The distance from El Paso to Tucson by car is 320 miles, with a 4h47m driving time. The best road trip stops on the El Paso to Tucson drive are Las Cruces, Fort Bowie and Tombstone.
Planning an El Paso to Tucson road trip itinerary
The El Paso to Tucson drive takes you from the far west of Texas to southern Arizona.
El Paso has plenty of stories behind it, some of which are covered on the ghosts, cowboys and outlaws tour. You can also explore the surrounding landscape on a UTV adventure tour, or going biking, hiking and rock-climbing in Franklin Mountains State Park.
As for other El Paso attractions, the Border Patrol Museum looks at the work of those who monitor the US’ borders, with a little bit too much emphasis on weaponry. The El Paso Museum of Archaeology, meanwhile, looks at the prehistory of the South West.
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Five great things to do in Tucson
- 🌮 Taste authentic South-Western flavours – on a Tucson food tour.
- 🐎 Go cowboy on a 90 minute horseback ride – through Coronado National Forest and Catalina State Park.
- 🧗 Get adventurous – on a half-day canyoneering tour.
- 🎨 On a murals walking tour – discover Tucson’s incredible street art scene.
- 🎈 Float above the desert – on a morning hot air balloon ride, with bubbly and breakfast.
Tucson is often used as a base for exploring the Sonoran Desert. But it’s a proper city with an arty streak, a Spanish-tinged history and excellent Mexican food. Tourist highlights include Reid Park Zoo, the Flandrau Science Center and the San Xavier del Bac Mission, while the Titan Missile Museum and Colossal Cave Mountain Park are a short drive from the centre. .
Top Tucson experiences include exploring the city’s many murals, taking a self-guided audio tour through Saguaro National Park and canyoneering at Mt Lemmon.
There are also several good bike tours you can do in and around Tucson. Choose from a history-focused ride through the city, e-biking in Saguaro National Park and taco-tasting on two wheels.
For resort-style accommodation in Tucson, take a look at the impressive Casino Del Sol Resort. To stay downtown, within walking distance of several restaurants, try the Leo Kent Hotel.
El Paso to Tucson distance and driving time
By car, the distance from El Paso to Tucson is 320 miles. That makes for a driving time of around four hours and 47 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-10.
The best stops to add to an El Paso to Tucson road trip itinerary are Las Cruces NM, Fort Bowie and Tombstone.
Best stops between El Paso and Tucson: Las Cruces NM
However, there’s also a lively bar and restaurant scene, thanks in part to the New Mexico State University. Attractions-wise, the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum has art to go with the agricultural history.
Well-reviewed Las Cruces accommodation includes the charismatic Hotel Encanto and the solidly affordable Best Western Mission Inn.
El Paso to Tucson drive: Fort Bowie National Historic Site
Near the town of Bowie AZ, the Fort Bowie National Historic Site offers beautiful scenery. You could easily come here just for the walking, birdwatching and wildlife-viewing.
However, it’s the history that really makes Fort Bowie. For 30 years, it was the centre of ongoing conflict between the US Army and the Chiricahua Apaches. Get more of the story at the Visitor Center before walking among the ruins.
El Paso to Tucson road trip attractions: Tombstone AZ
Tombstone, Arizona, is a fabulously silly place that buys whole-heartedly into Wild West mythology. The Boot Hill graveyard has comic epitaphs, and the streets look as they would back in the days of the Earp Brothers. Costumed actors stage a gunfight show at the OK Corral, blacksmiths work the forge and there’s a bizarre collection of mini-museums and attractions
It’s also possible to do a series of themed walking tours that bring Tombstone even further to life. Choose from ghosts and gunslingers or bullets and bordellos.
More Texas and Arizona road trips
- Where to stop on the El Paso to Albuquerque drive.
- Driving to Tucson: What to see on the Bisbee to Tucson drive and Casa Grande to Tucson drive.
- Getting to Tucson from interstate: The best stops on the Albuquerque to Tucson drive and Las Cruces to Tucson drive.
- Road trips from Tucson: Where to stop on the Tucson to Tombstone drive.
- Arizona road trips from Phoenix: Where to stop on the Phoenix to Sedona drive and Phoenix to Tucson drive.
