Trip from Tucson, AZ to Parks, AZ

Drive Time

4h 54m

Distance

276.2 mi

444 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$55

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

14 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 41m ★

6 AM

4h 55m

8 AM

5h 22m

10 AM

5h 4m

12 PM

5h 2m

3 PM

5h 6m

5 PM

5h 21m

8 PM

4h 47m

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

Parks, AZ

Egor Komarov

Trip Overview

The drive from Tucson, AZ to Parks, AZ covers 276.2 miles and takes about 4h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Arizona Veterans Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Black Canyon Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 90.9 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $54.97 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

138.1 miles from Tucson, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 30m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 54m drive with frequent turns across 276.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

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

There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Arizona Veterans Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 90.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 4.8 miles in near I 10 / North Freeway.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 276.2 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 4.8 miles (I 10 / North Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.1 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.9 miles (US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

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

4.8 mi into trip | ~10m in | I 10 / North Freeway

Merge onto I 10 / North Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

11.1 mi into trip | ~18m 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.

111.9 mi into trip | ~2h 1m 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

257.8 mi into trip | ~4h 34m in

Take the exit toward I 40 West, Los Angeles

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 40 West, Los Angeles

275.4 mi into trip | ~4h 52m in | Garland Praire Road

Turn right onto Garland Praire Road

Navigation decision point

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Tucson, AZ to Parks, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Los Angeles along the way.

Los Angeles

257.8 mi in | ~4h 34m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Arizona Veterans Highway	90.9 mi	1h 31m
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway	54.5 mi	55m
Black Canyon Freeway	41.3 mi	45m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway	38.1 mi	38m
Purple Heart Trail	17 mi	17m
Maricopa Freeway	16.2 mi	18m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway	8.9 mi	9m
East Speedway Boulevard	3.3 mi	7m

Longest stretch: Arizona Veterans Highway — 90.9 mi, about 1h 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on North Country Club Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · North Country Club Road

Turn left onto East Speedway Boulevard

3.3 mi · 7 min · East Speedway Boulevard

Turn right onto North Freeway Road

415 ft · 7 sec · North Freeway Road

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Toward I 10 West

Merge onto I 10

2.5 mi · 2 min · North Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

3.7 mi · 4 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

51 mi · 51 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

38 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

12 mi · 13 min · Maricopa Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto US 60

4.2 mi · 4 min · Maricopa Freeway

Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff Use the slight right lane.

Continue on I 17; US 60

41 mi · 45 min · Black Canyon Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 17

8.9 mi · 9 min · Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 17

13 mi · 13 min · Arizona Veterans Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 17

77 mi · 1 hr 17 min · Arizona Veterans Highway

Continue on I 17; AZ 89A

0.6 mi · 43 sec · Prescott–Flagstaff Highway

Continue on I 17; AZ 89A

0.3 mi · 18 sec · Arizona Veterans Highway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec

Toward I 40 West, Los Angeles

Merge onto I 40

17 mi · 17 min · Purple Heart Trail

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec

Toward Parks Road

Turn right onto Garland Praire Road

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Garland Praire Road

Turn left onto US 66 Old; US 89 Old

0.6 mi · 1 min · Park Road

Turn right onto Spring Valley Road

264 ft · 7 sec · Spring Valley Road

Arrive at destination

Spring Valley Road

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 138.1 miles from Tucson, AZ, or about 2h 30m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.9 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 80 miles or 1h 27m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 138.1 miles or 2h 30m 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 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Parks, 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 276.2 miles and 4h 54m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 Arizona Veterans Highway for about 90.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 138.1 mi from Tucson, AZ · 2h 30m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Surprise, AZ

138 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

Casa Grande, AZ

Fuel and coffee

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

Peoria, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 138.1 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 Arizona Veterans Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 90.9 miles.

Arriving in Parks, AZ

The final approach into Parks, 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 Parks, 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.

Montezuma Castle National Monument

National Monument

Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff...

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 near mile 209.5

Caution: High Levels of Visitation

View on nps.gov

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

View on nps.gov

Walnut Canyon National Monument

National Monument

Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived and traveled throughout Walnut Canyon’s dynamic landscape. Vibrant communities built their homes in the cliffs and farmed along the canyon’s rim. T...

10 mi from route ~24 min detour $25 near mile 257.1

View on nps.gov

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

National Monument

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...

12 mi from route ~30 min detour Free near mile 66.7

View on nps.gov

Tuzigoot National Monument

National Monument

Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs that well up from the ancient sedimentary ro...

15 mi from route ~37 min detour $10 near mile 209.5

View on nps.gov

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

National Monument

The lava flow lies on the land like a dream, a wonderland of rock. A thousand years ago the ground was torn open and lava erupted into the sky, forever changing the landscape and the lives of the peop...

17 mi from route ~42 min detour $25 near mile 257.1

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$54.97 one way

$109.94 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 97 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.34	$58.05	$116.09
premium	$5.59	$60.75	$121.51
diesel	$5.64	$61.36	$122.72

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$55

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$80–$105

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 96.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

14 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Starbucks - Tesla Supercharger

Tucson, AZ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Environmental and General Services

Tucson, AZ

Blink Network

4 DCFC

Porsche - Tucson

Tucson, AZ

Non-Networked

2 DCFC

5151 E Broadway

Tucson, AZ

Non-Networked

2 DCFC

FasCharge 4611 Fast Market Valero Tucson Prince Rd

Tucson, AZ

RED_E

2 DCFC

Holmes Tuttle Ford

Tucson, AZ

FORD_CHARGE

2 DCFC

Tucson Subaru

Tucson, AZ

Blink Network

2 DCFC

JC HYUNDAI SALES LEVEL 3

Tucson, AZ

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 5 Non-Networked: 3 Blink Network: 2 RED_E: 1 FORD_CHARGE: 1 IN_CHARGE: 1 Tesla: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	82.9	1	$29.00	$13.26
Efficient EV	69.1	0	$24.17	$11.05
EV Truck/SUV	110.5	1	$38.67	$17.68

Gas CO2

97 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (67% 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

Late night in Tucson on Monday

Local time

5:00 AM

MST

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Parks, AZ

Late night in Parks on Monday

Local time

5:00 AM

MST

Current temp

29°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

24 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

4h 54m 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 Parks, AZ covers 276.2 miles and takes about 4h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Arizona Veterans Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Black Canyon Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 138.1 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 $54.97 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.