Trip from Surprise, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

3h 56m

Distance

212.5 mi

342 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

3h 43m ★

6 AM

3h 56m

8 AM

4h 22m

10 AM

4h 5m

12 PM

4h 2m

3 PM

4h 6m

5 PM

4h 21m

8 PM

3h 48m

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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city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Surprise, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Sierra Vista, AZ

Leslie del Moral

Trip Overview

The drive from Surprise, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ covers 212.5 miles and takes about 3h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Tucson-Benson 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 54.6 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.33 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

106.2 miles from Surprise, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 3h 56m drive with frequent turns across 212.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 29 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. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near West Santa Fe Drive.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 212.5 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 0.3 miles (West Santa Fe Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (West Greenway Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Santa Fe Drive

At end of road, turn left onto West Santa Fe Drive

Navigation decision point

0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | West Greenway Road

Turn right onto West Greenway Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

14.5 mi into trip | ~20m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Phoenix

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 1B Toward I 10 East: Phoenix

29.5 mi into trip | ~38m in | I 10 / Papago Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

182.8 mi into trip | ~3h 18m in

Take the exit toward AZ 90 East: Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 302 Toward AZ 90 East: Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway	54.6 mi	55m
Tucson-Benson Highway	41.4 mi	43m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway	37.8 mi	38m
State Route 90	14.9 mi	17m
Papago Freeway	14.9 mi	17m
Maricopa Freeway	12.3 mi	14m
Huachuca Boulevard	9.1 mi	10m
Agua Fria Freeway	8.9 mi	10m

Longest stretch: Casa Grande-Tucson Highway — 54.6 mi, about 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Surprise, AZ and Sierra Vista, AZ.

Start on North Nash Street

0.3 mi · 53 sec · North Nash Street

At end of road, turn left onto West Santa Fe Drive

0.3 mi · 36 sec · West Santa Fe Drive

Turn right onto West Greenway Road

217 ft · 7 sec · West Greenway Road

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto US 60

4.6 mi · 7 min · Grand Avenue

Use the left lane.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Toward AZ 101 Loop South

Merge onto AZ 101 Loop

8.9 mi · 10 min · Agua Fria Freeway

Use the straight / left lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min

Exit 1B Toward I 10 East: Phoenix Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 10

10 mi · 12 min · Papago Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

0.5 mi · 35 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

Continue on I 10

3.2 mi · 3 min · Papago Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

1.2 mi · 1 min · Papago Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 10; US 60

12 mi · 14 min · Maricopa Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

38 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

55 mi · 55 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

6.1 mi · 6 min · North Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

41 mi · 43 min · Tucson-Benson Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 302 Toward AZ 90 East: Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista

Turn right onto AZ 90

1.2 mi · 1 min · South State Highway 90

Continue on AZ 90

9.1 mi · 10 min · Huachuca Boulevard

Continue on AZ 90

12 mi · 14 min · State Route 90

Continue on AZ 90

2.2 mi · 3 min · North Huachuca Boulevard

Continue on AZ 90

3.0 mi · 3 min · State Route 90

Continue on Buffalo Soldier Trail

0.4 mi · 35 sec · Buffalo Soldier Trail

Continue on Buffalo Solder Trail

0.8 mi · 1 min · Buffalo Solder Trail

Turn straight onto Buffalo Soldier Trail

0.3 mi · 39 sec · Buffalo Soldier Trail

Turn left onto West Fry Boulevard

380 ft · 9 sec · West Fry Boulevard

Continue on West Fry Boulevard

0.1 mi · 19 sec · West Fry Boulevard

Turn left

59 ft · 4 sec

Arrive at destination

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 106.2 miles from Surprise, AZ, or about 1h 58m 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 80 miles or 1h 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 106.2 miles or 1h 58m 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 9m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sierra Vista, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Surprise, 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 Surprise, AZ

This is one driving day of about 212.5 miles and 3h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Surprise, 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 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 106.2 mi from Surprise, AZ · 1h 58m into the drive

city in Pinal County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Casa Grande, AZ

106 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tucson, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 106.2 miles from Surprise, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Sierra Vista, AZ

The final approach into Sierra Vista, 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 Sierra Vista, 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

$42.33 one way

$84.67 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 74 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.36	$44.80	$89.60
premium	$5.59	$46.78	$93.55
diesel	$5.61	$46.92	$93.83

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$42

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 74.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	63.8	0	$22.31	$10.20
Efficient EV	53.1	0	$18.59	$8.50
EV Truck/SUV	85	1	$29.75	$13.60

Gas CO2

74 kg

EV CO2

25 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Surprise, AZ

Late night in Surprise on Wednesday

Local time

5:21 AM

MST

Current temp

80°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 10 to 15 mph 10% chance Live forecast

Blowing Dust Advisory

Blowing Dust Advisory issued April 13 at 1:17PM MST until April 13 at 7:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 7:45PM MST until April 13 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ

Destination

Sierra Vista, AZ

Late night in Sierra Vista on Wednesday

Local time

5:21 AM

MST

Current temp

72°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 22 to 25 mph 19% chance Live forecast

Blowing Dust Advisory

Blowing Dust Advisory issued April 13 at 1:17PM MST until April 13 at 7:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 7:45PM MST until April 13 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ

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

8 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

3h 56m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Surprise, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ covers 212.5 miles and takes about 3h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Tucson-Benson 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 106.2 miles from Surprise, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.33 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.

The route from Surprise, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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