Trip from Tucson, AZ to Swift Trail Junction, AZ

Drive Time

2h 10m

Distance

119.4 mi

192 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
2h 2m ★
6 AM
2h 11m
8 AM
2h 29m
10 AM
2h 17m
12 PM
2h 15m
3 PM
2h 18m
5 PM
2h 28m
8 PM
2h 5m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Tucson, AZ, AZ

Tucson, AZ

Abhishek Navlakha

Downtown Swift Trail Junction, AZ, AZ

Swift Trail Junction, AZ

Mark Direen

Trip Overview

Spanning 119.4 miles across the Desert Southwest, this trip from Tucson to Swift Trail Junction takes approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes to complete. You will navigate via the Benson-Steins Pass Highway, Tucson-Benson Highway, and the Bowie Junction-Safford Highway. Given the manageable duration, this drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $24 for fuel to cover the journey. While the route remains within the Desert Southwest, you will notice a transition in local terrain as you move away from the Tucson metro area toward the more remote landscape of Swift Trail Junction.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

59.7 miles from Tucson, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate haul, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating secondary roads that require more driver engagement than a standard high-speed commute. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 49.2 miles along the Benson-Steins Pass Highway. As you progress, the road character shifts from regional corridors to the more technical, winding local segments that define the approach to Swift Trail Junction. Be prepared for a driving experience that demands your full attention as you transition between these connected stretches.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Benson-Steins Pass Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 49.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near South Alvernon Way.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Tucson, AZ to Swift Trail Junction, AZ is easy. At 2h 10m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (South Alvernon Way): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles (I 10 / Tucson-Benson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 6 key points

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

4
3 mi into trip | ~6m in | South Alvernon Way

Turn right onto South Alvernon Way

Navigation decision point

6
5.4 mi into trip | ~10m in

Turn left toward I 10 East: El Paso

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I 10 East: El Paso
5
5.9 mi into trip | ~11m in | I 10 / Tucson-Benson Highway

Merge onto I 10 / Tucson-Benson Highway

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

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
4
92.8 mi into trip | ~1h 38m in | US 191

Take the exit onto US 191 toward US 191 North: Safford

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward US 191 North: Safford
4
93.2 mi into trip | ~1h 39m in | US 191 / Bowie Junction-Safford Highway

Turn left onto US 191 / Bowie Junction-Safford Highway

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Benson-Steins Pass Highway 49.2 mi 49m
Tucson-Benson Highway 37.7 mi 38m
Bowie Junction-Safford Highway 26.2 mi 31m
South Alvernon Way 2.4 mi 3m
North Country Club Road 1.7 mi 4m
East Barraza Aviation Highway 1 mi 1m
US 191 0.3 mi <1m
West Swift Trail <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Benson-Steins Pass Highway — 49.2 mi, about 49m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tucson, AZ and Swift Trail Junction, AZ.

1

Start on North Country Club Road

199 ft · 32 sec · North Country Club Road
2

Continue on North Country Club Road

1.7 mi · 3 min · North Country Club Road
3

Take the ramp

160 ft · 4 sec
4

Turn straight onto AZ 210

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Barraza Aviation Highway
5

Turn straight

155 ft · 2 sec
Toward Alvernon Way
6

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 22 sec · this road
Toward Alvernon Way
7

Turn right onto South Alvernon Way

2.4 mi · 3 min · South Alvernon Way
8

Turn left

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 10 East: El Paso Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 10

38 mi · 38 min · Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 10

49 mi · 49 min · Benson-Steins Pass Highway
11

Take the exit onto US 191

0.3 mi · 42 sec · US 191
Toward US 191 North: Safford
12

Turn left onto US 191

26 mi · 31 min · Bowie Junction-Safford Highway
13

Turn right onto West Swift Trail

102 ft · 3 sec · West Swift Trail
14

Arrive at destination

West Swift Trail

Trip Plan

Since the total drive time is just over two hours, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience without worrying about a grueling schedule. Because there are no designated stops in the data, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave; factoring in a $24 fuel cost will help you budget accurately for the trip. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of this route means your travel time may fluctuate based on local traffic and your own driving pace. A helpful tip for this specific journey is to plan for a steady, relaxed speed, as the technical local roads make it difficult to maintain a consistent high velocity throughout the entire 119.4-mile trek.

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 59.7 miles from Tucson, AZ, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.2 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 26m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 59.7 miles or 1h 5m 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 45m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Swift Trail Junction, 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 119.4 miles and 2h 10m.

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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Benson-Steins Pass Highway for about 49.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 59.7 mi from Tucson, AZ · 1h 5m into the drive

Downtown Casa Grande, AZ, AZ

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Casa Grande, AZ

60 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.

Casa Grande, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 59.7 miles from Tucson, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Swift Trail Junction, AZ

The final approach into Swift Trail Junction, 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 Swift Trail Junction, AZ.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.76 one way

$47.52 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.34 $25.09 $50.19
premium $5.59 $26.26 $52.53
diesel $5.64 $26.53 $53.05

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: 41.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 35.8 0 $12.54 $5.73
Efficient EV 29.9 0 $10.45 $4.78
EV Truck/SUV 47.8 0 $16.72 $7.64

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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Tucson, AZ

Afternoon in Tucson on Sunday

Local time

2:15 PM

MST

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Swift Trail Junction, AZ

Afternoon in Swift Trail Junction on Sunday

Local time

2:15 PM

MST

Current temp

51°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

2 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

2h 10m 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 Swift Trail Junction, AZ covers 119.4 miles and takes about 2h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Benson-Steins Pass Highway, Tucson-Benson Highway, Bowie Junction-Safford Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.7 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 $23.76 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.
The drive from Tucson, AZ to Swift Trail Junction, AZ is easy. At 2h 10m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (South Alvernon Way): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles (I 10 / Tucson-Benson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tucson, AZ to Swift Trail Junction, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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