Tuscon
29.1 mi in
|
~36m
Alvernon Way North
66.1 mi in
|
~1h 15m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tucson-Benson Highway | 36.4 mi | 37m |
| State Route 90 | 15 mi | 17m |
| Huachuca Boulevard | 9 mi | 10m |
| South Huachuca Boulevard | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| South Alvernon Way | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| South Country Club Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Buffalo Soldier Trail | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South State Highway 90 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Tucson-Benson Highway
— 36.4 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sierra Vista, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on this road
59 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto West Fry Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Fry Boulevard
3
Turn right onto Buffalo Soldier Trail
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Buffalo Soldier Trail
4
Continue on AZ 90
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 90
5
Continue on AZ 90
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
South Huachuca Boulevard
6
Continue on AZ 90
12 mi
·
13 min
·
State Route 90
7
Continue on AZ 90
9.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Huachuca Boulevard
8
Continue on AZ 90
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South State Highway 90
9
Turn left
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
10
Merge onto I 10
36 mi
·
37 min
·
Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 265
Toward Alvernon Way North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto South Alvernon Way
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Alvernon Way
Use the left / none lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto South Alvernon Way
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Alvernon Way
Toward Alvernon Way
14
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
15
Turn straight onto AZ 210
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Barraza Aviation Highway
16
Turn right onto South Country Club Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Country Club Road
17
Continue on North Country Club Road
91 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Country Club Road
Use the left / none lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
North Country Club Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your daily schedule to depart whenever it suits you best. You will not need to plan for any formal stops along the way, given the quick 1 hour and 25 minute duration. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Sierra Vista to ensure your $14 estimate remains accurate throughout the trip. Because the route relies heavily on local roads rather than long stretches of interstate, try to account for extra time if you are traveling during peak local traffic hours. This path is straightforward, so enjoy the ease of moving between these two Arizona cities without the stress of a long-distance haul.
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 35.8 miles from Sierra Vista, AZ, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.4 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 71.7 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.8 miles or 43m 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 9m
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 Sierra Vista, 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 Sierra Vista, AZ
This is one driving day of about 71.7 miles and 1h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sierra Vista, 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.
The longest stretch is on Tucson-Benson Highway for about 36.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.8 mi from Sierra Vista, AZ · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 71.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.8 miles from Sierra Vista, 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
$14.27 one way
$28.54 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $15.07 | $30.14 |
| premium | $5.59 | $15.77 | $31.54 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $15.93 | $31.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.53 | $3.44 |
| Efficient EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.27 | $2.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.7 | 0 | $10.04 | $4.59 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Evening in Tucson on Sunday
Local time
6:08 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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 25m 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 Sierra Vista, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 71.7 miles and takes about 1h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tucson-Benson Highway, State Route 90, Huachuca Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.8 miles from Sierra Vista, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.27 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (West Fry Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 29.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.7 miles (I 10 / Tucson-Benson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Sierra Vista, AZ and Tucson, AZ, road signs point toward Tuscon and Alvernon Way North.
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