Origin
Tucson, AZ
Evening in Tucson on Thursday
Local time
7:11 PM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tucson, AZ to Cactus Flat, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
2h 13m
Distance
121.4 mi
195 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 4m
★
6 AM
2h 13m
8 AM
2h 32m
10 AM
2h 20m
12 PM
2h 18m
3 PM
2h 21m
5 PM
2h 31m
8 PM
2h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tucson, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Cactus Flat, AZ
🇻🇳🇻🇳 Việt Anh Nguyễn 🇻🇳🇻🇳
Trip Overview
The drive from Tucson, AZ to Cactus Flat, AZ covers 121.4 miles and takes about 2h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Benson-Steins Pass Highway, Tucson-Benson Highway, Bowie Junction-Safford Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.2 miles on Benson-Steins Pass Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.18 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.
Midpoint
60.7 miles from Tucson, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 121.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 13m drive with frequent turns across 121.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Benson-Steins Pass Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 49.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near South Alvernon Way.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Tucson, AZ to Cactus Flat, AZ is easy. At 2h 13m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (South Alvernon Way): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles (I 10 / Tucson-Benson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
South Alvernon Way
Turn right onto South Alvernon Way
Navigation decision point
6
5.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Turn left toward I 10 East: El Paso
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 10 East: El Paso
5
5.9 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 10 / Tucson-Benson Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Tucson-Benson Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
92.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
|
US 191
Take the exit onto US 191 toward US 191 North: Safford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 191 North: Safford
4
93.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
US 191 / Bowie Junction-Safford Highway
Turn left onto US 191 / Bowie Junction-Safford Highway
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Benson-Steins Pass Highway | 49.2 mi | 49m |
| Tucson-Benson Highway | 37.7 mi | 38m |
| Bowie Junction-Safford Highway | 28.2 mi | 33m |
| South Alvernon Way | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| North Country Club Road | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| East Barraza Aviation Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| US 191 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Benson-Steins Pass Highway
— 49.2 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tucson, AZ and Cactus Flat, AZ.
1
Start on North Country Club Road
199 ft
·
32 sec
·
North Country Club Road
2
Continue on North Country Club Road
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Country Club Road
3
Take the ramp
160 ft
·
4 sec
4
Turn straight onto AZ 210
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Barraza Aviation Highway
5
Turn straight
155 ft
·
2 sec
Toward Alvernon Way
6
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
this road
Toward Alvernon Way
7
Turn right onto South Alvernon Way
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
South Alvernon Way
8
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 East: El Paso
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 10
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
49 mi
·
49 min
·
Benson-Steins Pass Highway
11
Take the exit onto US 191
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 191
Toward US 191 North: Safford
12
Turn left onto US 191
28 mi
·
33 min
·
Bowie Junction-Safford Highway
13
Arrive at destination
US 191
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 60.7 miles from Tucson, AZ, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.2 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 27 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.7 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cactus Flat, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tucson, AZ
This is one driving day of about 121.4 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Tucson, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Benson-Steins Pass Highway for about 49.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 60.7 mi from Tucson, AZ · 1h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.7 miles from Tucson, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cactus Flat, AZ
The final approach into Cactus Flat, 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 Cactus Flat, 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
$24.18 one way
$48.37 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $25.59 | $51.19 |
| premium | $5.59 | $26.72 | $53.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.80 | $53.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.4 | 0 | $12.75 | $5.83 |
| Efficient EV | 30.4 | 0 | $10.62 | $4.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.6 | 0 | $17.00 | $7.77 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Cactus Flat, AZ
Evening in Cactus Flat on Thursday
Local time
7:11 PM
MST
Current temp
54°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 13m 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 Tucson, AZ to Cactus Flat, AZ covers 121.4 miles and takes about 2h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Benson-Steins Pass Highway, Tucson-Benson Highway, Bowie Junction-Safford Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.7 miles from Tucson, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.18 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Tucson, AZ to Cactus Flat, AZ is easy. At 2h 13m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (South Alvernon Way): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles (I 10 / Tucson-Benson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tucson, AZ to Cactus Flat, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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