The drive from Tombstone, AZ to Deer Valley, AZ covers 203.5 miles and takes about 3h 49m 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, I 10 Bus, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.5 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.54 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
101.8 miles from Tombstone, 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 49m. Total distance: 203.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Tombstone, AZ to Deer Valley, AZ covers 203.5 miles and takes about 3h 49m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 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 54.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South 4th Street.
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 203.5 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 0.1 miles (South 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 25.7 miles (I 10 Bus; US 80 Hist): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.1 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South 4th Street
Turn left onto South 4th Street
Navigation decision point
7
25.7 mi into trip|~39m in|I 10 Bus; US 80 Hist
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 Bus; US 80 Hist toward I 10 West: Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: Tucson
6
79.1 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
179.9 mi into trip|~3h 20m in|US 60 / Maricopa Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60 / Maricopa Freeway toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
8
201.3 mi into trip|~3h 45m in
Take the exit toward Rose Garden Lane, Deer Valley Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 215A
Toward Rose Garden Lane, Deer Valley Road
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.5 mi
55m
I 10 Bus
43.6 mi
46m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38.1 mi
38m
State Route 80
17.2 mi
25m
Black Canyon Freeway
17.1 mi
19m
Maricopa Freeway
16.2 mi
18m
South Freeway
6 mi
6m
South Lee Street
4.2 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tombstone, AZ and Deer Valley, AZ.
1
Start on this road
295 ft·27 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto South 4th Street
0.1 mi·30 sec·South 4th Street
3
Turn left onto AZ 80; US 80 Hist
0.3 mi·23 sec·East Fremont Street
4
Continue on AZ 80; US 80 Hist
0.1 mi·11 sec·North Sumner Street
5
Continue on AZ 80; US 80 Hist
12 mi·17 min·State Route 80
6
Continue on AZ 80; US 80 Hist
4.2 mi·6 min·South Lee Street
7
Continue on AZ 80; US 80 Hist
2.0 mi·2 min·East Patton Street
8
Continue on AZ 80; US 80 Hist
5.3 mi·8 min·State Route 80
9
Turn left
63 ft·2 sec
10
Turn right onto I 10 Bus
1.8 mi·2 min·East 4th Street
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 Bus; US 80 Hist
44 mi·46 min·I 10 Bus; US 80 Hist
Toward I 10 West: TucsonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 10
6.0 mi·6 min·South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 10
3.7 mi·4 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
51 mi·51 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 10
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 10
12 mi·13 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
4.2 mi·4 min·Maricopa Freeway
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: FlagstaffUse the slight right lane.
18
Continue on I 17; US 60
17 mi·19 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·39 sec
Exit 215AToward Rose Garden Lane, Deer Valley RoadUse the slight right lane.
20
Continue on North Black Canyon Highway
0.5 mi·58 sec·North Black Canyon Highway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto West Deer Valley Road
1.4 mi·2 min·West Deer Valley Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
22
Turn right onto North 35th Avenue
37 ft·0 sec·North 35th Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
North 35th Avenue
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 101.8 miles from Tombstone, AZ, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 45 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.8 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Deer Valley, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tombstone, 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 Tombstone, AZ
This is one driving day of about 203.5 miles and 3h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Tombstone, 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 54.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 101.8 mi from Tombstone, AZ
· 1h 59m into the drive
The midpoint is around 101.8 miles from Tombstone, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Deer Valley, AZ
The final approach into Deer Valley, 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 Deer Valley, 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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
$25
near mile 63.2
Park Closure: Red Hills Visitor Center (TMD) theater closed for repairs
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
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 140.4
It was a journey of conquest filled with exploration, wonder - and cruelty. Inspired by tales of vast cities of gold, 339 European soldiers and over a thousand Aztec allies embarked on an epic journey...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.54 one way
$81.08 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$42.90
$85.81
premium
$5.59
$44.79
$89.59
diesel
$5.61
$44.93
$89.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.1
0
$21.37
$9.77
Efficient EV
50.9
0
$17.81
$8.14
EV Truck/SUV
81.4
1
$28.49
$13.02
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Tombstone, AZ
Late night
in Tombstone on Friday
Local time
5:12 AM
MST
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Deer Valley, AZ
Late night
in Deer Valley on Friday
Local time
5:12 AM
MST
Current temp
88°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
8 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 49m 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 Tombstone, AZ to Deer Valley, AZ covers 203.5 miles and takes about 3h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, I 10 Bus, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 101.8 miles from Tombstone, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.54 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 203.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 25.7 miles (I 10 Bus; US 80 Hist): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.1 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tombstone, AZ to Deer Valley, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Saguaro National Park, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Coronado National Memorial.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
