Origin
Tempe, AZ
Evening in Tempe on Thursday
Local time
6:21 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe, AZ to Nogales, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
3h 10m
Distance
173.7 mi
280 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 59m
★
6 AM
3h 10m
8 AM
3h 34m
10 AM
3h 18m
12 PM
3h 16m
3 PM
3h 20m
5 PM
3h 32m
8 PM
3h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Nogales, AZ
András Nyemczovszky
Trip Overview
The drive from Tempe, AZ to Nogales, AZ covers 173.7 miles and takes about 3h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Nogales–Tucson 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 57.7 miles on Nogales–Tucson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.60 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
86.9 miles from Tempe, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 10m. Total distance: 173.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 10m drive with frequent turns across 173.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Nogales–Tucson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 57.7 miles.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,833 ft
1,175 ft
Total Climb
2,745 ft
Total Descent
92 ft
Highest Point
3,833 ft
~173.7 mi in
Elevation Range
2,658 ft
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 0.4 miles in near South McClintock Drive.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 173.7 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 0.4 miles (South McClintock Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South McClintock Drive
Turn right onto South McClintock Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward US 60 West: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 60 West: Phoenix
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge onto US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
5.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East: Tucson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
7
110.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m in
Take the exit toward I 19 South: Nogales
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 260
Toward I 19 South: Nogales
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Nogales–Tucson Highway | 57.7 mi | 1h 1m |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.6 mi | 55m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 37.8 mi | 38m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 6.1 mi | 7m |
| North Freeway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| I 19 BUS | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| Superstition Freeway | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| South McClintock Drive | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Nogales–Tucson Highway
— 57.7 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe, AZ and Nogales, AZ.
1
Start on US 80 Hist
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
2
Continue on US 80 Hist
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto South McClintock Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South McClintock Drive
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward US 60 West: Phoenix
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto US 60
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
8
Merge onto I 10
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
55 mi
·
55 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 260
Toward I 19 South: Nogales
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 19
58 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
Nogales–Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto I 19 BUS
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 19 BUS
Exit 8
Toward I 19 Business: Grand Avenue
15
Turn left
129 ft
·
7 sec
16
Turn right onto North Morley Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Morley Avenue
17
Turn left onto North Wayside Drive
91 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Wayside Drive
18
Arrive at destination
North Wayside Drive
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 86.9 miles from Tempe, AZ, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.7 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 38 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.9 miles or 1h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nogales, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tempe, 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 Tempe, AZ
This is one driving day of about 173.7 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Tempe, 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 Nogales–Tucson Highway for about 57.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.9 mi from Tempe, AZ · 1h 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 86.9 miles from Tempe, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Nogales, AZ
The final approach into Nogales, 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 Nogales, 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
$34.60 one way
$69.21 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $36.62 | $73.24 |
| premium | $5.59 | $38.23 | $76.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.35 | $76.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.1 | 0 | $18.24 | $8.34 |
| Efficient EV | 43.4 | 0 | $15.20 | $6.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.5 | 0 | $24.32 | $11.12 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Nogales, AZ
Evening in Nogales on Thursday
Local time
6:21 PM
MST
Current temp
94°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
1 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 10m 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 Tempe, AZ to Nogales, AZ covers 173.7 miles and takes about 3h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Nogales–Tucson 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 86.9 miles from Tempe, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.60 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 12 significant decision points across 173.7 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 0.4 miles (South McClintock Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tempe, AZ to Nogales, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 1,175 ft to 3,833 ft elevation with about 2,745 ft of total climbing.
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