Origin
Whetstone, AZ
Evening in Whetstone on Thursday
Local time
7:36 PM
MST
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Whetstone, AZ to Tucson, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
51m
Distance
43.4 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Whetstone, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Tucson, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Whetstone, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 43.4 miles and takes about 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Tucson-Benson Highway, South Alvernon Way, South Country Club Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.4 miles on Tucson-Benson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.65 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 43.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 51m drive with frequent turns across 43.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tucson-Benson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 36.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 0.1 miles in near West Casa del Rio Drive.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 43.4 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 0.1 miles (West Casa del Rio Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles (I 10 / Tucson-Benson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West Casa del Rio Drive
Continue onto West Casa del Rio Drive
Navigation decision point
6
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~4m 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 straight / slight right lanes.
7
37.9 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward Alvernon Way North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 265
Toward Alvernon Way North
5
39.7 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
South Alvernon Way
Keep slight right at fork onto South Alvernon Way toward Alvernon Way
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Alvernon Way
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 Whetstone, AZ to Tucson, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Alvernon Way North along the way.
Alvernon Way North
37.9 mi in
|
~41m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tucson-Benson Highway | 36.4 mi | 37m |
| South Alvernon Way | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| South Country Club Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| East Barraza Aviation Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| South State Highway 90 | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Casa del Rio Drive | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| North Country Club Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tucson-Benson Highway
— 36.4 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Whetstone, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on West Casa del Rio Drive
0.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Casa del Rio Drive
2
Continue on West Casa del Rio Drive
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
West Casa del Rio Drive
3
Turn right onto AZ 90
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South State Highway 90
4
Turn left
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
5
Merge onto I 10
36 mi
·
37 min
·
Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 265
Toward Alvernon Way North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn straight onto South Alvernon Way
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Alvernon Way
Use the left lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto South Alvernon Way
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Alvernon Way
Toward Alvernon Way
9
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
10
Turn straight onto AZ 210
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Barraza Aviation Highway
11
Turn right onto South Country Club Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Country Club Road
12
Continue on North Country Club Road
91 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Country Club Road
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
North Country Club Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.7 mi from Whetstone, AZ · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.7 miles from Whetstone, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Tucson, AZ
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Tucson, AZ if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.65 one way
$17.29 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $9.15 | $18.30 |
| premium | $5.59 | $9.55 | $19.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.58 | $19.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.08 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.80 | $1.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.08 | $2.78 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Tucson, AZ
Evening in Tucson on Thursday
Local time
7:36 PM
MST
Current temp
54°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
24 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
51m 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 Whetstone, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 43.4 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tucson-Benson Highway, South Alvernon Way, South Country Club Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.7 miles from Whetstone, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.65 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Casa del Rio Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles (I 10 / Tucson-Benson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Whetstone, AZ to Tucson, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Alvernon Way North along the way.
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