Trip from Tucson, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ

Drive Time

8h 9m

Distance

356.3 mi

573 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$71

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

8h 1m ★

6 AM

8h 9m

8 AM

8h 26m

10 AM

8h 15m

12 PM

8h 13m

3 PM

8h 16m

5 PM

8h 25m

8 PM

8h 4m

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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Tucson, AZ

Abhishek Navlakha

Cottonwood, AZ

Abhishek Navlakha

Trip Overview

The drive from Tucson, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ covers 356.3 miles and takes about 8h 9m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Globe-Show Low Highway, Tucson-Globe Highway, Purple Heart Trail for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 83.4 miles on Globe-Show Low Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $70.91 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

178.1 miles from Tucson, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 55m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 8h 9m drive with frequent turns across 356.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

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

There are about 40 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Globe-Show Low Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 83.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.7 miles in near North 1st Avenue.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 356.3 miles you will encounter 21 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 6.7 miles (North 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (AZ 77; US 80 Hist / North Oracle Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 102.2 miles (US 70; AZ 77 / Globe-Lordsburg Highway): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 key points

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

6.7 mi into trip | ~14m in | North 1st Avenue

Turn right onto North 1st Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

9.4 mi into trip | ~19m in | AZ 77; US 80 Hist / North Oracle Road

Turn right onto AZ 77; US 80 Hist / North Oracle Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

102.2 mi into trip | ~2h 27m in | US 70; AZ 77 / Globe-Lordsburg Highway

At end of road, turn left onto US 70; AZ 77 / Globe-Lordsburg Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

104.2 mi into trip | ~2h 30m in | AZ 77

Take the exit onto AZ 77

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

237.7 mi into trip | ~5h 12m in | AZ 77

Take the exit onto AZ 77

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Globe-Show Low Highway	83.4 mi	1h 35m
Tucson-Globe Highway	76.8 mi	1h 43m
Purple Heart Trail	45.7 mi	45m
Chambers-Mexican Water Highway	37.9 mi	56m
Show Low-Holbrook Highway	37.1 mi	44m
Navajo Route 25	24.2 mi	58m
North Oracle Road	14 mi	21m
US 191	5.9 mi	6m

Longest stretch: Globe-Show Low Highway — 83.4 mi, about 1h 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tucson, AZ and Cottonwood, AZ.

Start on North Country Club Road

3.0 mi · 6 min · North Country Club Road

Turn left onto East Fort Lowell Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Fort Lowell Road

Turn right onto North Campbell Avenue

1.5 mi · 3 min · North Campbell Avenue

Turn left onto East River Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · East River Road

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto North 1st Avenue

1.9 mi · 3 min · North 1st Avenue

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto East Orange Grove Road

0.5 mi · 51 sec · East Orange Grove Road

Continue on West Orange Grove Road

0.3 mi · 41 sec · West Orange Grove Road

Turn right onto AZ 77; US 80 Hist

14 mi · 21 min · North Oracle Road

Use the right lane.

Continue on AZ 77

16 mi · 21 min · Tucson-Globe Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on AZ 77

2.0 mi · 2 min · American Avenue

Use the none lane.

Continue on AZ 77

61 mi · 1 hr 22 min · Tucson-Globe Highway

Use the none lane.

At end of road, turn left onto US 70; AZ 77

0.9 mi · 1 min · Globe-Lordsburg Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 70; AZ 77

1.1 mi · 1 min · East Ash Street

Take the exit onto AZ 77

239 ft · 6 sec · AZ 77

Use the right lane.

Merge onto US 60; AZ 77

83 mi · 1 hr 35 min · Globe-Show Low Highway

Continue on US 60; AZ 77

3.0 mi · 6 min · West Deuce of Clubs

Turn left onto AZ 77

3.5 mi · 4 min · North Penrod Road

Continue on AZ 77

11 mi · 13 min · Show Low-Holbrook Highway

Continue on AZ 77

0.4 mi · 52 sec · South Main Street

Continue on AZ 77

1.0 mi · 2 min · Show Low-Holbrook Highway

Continue on AZ 77

2.4 mi · 5 min · South Main Street

Continue on AZ 77

0.2 mi · 11 sec · Show Low-Holbrook Highway

Continue on AZ 77

2.0 mi · 2 min · Arizona State Highway 77

Continue on AZ 77

24 mi · 28 min · Show Low-Holbrook Highway

Continue on US 180; AZ 77

0.5 mi · 56 sec · Holbrook-Springerville Highway

Continue on US 180; AZ 77

0.9 mi · 1 min · Navajo Boulevard

Take the exit onto AZ 77

0.6 mi · 1 min · AZ 77

Merge onto I 40; AZ 77

46 mi · 45 min · Purple Heart Trail

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 38 sec

Toward US 191 North: Ganado

Turn left onto US 191

38 mi · 56 min · Chambers-Mexican Water Highway

Turn left onto US 191; SR 264

5.9 mi · 6 min · US 191; SR 264

Enter roundabout onto AZ 246

173 ft · 2 sec · AZ 246

Continue on AZ 246

0.1 mi · 6 sec · AZ 246

Merge onto AZ 264

2.4 mi · 2 min · Arizona State Highway 264

Turn right onto N25

19 mi · 44 min · Navajo Route 25

At end of road, turn left onto N251

0.3 mi · 47 sec · Navajo Routes 25 and 251

Continue on N25

5.6 mi · 13 min · Navajo Route 25

At end of road, turn left onto N4

0.9 mi · 2 min · Navajo Route 4

Turn left

0.3 mi · 1 min

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 178.1 miles from Tucson, AZ, or about 3h 55m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.4 miles.

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 80 miles or 1h 57m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 178.1 miles or 3h 55m 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 178.1 miles or 3h 55m

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 6h 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cottonwood, 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.

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 178 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Cottonwood, AZ

Aim for roughly 178 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Tucson, AZ.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Globe-Show Low Highway for about 83.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 178.1 mi from Tucson, AZ · 3h 55m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Queen Creek, AZ

178 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 Queen Creek, AZ

Overnight Options

Night 1

Queen Creek, AZ

178 mi · about 4.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Queen Creek, AZ after about 178 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Queen Creek, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Queen Creek, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 178.1 miles from Tucson, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Globe-Show Low Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.4 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 178 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.

Arriving in Cottonwood, AZ

The final approach into Cottonwood, 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 Cottonwood, AZ.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Cottonwood, AZ with some flexibility left in the schedule.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$70.91 one way

$141.82 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 125 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.34	$74.88	$149.76
premium	$5.59	$78.37	$156.74
diesel	$5.64	$79.16	$158.32

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$71

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$201–$311

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 124.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	106.9	1	$37.41	$17.10
Efficient EV	89.1	1	$31.18	$14.25
EV Truck/SUV	142.5	1	$49.88	$22.80

Gas CO2

125 kg

EV CO2

42 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Tucson, AZ

Afternoon in Tucson on Sunday

Local time

2:20 PM

MST

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cottonwood, AZ

Afternoon in Cottonwood on Sunday

Local time

3:20 PM

MDT

Current temp

40°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.

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

1 hour later

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

13 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

8h 9m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Tucson, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ covers 356.3 miles and takes about 8h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Globe-Show Low Highway, Tucson-Globe Highway, Purple Heart Trail. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 178 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 178.1 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 $70.91 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

The route from Tucson, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Trip from Tucson, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Cottonwood, AZ

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Tucson, AZ

Cottonwood, AZ

1 hour later

13 degrees cooler at arrival

8h 9m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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