This 120.7-mile drive from Tucson to Scottsdale, Arizona, will take you approximately 1 hour and 52 minutes. It's a straightforward, single-day trip with an estimated fuel cost of $24. The route predominantly follows local roads, making it a turn-heavy experience rather than a high-speed cruise. Given its manageable distance and duration, it's perfectly suited for a day trip, allowing you to explore both regions without needing an overnight stay. You'll be traveling within the Desert Southwest for the entire journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.2 miles from Tucson, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 120.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 120.7-mile journey between Tucson and Scottsdale. With a 0% highway share, this route emphasizes navigating city streets and local thoroughfares rather than open interstate. The experience is characterized by frequent turns and changes in speed, so keep your attention focused. While there isn't a 'longest stretch' of uninterrupted driving in the traditional sense due to the local road nature, the drive progresses by weaving through Arizona's urban and suburban landscapes.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 54.5 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 11.1 miles in near I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 120.4 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 11.1 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 99.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 100.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
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.
7
99.9 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward AZ 202 Loop
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A-B
Toward AZ 202 Loop
8
100.1 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 202 Loop East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 161B
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
7
103.9 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|Price Freeway
Take the exit onto Price Freeway toward AZ 101 Loop North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 50A
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
7
119.3 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward Chaparral Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.5 mi
55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38.1 mi
38m
Price Freeway
10.5 mi
12m
Pima Freeway
4.9 mi
5m
East Speedway Boulevard
3.3 mi
7m
Santan Freeway
3.1 mi
3m
North Freeway
2.5 mi
2m
North Country Club Road
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tucson, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ.
1
Start on North Country Club Road
1.0 mi·2 min·North Country Club Road
2
Turn left onto East Speedway Boulevard
3.3 mi·7 min·East Speedway Boulevard
3
Turn right onto North Freeway Road
415 ft·7 sec·North Freeway Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 10 West
5
Merge onto I 10
2.5 mi·2 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 10
3.7 mi·4 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
51 mi·51 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 10
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Exit 161A-BToward AZ 202 LoopUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 161BToward AZ 202 Loop EastUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
3.1 mi·3 min·Santan Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto Price Freeway
1.2 mi·1 min·Price Freeway
Exit 50AToward AZ 101 Loop NorthUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
9.3 mi·10 min·Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
4.9 mi·5 min·Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 46Toward Chaparral RoadUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto East Chaparral Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Chaparral Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left
64 ft·4 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 52-minute drive, consider leaving Tucson in the morning to maximize your time in Scottsdale. Since it's a relatively short trip at 120.7 miles, you have plenty of flexibility with stops, and there are no designated 'longest stretches' to worry about pacing. The estimated fuel cost is $24, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing Tucson. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to your GPS or navigation system, as the numerous turns on local roads can easily lead you astray if you're not following closely.
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 60.2 miles from Tucson, AZ, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 26 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.2 miles or 1h 7m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scottsdale, 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 120.4 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Tucson, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 54.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 60.2 mi from Tucson, AZ
· 1h 7m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.99 one way
$47.97 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$25.38
$50.77
premium
$5.59
$26.50
$53.00
diesel
$5.61
$26.58
$53.17
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: 42.1 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
36.1
0
$12.64
$5.78
Efficient EV
30.1
0
$10.54
$4.82
EV Truck/SUV
48.2
0
$16.86
$7.71
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Tucson, AZ
Afternoon
in Tucson on Friday
Local time
12:09 PM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scottsdale, AZ
Afternoon
in Scottsdale on Friday
Local time
12:09 PM
MST
Current temp
92°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
38 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
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 Scottsdale, AZ covers 120.4 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 Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Price Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.2 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 $23.99 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 is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 120.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.1 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 99.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 100.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tucson, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
