Origin
Vail, AZ
Late night in Vail on Wednesday
Local time
3:29 AM
MST
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Vail, AZ to San Tan Valley, AZ
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
2h 25m
Distance
110 mi
177 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 15m
★
6 AM
2h 25m
8 AM
2h 45m
10 AM
2h 32m
12 PM
2h 30m
3 PM
2h 33m
5 PM
2h 44m
8 PM
2h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Vail, AZ
Zsolt Pujsz
San Tan Valley, AZ
Mark Direen
Trip Overview
The drive from Vail, AZ to San Tan Valley, AZ covers 110 miles and takes about 2h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Tucson-Benson Highway, Junction I-10-Mesa Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.8 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.89 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
55 miles from Vail, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 25m drive with frequent turns across 110 miles of local and secondary roads.
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 42.8 miles.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,236 ft
1,417 ft
Total Climb
105 ft
Total Descent
1,819 ft
Highest Point
3,236 ft
Elevation Range
1,819 ft
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 1.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 110 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 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 30.2 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 West: Tucson
Navigation decision point
Toward I 10 West: Tucson
6
30.2 mi into trip
|
~34m 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.
8
69.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward AZ 87 North: Coolidge, Florence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 211
Toward AZ 87 North: Coolidge, Florence
6
92 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
|
North Attaway Road
Turn left onto North Attaway Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
103.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m in
|
North Gantzel Road
Turn right onto North Gantzel Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
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 Vail, AZ to San Tan Valley, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Florence along the way.
Florence
69.3 mi in
|
~1h 14m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 42.8 mi | 44m |
| Tucson-Benson Highway | 18.7 mi | 20m |
| Junction I-10-Mesa Highway | 10.5 mi | 15m |
| West Hunt Highway | 8.7 mi | 13m |
| J Street | 8.6 mi | 14m |
| South Freeway | 6 mi | 6m |
| North Attaway Road | 3 mi | 5m |
| Florence-Coolidge Highway | 2.9 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 42.8 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vail, AZ and San Tan Valley, AZ.
1
Start on East Colossal Cave Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Colossal Cave Road
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 10 West: Tucson
3
Merge onto I 10
19 mi
·
20 min
·
Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on I 10
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 10
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
39 mi
·
39 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 211
Toward AZ 87 North: Coolidge, Florence
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
396 ft
·
9 sec
9
Turn straight onto AZ 87
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
10
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 287
8.6 mi
·
14 min
·
J Street
11
Turn right onto AZ 287
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Florence-Coolidge Highway
12
Turn left onto North Attaway Road
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
North Attaway Road
Use the left lane.
13
At end of road, turn left onto West Hunt Highway
8.7 mi
·
13 min
·
West Hunt Highway
14
Turn right onto North Gantzel Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Gantzel Road
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto East Bella Vista Road
2.0 mi
·
5 min
·
East Bella Vista Road
16
Turn left onto North Sierra Vista Drive
2.0 mi
·
6 min
·
North Sierra Vista Drive
17
Turn left onto East Skyline Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Skyline Drive
18
Arrive at destination
East Skyline Drive
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 55 miles from Vail, AZ, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.8 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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55 miles or 1h 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Tan Valley, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Vail, 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 Vail, AZ
This is one driving day of about 110 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Vail, 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 Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 42.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55 mi from Vail, AZ · 1h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 55 miles from Vail, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in San Tan Valley, AZ
The final approach into San Tan Valley, 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 San Tan Valley, 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
$21.89 one way
$43.78 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $23.12 | $46.23 |
| premium | $5.59 | $24.20 | $48.39 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $24.44 | $48.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33 | 0 | $11.55 | $5.28 |
| Efficient EV | 27.5 | 0 | $9.63 | $4.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44 | 0 | $15.40 | $7.04 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
San Tan Valley, AZ
Late night in San Tan Valley on Wednesday
Local time
3:29 AM
MST
Current temp
90°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
8 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 25m 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 Vail, AZ to San Tan Valley, AZ covers 110 miles and takes about 2h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Tucson-Benson Highway, Junction I-10-Mesa Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55 miles from Vail, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.89 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 110 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 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 30.2 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Vail, AZ to San Tan Valley, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Florence along the way.
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