The distance from Phoenix to Tucson by car is 112 miles, with a 1h40m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Phoenix to Tucson drive are Casa Grande AZ, Picacho Peak State Park and Saguaro National Park.
Planning a Phoenix to Tucson road trip itinerary
The Phoenix to Tucson drive connects Arizona’s two main cities.
Highlights of Phoenix include Hole in the Rock, Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanic Garden in Papago Park, plus the Arizona Science Center and the Heard Museum.
However, a stay in Phoenix is at its best when you explore the surrounding Sonoran Desert. That might be in a hot air balloon flight, on an ATV tour or on a guided sunset hiking adventure. You can also do day tours along the Apache Trail.
For other Phoenix experiences, try a downtown food tour, a street art tour or a spooky nighttime ghost walk.
Attractions that you might wish to buy advance include cell phone-friendly tickets for include Phoenix Zoo, the Sea Life aquarium or a drunk Shakespeare performance.
For Phoenix accommodation options with a bit of character, try the art-splashed Foundre or the resort-like Raintree at Phoenix South Mountain Preserve.
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 Pima Air and Space Museum, 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.
Phoenix to Tucson distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Phoenix to Tucson is 112 miles. You can expect a driving time of around one hour and 40 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-10.
The best stops to add to a Phoenix to Tucson road trip itinerary are Casa Grande AZ, Picacho Peak State Park and Saguaro National Park.
Phoenix to Tucson road trip attractions: Casa Grande AZ
In Casa Grande, you can learn about local history at the Museum of Casa Grande. However, the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument provides a far more evocative history lesson. Here, the remains of a great house and farming sites belonging to the Ancestral Sonoran People are preserved.
For something more quirky, head to the Casa Grande Neon Sign Park, where unwanted neon signs spend their retirement.
Best stops between Phoenix and Tucson: Picacho Peak State Park
Picacho Peak is a part of a volcanic flow that has been eroded away over the centuries. Jutting 1,500ft out from the Sonoran Desert, Picacho Peak has long been an iconic landmark.
There are a series of short, easy walking trails with interpretive signs in Picacho Peak State Park. The difficult and very steep two mile Hunter Trail will take you to the top, though. Come after winter rains, and you’re likely to see an explosion of wildflowers.
Phoenix to Tucson drive: Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park is a celebration of the biggest cactus in the US – the enormous saguaro – is split into two sections. The western section to the west of Tucson has a cactus garden outside the visitor center, but you can get great photos of cacti with a desert mountain backdrop elsewhere in the park.
There are several hiking trails in the western section. The 1.8 mile Wild Dog Trail is the easiest introductory walk for those passing through.
More Arizona travel
Other Arizona travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Practical guide to visiting the Museum of Northern Arizona, Lowell Observatory and Riordan Mansion State Historic Park in Flagstaff.
- Visitor guides to the national monuments around Flagstaff: Wupatki National Monument, Sunset Crater National Monument and Walnut Canyon National Monument.
- Sedona attraction guides: Red Rock Crossing, Cathedral Rock and Courthouse Butte.
- Road trips from Tucson: Where to stop on the Tucson to Tombstone drive.
- The best stops on the Phoenix to Sedona drive.
