The drive from Sun Valley, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 196 miles and takes about 3h 44m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Beeline Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 72.8 miles on South Beeline Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.05 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
98 miles from Sun Valley, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 44m. Total distance: 196 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 44m drive with frequent turns across 196 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
South Beeline Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 72.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 79.1 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 196 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 79.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 90.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
79.1 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Turn left toward AZ 101 Loop South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
8
90.7 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 202 Loop West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 61B
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
6
94.8 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: Tucson, Phoenix
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 55A-B
Toward I 10 West: Tucson, Phoenix
8
95.2 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 55B
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
8
192.3 mi into trip|~3h 35m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Sun Valley, AZ to Tucson, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Phoenix along the way.
Phoenix
94.8 mi in|~1h 55m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Beeline Highway
72.8 mi
1h 26m
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.6 mi
55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
37.8 mi
38m
Price Freeway
9.4 mi
10m
Payson-Show Low Highway
3.7 mi
6m
North Freeway
3.6 mi
4m
Santan Freeway
3.1 mi
3m
West Broadway Boulevard
2.9 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
South Beeline Highway
— 72.8 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sun Valley, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on AZ 260
3.7 mi·6 min·Payson-Show Low Highway
2
Turn left onto AZ 87
73 mi·1 hr 26 min·South Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto East McDowell Road
2.6 mi·4 min·East McDowell Road
4
Turn left
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop SouthUse the straight / left / right lanes.
5
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
1.8 mi·2 min·Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
9.4 mi·10 min·Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 61BToward AZ 202 Loop WestUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
3.1 mi·3 min·Santan Freeway
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·41 sec
Exit 55A-BToward I 10 West: Tucson, Phoenix
10
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi·1 min
Exit 55BToward I 10 East: TucsonUse the straight / slight left 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 258Toward Congress Street, Broadway BoulevardUse 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
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 98 miles from Sun Valley, AZ, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.8 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 43 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98 miles or 1h 59m 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 3m
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 Sun Valley, 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 Sun Valley, AZ
This is one driving day of about 196 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Sun Valley, 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 South Beeline Highway for about 72.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 98 mi from Sun Valley, AZ
· 1h 59m into the drive
The midpoint is around 98 miles from Sun Valley, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before South Beeline Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.8 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.
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...
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...
11 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 128.4
Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...
23 mi from route
~59 min detour
$10
near mile 47.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.05 one way
$78.09 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$41.32
$82.64
premium
$5.59
$43.14
$86.29
diesel
$5.61
$43.27
$86.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.8
0
$20.58
$9.41
Efficient EV
49
0
$17.15
$7.84
EV Truck/SUV
78.4
0
$27.44
$12.54
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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 16, 2026
Origin
Sun Valley, AZ
Afternoon
in Sun Valley on Thursday
Local time
4:16 PM
MST
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tucson, AZ
Afternoon
in Tucson on Thursday
Local time
4:16 PM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
92°F
Mesa, AZ
98 mi in
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
13 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
3h 44m 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 Sun Valley, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 196 miles and takes about 3h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Beeline 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 98 miles from Sun Valley, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.05 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 196 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 79.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 90.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Sun Valley, AZ to Tucson, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Phoenix along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Saguaro National Park, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Tonto National Monument.
