Trip from Tucson, AZ to Joseph City, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

5h 25m

Distance

248.2 mi

399 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$49

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

5h 12m ★

6 AM

5h 26m

8 AM

5h 53m

10 AM

5h 35m

12 PM

5h 32m

3 PM

5h 36m

5 PM

5h 51m

8 PM

5h 18m

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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city in and county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States

Tucson, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Joseph City, AZ

Chris The Island

Trip Overview

The drive from Tucson, AZ to Joseph City, AZ covers 248.2 miles and takes about 5h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Globe-Show Low Highway, Tucson-Globe Highway, Show Low-Holbrook Highway 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 $49.44 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

124.1 miles from Tucson, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 53m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 25m. Total distance: 248.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (1%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 25m drive with frequent turns across 248.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

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

There are about 32 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near East Fort Lowell Road.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 25m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (East Fort Lowell Road): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (North Campbell Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (North 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

3 mi into trip | ~6m in | East Fort Lowell Road

Turn left onto East Fort Lowell Road

Navigation decision point

4 mi into trip | ~8m in | North Campbell Avenue

Turn right onto North Campbell Avenue

Navigation decision point

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.

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.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Globe-Show Low Highway	83.4 mi	1h 35m
Tucson-Globe Highway	76.8 mi	1h 43m
Show Low-Holbrook Highway	37.1 mi	44m
North Oracle Road	14 mi	21m
Purple Heart Trail	7.3 mi	7m
North Penrod Road	3.5 mi	4m
West Deuce of Clubs	3 mi	6m
North Country Club Road	3 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 Joseph City, 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

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 left lane.

Continue on AZ 77

2.0 mi · 2 min · American Avenue

Continue on AZ 77

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

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

0.9 mi · 1 min · Globe-Lordsburg Highway

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

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Navajo Boulevard

Turn left onto US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist

1.7 mi · 2 min · West Hopi Drive

Take the ramp onto US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist

0.5 mi · 1 min · Holbrook-Springerville Highway

Merge onto I 40; US 180

7.3 mi · 7 min · Purple Heart Trail

Take the exit onto I 40 Business

0.3 mi · 41 sec · I 40 Business

Toward I 40 Business: Joseph City

Turn right onto I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist

1.5 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Arrive at destination

I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist

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 124.1 miles from Tucson, AZ, or about 2h 53m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.4 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 55 miles or 1h 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 124.1 miles or 2h 53m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Joseph City, 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 248.2 miles and 5h 25m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Tucson, 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 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 124.1 mi from Tucson, AZ · 2h 53m into the drive

city in and county seat of Gila County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Globe, AZ

124 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

Catalina, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Globe, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 124.1 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.

Arriving in Joseph City, AZ

The final approach into Joseph City, 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 Joseph City, 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...

10 mi from route ~25 min detour $25

Park Closure: Red Hills Visitor Center (TMD) theater closed for repairs

View on nps.gov

Petrified Forest National Park

National Park

A landscape where deep time lies fully on display, Petrified Forest National Park blends colorful badlands, vast grasslands, and one of the world’s largest and most vivid collections of petrified wood...

23 mi from route ~57 min detour $25 near mile 231.1

View on nps.gov

Tonto National Monument

National Monument

Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...

25 mi from route ~63 min detour $10 near mile 111.3

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$49.44 one way

$98.89 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 87 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.36	$52.33	$104.65
premium	$5.59	$54.63	$109.27
diesel	$5.61	$54.80	$109.60

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$49

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$74–$99

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 86.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	74.5	0	$26.06	$11.91
Efficient EV	62.1	0	$21.72	$9.93
EV Truck/SUV	99.3	1	$34.75	$15.88

Gas CO2

87 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 15, 2026

Origin

Tucson, AZ

Morning in Tucson on Thursday

Local time

10:25 AM

MST

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Joseph City, AZ

Morning in Joseph City on Thursday

Local time

10:25 AM

MST

Current temp

37°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

17 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

5h 25m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 Joseph City, AZ covers 248.2 miles and takes about 5h 25m 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, Show Low-Holbrook Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 124.1 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 $49.44 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This is a straightforward 5h 25m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

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

Yes. Nearby national parks include Saguaro National Park, Petrified Forest National Park and Tonto National Monument.

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