Origin
Tucson, AZ
Evening in Tucson on Thursday
Local time
7:54 PM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tucson, AZ to Rio Rico, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
60 mi
97 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tucson, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Rio Rico, AZ
Bruno Scramgnon
Trip Overview
The drive from Tucson, AZ to Rio Rico, AZ covers 60 miles and takes about 1h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Nogales–Tucson Highway, East 22nd Street, Rio Rico Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 52.2 miles on Nogales–Tucson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.95 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 60 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (2%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 15m drive with frequent turns across 60 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Nogales–Tucson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 52.2 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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Broadway Boulevard.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (East Broadway Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (South Campbell Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Broadway Boulevard
Turn right onto East Broadway Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
South Campbell Avenue
Turn left onto South Campbell Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
57 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward Rio Rico Drive, Yavapai Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Rio Rico Drive, Yavapai Drive
5
59.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Nogales–Tucson Highway | 52.2 mi | 56m |
| East 22nd Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Rio Rico Drive | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| East Broadway Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
| Pendleton Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Kino Parkway | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Freeway Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Avenida Leon | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Nogales–Tucson Highway
— 52.2 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tucson, AZ and Rio Rico, AZ.
1
Start on North Country Club Road
199 ft
·
32 sec
·
North Country Club Road
2
Continue on North Country Club Road
239 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Country Club Road
3
Turn right onto East Broadway Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Broadway Boulevard
4
Turn left onto South Campbell Avenue
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
South Campbell Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on South Kino Parkway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Kino Parkway
6
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
7
Keep slight right at fork
278 ft
·
11 sec
8
Turn right onto East 22nd Street
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
East 22nd Street
9
Turn left onto South Freeway Road
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
South Freeway Road
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 19 South: Nogales
11
Continue on I 19
52 mi
·
56 min
·
Nogales–Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward Rio Rico Drive, Yavapai Drive
13
Turn left onto Rio Rico Drive
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Rio Rico Drive
14
Turn right onto Pendleton Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pendleton Drive
15
Turn left onto Avenida Coatimundi
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Avenida Coatimundi
16
Turn left onto Avenida Leon
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenida Leon
17
Turn left onto Yeso Court
290 ft
·
19 sec
·
Yeso Court
18
Turn left
204 ft
·
15 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30 mi from Tucson, AZ · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30 miles from Tucson, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Rio Rico, AZ
The final approach into Rio Rico, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.95 one way
$23.91 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $12.65 | $25.30 |
| premium | $5.59 | $13.21 | $26.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.25 | $26.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 21 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18 | 0 | $6.30 | $2.88 |
| Efficient EV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24 | 0 | $8.40 | $3.84 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Rio Rico, AZ
Evening in Rio Rico on Thursday
Local time
7:54 PM
MST
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
32 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 15m 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 Rio Rico, AZ covers 60 miles and takes about 1h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Nogales–Tucson Highway, East 22nd Street, Rio Rico Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30 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 $11.95 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Broadway Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (South Campbell Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Tucson, AZ to Rio Rico, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Tumacácori National Historical Park and Saguaro National Park.
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