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Trip from Tucson, AZ to Ajo, AZ

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 48m

Distance

134.5 mi

216 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 38m ★
6 AM
2h 49m
8 AM
3h 11m
10 AM
2h 56m
12 PM
2h 54m
3 PM
2h 58m
5 PM
3h 10m
8 PM
2h 42m

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

city in and county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States

Tucson, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

census designated place in Pima County, Arizona, United States

Ajo, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Tucson, AZ to Ajo, AZ covers 134.5 miles and takes about 2h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Country Club Road, East Broadway Boulevard, South Campbell Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.79 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

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

Midpoint

67.2 miles from Tucson, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Country Club Road
East Broadway Boulevard
South Campbell Avenue
South Kino Parkway
East 22nd Street
West Starr Pass Boulevard
South Mission Road
West Ajo Highway

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: North Country Club Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Country Club Road

200 ft · 32 sec · North Country Club Road
2

Continue on North Country Club Road

240 ft · 10 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
5

Continue on South Kino Parkway

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Kino Parkway
6

Turn slight right

0.2 mi · 35 sec
7

Keep slight right

279 ft · 11 sec
8

Turn right onto East 22nd Street

1.7 mi · 2 min · East 22nd Street
9

Continue on West Starr Pass Boulevard

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Starr Pass Boulevard
10

Turn right onto South Mission Road

2.3 mi · 4 min · South Mission Road
11

Turn right onto West Ajo Highway

23 mi · 28 min · West Ajo Highway
12

Continue on West Tucson-Ajo Highway

94 mi · 1 hr 51 min · West Tucson-Ajo Highway
13

At the end of the road, turn right onto North Sonoita Highway

0.2 mi · 13 sec · North Sonoita Highway
14

Continue on Tucson-Ajo Highway

0.2 mi · 15 sec · Tucson-Ajo Highway
15

Continue on Gila Bend-Lukeville Highway

0.9 mi · 1 min · Gila Bend-Lukeville Highway
16

Continue on Tucson-Ajo Highway

9.6 mi · 12 min · Tucson-Ajo Highway
17

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.2 miles from Tucson, AZ, or about 1h 24m into the drive.

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 30 miles or 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 67.2 miles or 1h 24m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ajo, 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 134.5 miles and 2h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Three Points, AZ, AZ

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Three Points, AZ

67 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

South Tucson, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Three Points, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 67.2 miles from Tucson, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.79 one way

$53.59 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 47 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $28.36 $56.71
premium $5.59 $29.61 $59.21
diesel $5.61 $29.70 $59.39

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.4 0 $14.12 $6.46
Efficient EV 33.6 0 $11.77 $5.38
EV Truck/SUV 53.8 0 $18.83 $8.61

Gas CO2

47 kg

EV CO2

16 kg (66% 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

Morning in Tucson on Saturday

Local time

10:33 AM

MST

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ajo, AZ

Morning in Ajo on Saturday

Local time

10:33 AM

MST

Current temp

84°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

30 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 48m 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?

134.5 mi in 2h 48m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: North Country Club Road.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Tucson, AZ to Ajo, AZ is easy. At 2h 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tucson, AZ to Ajo, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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 2h 48m. Total distance: 134.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tucson, AZ to Ajo, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ajo, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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