Origin
Tucson, AZ
Morning in Tucson on Saturday
Local time
11:08 AM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tucson, AZ to Tortolita, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
32m
Distance
18.4 mi
30 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tucson, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Tortolita, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
Tucson to Tortolita is 18.4 miles and takes about 32 minutes via North La Cholla Boulevard, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward local drive. It's a quick connection perfect for a last-minute excursion or an easy transition. You'll primarily navigate city streets and main boulevards, so expect a relaxed pace. Consider this an uncomplicated hop rather than an epic journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North La Cholla Boulevard | 8 mi | 13m |
| East Speedway Boulevard | 3.3 mi | 7m |
| North Freeway | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| West Ruthrauff Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Country Club Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Naranja Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Casa Grande Highway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North La Cholla Boulevard
— 8 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tucson, AZ and Tortolita, 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
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 252
Toward El Camino Del Cerro, Ruthrauff Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto North Casa Grande Highway
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
North Casa Grande Highway
9
Turn sharp right onto West Ruthrauff Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ruthrauff Road
10
Turn left onto North La Cholla Boulevard
8.0 mi
·
13 min
·
North La Cholla Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
11
Turn left onto West Naranja Drive
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
West Naranja Drive
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto North Gemini Drive
226 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Gemini Drive
13
Turn left
30 ft
·
1 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 18.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
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.
8
8.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward El Camino Del Cerro, Ruthrauff Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 252
Toward El Camino Del Cerro, Ruthrauff Road
4
10.1 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
North La Cholla Boulevard
Turn left onto North La Cholla Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / uturn lanes.
6
18.1 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
West Naranja Drive
Turn left onto West Naranja Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
18.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
North Gemini Drive
Turn right onto North Gemini Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.67 one way
$7.33 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $3.88 | $7.76 |
| premium | $5.59 | $4.05 | $8.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.06 | $8.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.93 | $0.88 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.61 | $0.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.58 | $1.18 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Tortolita, AZ
Morning in Tortolita on Saturday
Local time
11:08 AM
MST
Current temp
56°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
2 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
32m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized by frequent turns and local road navigation, with only 14% of the drive on highways. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 8 miles along North La Cholla Boulevard. The drive begins on city streets, transitions to main boulevards like East Speedway Boulevard, and then utilizes the North Freeway. Expect a varied driving experience that requires attention to local traffic patterns and signals. It’s a drive that keeps you engaged with the surrounding environment.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8 mi on North La Cholla Boulevard.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in near I 10 / North Freeway.
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 18.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 4.8 miles (I 10 / North Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles (North La Cholla Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Tucson, AZ to Tortolita, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward El Camino Del Cerro along the way.
El Camino Del Cerro
8.7 mi in
|
~15m
About the Cities
Starting in Tucson, AZ
Full guide →Tucson (TOO-sawn), also known as the "Old Pueblo", is the second-largest city in the state of Arizona and the county seat of Pima County in the Sonoran Desert. It is at a higher elevation than nearby Phoenix and is correspondingly cooler. Although with half a million residents it is smaller than the capital city, its cultural life is just as vibrant.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 32m. Total distance: 18.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (14%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8 miles on North La Cholla Boulevard. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles (North La Cholla Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Saguaro National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tortolita, AZ before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Tortolita, AZ
More trips to Tortolita, AZ
Explore more options from Tucson, AZ or browse trips ending in Tortolita, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.