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...
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Drive Time
9h 36m
Distance
495.1 mi
797 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$99
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tucson, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Beaver Dam, AZ
Bluejae Photography
This nearly 500-mile journey from Tucson to Beaver Dam, Arizona, will take approximately 9 hours and 36 minutes of driving time, making it a solid two-day trip. You'll primarily navigate using the Wickenburg–Kingman Highway and the Las Vegas Freeway, with a portion of the Hoover Dam–Kingman Highway. Given the 25% highway share, expect a drive that's more about local roads than high-speed cruising. With an estimated fuel cost of $99 and two recommended stops, this route offers a chance to explore the Desert Southwest at a manageable pace. Splitting this drive over two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue and truly enjoy the experience.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
247.5 miles from Tucson, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 52m into the drive .
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This route presents a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll encounter numerous turns and changes in road type. While 25% of the drive is on highways, a significant portion will be on local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 106.7 miles on the Wickenburg–Kingman Highway. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that shifts between faster highway segments and more winding local routes as you progress through the Arizona landscape.
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 127.5 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 34 significant decision points across 495.1 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 127.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 137.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 376.9 miles (US 93 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 60
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 93 BUS toward US 93 BUS North, NV 172 East: Boulder City, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93 BUS toward US 93 BUS North: Boulder City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NV 159: Charleston Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Tucson, AZ and Beaver Dam, AZ, road signs point toward Las Vegas, Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.
Las Vegas
Hoover Dam
Lake Mead
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wickenburg–Kingman Highway | 106.7 mi | 2h 9m |
| Las Vegas Freeway | 73.3 mi | 1h 13m |
| Hoover Dam–Kingman Highway | 66.2 mi | 1h 16m |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.5 mi | 55m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 38.1 mi | 38m |
| Grand Avenue | 27.4 mi | 37m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 21.5 mi | 21m |
| Purple Heart Highway | 17.6 mi | 20m |
Step-by-step road directions between Tucson, AZ and Beaver Dam, AZ.
Start on North Country Club Road
Turn left onto East Speedway Boulevard
Turn right onto North Freeway Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10
Continue on I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Continue on I 10
Continue on I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Continue on I 10
Continue on I 10
Take the exit
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 60
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Enter roundabout onto US 93
Continue on US 93
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
Enter roundabout onto US 93
Continue on US 93
Enter roundabout onto US 93
Continue on US 93
Turn left onto US 93
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
Continue on US 93
Take the exit onto US 93
Merge onto I 40; US 93
Take the exit onto US 93
Turn slight right onto US 93
Merge onto US 93
Continue on US 93
Continue on US 93
Take the exit onto US 93 BUS
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93 BUS
Continue on US 93 BUS
Continue on I 11; US 93; US 95
Take the exit
Turn right onto NV 159
Turn left onto South Lamb Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 15; US 93
Continue on I 15
Take the exit
Turn left onto CR 91
Turn right
At end of road, turn left
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 495.1-mile adventure, plan to split it over two days. Consider departing early on your first day to cover a good portion of the Wickenburg–Kingman Highway. With two recommended stops, you'll have opportunities to refuel and rest. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 106.7 miles, as services might be spaced out. A practical tip for this route: familiarize yourself with the specific road numbers for the Wickenburg–Kingman Highway and the Hoover Dam–Kingman Highway before you depart, as GPS can sometimes be less reliable on these less-traveled segments.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 109 miles or 1h 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 247.5 miles or 4h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 247.5 miles or 4h 52m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beaver Dam, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Tucson, 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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tucson, AZ
Aim for roughly 248 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Beaver Dam, AZ
Aim for roughly 248 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 247.5 mi from Tucson, AZ · 4h 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
248 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Surprise, AZNight 1
248 mi · about 4.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Surprise, AZ after about 248 miles or 4.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 109 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 247.5 miles from Tucson, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 248 miles or 4.8 hours on the road.
The final approach into Beaver Dam, 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 Beaver Dam, AZ.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Beaver Dam, AZ with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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Regular Gas
$98.63 one way
$197.26 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $104.38 | $208.76 |
| premium | $5.59 | $108.98 | $217.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $109.31 | $218.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$99
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$229–$339
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 173.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 148.5 | 1 | $51.99 | $23.76 |
| Efficient EV | 123.8 | 1 | $43.32 | $19.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 198 | 2 | $69.31 | $31.69 |
Gas CO2
173 kg
EV CO2
58 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Tucson on Tuesday
Local time
10:32 PM
MST
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Beaver Dam on Tuesday
Local time
10:32 PM
MST
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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