Origin
Williams, AZ
Morning in Williams on Monday
Local time
9:40 AM
MST
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Williams, AZ to Tucson, AZ
Drive Time
4h 30m
Distance
290.8 mi
468 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$58
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 17m
★
6 AM
4h 30m
8 AM
4h 57m
10 AM
4h 39m
12 PM
4h 37m
3 PM
4h 41m
5 PM
4h 56m
8 PM
4h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tucson, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
The drive from Williams, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 290.8 miles and takes about 4h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Route 66, Purple Heart Trail, I 17 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $57.87 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
145.4 miles from Williams, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 30m drive with frequent turns across 290.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Route 66 is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 30m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Williams, AZ to Tucson, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Route 66 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Purple Heart Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 17 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 17 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Arizona Veterans Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Black Canyon Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Black Canyon Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Route 66
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Williams, AZ and Tucson, AZ.
1
Start on West Bill Williams Avenue
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
West Bill Williams Avenue
2
Continue on East Route 66
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
East Route 66
3
Take the ramp right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
4
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
29 mi
·
28 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 17, AZ 89A: Phoenix, Flagstaff
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 17, AZ 89A: Phoenix, Flagstaff
6
Keep slight right to continue on I 17 South, AZ 89A: Sedona, Phoenix
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 17 South, AZ 89A: Sedona, Phoenix
7
Merge slight left onto Arizona Veterans Highway
93 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
8
Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
9
Continue on Black Canyon Freeway
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
10
Continue on North Black Canyon Highway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Black Canyon Highway
11
Continue on Black Canyon Freeway
28 mi
·
32 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
12
Continue on Maricopa Freeway
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
13
Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
14
Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
55 mi
·
55 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
15
Continue on North Freeway
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Freeway
16
Take the exit slight right toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard
17
Turn straight onto North Freeway Road
161 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Freeway Road
18
Turn left onto West Congress Street
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
West Congress Street
19
Continue on West Broadway Boulevard
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
West Broadway Boulevard
20
Turn left onto North Country Club Road
131 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Country Club Road
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 145.4 miles from Williams, AZ, or about 2h 15m 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 80 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.4 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tucson, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Williams, 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 Williams, AZ
This is one driving day of about 290.8 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Williams, 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 145.4 mi from Williams, AZ · 2h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
145 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 145.4 miles from Williams, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Tucson, AZ
The final approach into Tucson, 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 Tucson, 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
$57.87 one way
$115.75 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
102 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $61.11 | $122.23 |
| premium | $5.59 | $63.96 | $127.93 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $64.61 | $129.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87.2 | 1 | $30.53 | $13.96 |
| Efficient EV | 72.7 | 0 | $25.45 | $11.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 116.3 | 1 | $40.71 | $18.61 |
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Morning in Tucson on Monday
Local time
9:40 AM
MST
Current temp
53°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
19 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
4h 30m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Williams, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 290.8 miles and takes about 4h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Route 66, Purple Heart Trail, I 17. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 145.4 miles from Williams, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $57.87 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 30m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Williams, AZ to Tucson, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Williams, AZ to Tucson, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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