How far is Desert Hills, AZ from Tucson, AZ?

The driving distance from Desert Hills, AZ to Tucson, AZ is about 316.5 miles (509.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 23m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 255.9 miles (411.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MST.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
316.51 mi
05h 23m
Flight
255.87 mi
411.79 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Desert Hills.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
255.87 mi
Kilometers
411.79 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
316.51 mi
Kilometers
509.38 km
Drive Time
05h 23m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 23m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Tucson
Sat, Apr 18, 10:16 AM MST
Return by in Desert Hills
Sat, Apr 18, 3:39 PM MST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Desert Hills
2026-04-18T04:53
Arrive Tucson
Sat, Apr 18, 10:16 AM MST
Route Timing
05h 23m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MST
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:23 AM to 1:23 PM MST

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:14 AM MST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Desert Hills
9:00 PM MST
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Buckeye
AZ

Town in Maricopa County, Arizona

From Desert Hills
161.6 mi
02h 41m
To Tucson
154.9 mi
02h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MST
Wind
6 to 12 mph NNW
Destination
88°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MST
Wind
2 to 7 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Desert Hills and Tucson.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Desert Hills and Tucson.

  1. 1

    Start on Bayshore Road

    72 m · 10 sec · Bayshore Road

  2. 2

    Continue on Mountain View Drive

    545 ft · 26 sec · Mountain View Drive

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Thrasher Drive

    560 ft · 26 sec · Thrasher Drive

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn right onto London Bridge Road

    1 km · 1 min · London Bridge Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Chenoweth Road

    1.1 km · 2 min · Chenoweth Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

    25.6 mi · 34 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Riverside Drive

    7.1 mi · 8 min · Riverside Drive

  8. 8

    Turn straight onto Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

    6.6 mi · 8 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on Rio Vista Highway

    4.4 mi · 6 min · Rio Vista Highway

  10. 10

    Turn left onto California Avenue

    1.4 km · 2 min · California Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

    11.4 mi · 13 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

    19.6 mi · 22 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on North Central Boulevard

    3.1 mi · 4 min · North Central Boulevard

  14. 14

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    1 mi · 2 min · East Main Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Riggles Road

    965 ft · 23 sec · Riggles Road

  16. 16

    Take the ramp left

    2715 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

    104.7 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Papago Freeway

    19.8 mi · 23 min · Papago Freeway

  19. 19

    Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

    2704 ft · 35 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

  20. 20

    Continue on Papago Freeway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Papago Freeway

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on Papago Freeway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Papago Freeway

  22. 22

    Merge slight right onto Maricopa Freeway

    12.3 mi · 14 min · Maricopa Freeway

  23. 23

    Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

    37.8 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

    54.6 mi · 56 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

  25. 25

    Continue on North Freeway

    3.6 mi · 4 min · North Freeway

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard

    2278 ft · 43 sec

  27. 27

    Turn straight onto North Freeway Road

    49 m · 5 sec · North Freeway Road

  28. 28

    Turn left onto West Congress Street

    1776 ft · 56 sec · West Congress Street

  29. 29

    Continue on West Broadway Boulevard

    2.9 mi · 7 min · West Broadway Boulevard

  30. 30

    Turn left onto North Country Club Road

    40 m · 9 sec · North Country Club Road

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Country Club Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Desert Hills and Tucson.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
31 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
105 mi · 33%
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
63.1 mi · 20%
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.6 mi · 17%
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
37.8 mi · 12%
Papago Freeway
24.2 mi · 8%
Maricopa Freeway
12.3 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

105 mi · 01h 46m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 23m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+60.6 mi
255.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Buckeye
02h 41m from Desert Hills
Leave By
6:14 AM MST
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Desert Hills and Sunny near Tucson.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Desert Hills to Tucson?

The road trip is about 316.5 miles (509.4 km) and usually takes 05h 23m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Buckeye is a useful midpoint, sitting about 161.6 miles from Desert Hills and 154.9 miles from Tucson.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 255.9 miles (411.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 60.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:14 AM MST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $55.30 one way or $110.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Desert Hills and Sunny near Tucson.

Stop Ideas Near Buckeye

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Buckeye and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Practical stop 10.2 mi away

City of Buckeye GIS

Buckeye
Local government office,Service establishment

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Buckeye.

BUS

Phoenix (Metro Center Transit Station), Arizona

48 mi away
9617 North Metro Parkway West
BUS

Phoenix (Greyhound), Arizona

51 mi away
2115 East Buckeye Road
BUS

Phoenix (Airport), Arizona

54 mi away
3400 East Sky Harbor Blvd.
RAIL

Maricopa

61 mi away
19427 N. John Wayne Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Desert Hills and Tucson. Straight-line distance: 255.87 mi (411.79 km).

Desert Hills

#1 Desert Hills

Census designated place

Population2,245
Coordinates34.5539000, -114.3724600
Altitude167
CountryUnited States
Tucson

#2 Tucson

The second most populous city in Arizona and the center of the Tucson metropolitan area.

Population553,571
Coordinates32.2217400, -110.9264800
Altitude759
CountryUnited States
Start: Bayshore Road (-114.372459, 34.554167)
End: North Country Club Road (-110.926548, 32.221738)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 509 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.17 gal
42.28 L · about $55.30
Round trip
$110.61
22.34 gal · 84.56 L
Estimated CO2
99.3 kg one way
Round trip: 198.5 kg / 438 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $55.30 $110.61
Mid-grade $5.34 $59.63 $119.25
Premium $5.57 $62.17 $124.34
Diesel $6.37 $71.11 $142.22

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Arizona · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Desert Hills and Tucson. The current time is 04:53:13.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.