How far is Fort Defiance, AZ from Tucson, AZ?
The driving distance from Fort Defiance, AZ to Tucson, AZ is about 339.5 miles (546.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 16m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 265.4 miles (427.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 06h 16m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Census designated place
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Fort Defiance and Tucson.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Defiance and Tucson.
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1
Start on Old Red Lake Road
17 m · 8 sec · Old Red Lake Road
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2
Turn left onto Kit Carson Drive
1.2 mi · 2 min · Kit Carson Drive
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3
Continue on Navajo Route 12
5 mi · 8 min · Navajo Route 12
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4
Turn right onto Arizona State Highway 264
1.9 mi · 3 min · Arizona State Highway 264
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5
Turn left onto Navajo Route 12
23.6 mi · 33 min · Navajo Route 12
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6
Take the ramp right
1153 ft · 28 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
69.9 mi · 1 hr 10 min · Purple Heart Trail
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8
Take the exit slight right toward I 40 Business, AZ 77 South, AZ 377 South, US 180 East: Show Low, Heber
1930 ft · 50 sec
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9
Turn left onto Navajo Boulevard
1.2 mi · 2 min · Navajo Boulevard
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10
Continue on Holbrook-Springerville Highway
2841 ft · 57 sec · Holbrook-Springerville Highway
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11
Continue on Show Low-Holbrook Highway
24.5 mi · 28 min · Show Low-Holbrook Highway
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12
Continue on Arizona State Highway 77
2 mi · 3 min · Arizona State Highway 77
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13
Continue on Show Low-Holbrook Highway
900 ft · 14 sec · Show Low-Holbrook Highway
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14
Continue on North Main Street
2.4 mi · 5 min · North Main Street
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15
Continue on Show Low-Holbrook Highway
1 mi · 2 min · Show Low-Holbrook Highway
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16
Continue on South Main Street
2176 ft · 53 sec · South Main Street
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17
Continue on Show Low-Holbrook Highway
11.4 mi · 13 min · Show Low-Holbrook Highway
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18
Continue on North Penrod Road
3.5 mi · 4 min · North Penrod Road
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19
Turn right onto East Deuce of Clubs
3 mi · 7 min · East Deuce of Clubs
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20
Continue on Globe-Show Low Highway
83.5 mi · 1 hr 36 min · Globe-Show Low Highway
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21
Turn sharp left onto East Ash Street
1.2 mi · 2 min · East Ash Street
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22
Continue on Globe-Lordsburg Highway
1.3 km · 1 min · Globe-Lordsburg Highway
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23
Keep slight right to continue on Tucson-Globe Highway
61 mi · 1 hr 22 min · Tucson-Globe Highway
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24
Continue on American Avenue
2 mi · 3 min · American Avenue
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25
Continue on Tucson-Globe Highway
15.8 mi · 22 min · Tucson-Globe Highway
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26
Continue on North Oracle Road
14 mi · 22 min · North Oracle Road
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27
Turn left onto West Orange Grove Road
1.3 km · 2 min · West Orange Grove Road
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28
Turn right onto North 1st Avenue
1.9 mi · 3 min · North 1st Avenue
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29
Turn left onto East River Road
1.2 mi · 2 min · East River Road
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30
Turn right onto North Campbell Avenue
1.5 mi · 4 min · North Campbell Avenue
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31
Turn left onto East Fort Lowell Road
1.6 km · 2 min · East Fort Lowell Road
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32
Turn right onto North Country Club Road
3 mi · 7 min · North Country Club Road
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33
Continue on North Country Club Road
56 m · 15 sec · North Country Club Road
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34
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Country Club Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Fort Defiance and Tucson.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Globe-Show Low Highway
Continue on Globe-Show Low Highway
83.5 mi · 01h 36m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving Fort Defiance and Sunny near Tucson.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Fort Defiance to Tucson?
The road trip is about 339.5 miles (546.3 km) and usually takes 06h 16m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Cibecue is a useful midpoint, sitting about 170.2 miles from Fort Defiance and 169.3 miles from Tucson.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 265.4 miles (427.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 74.1 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 7:30 AM MDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $59.31 one way or $118.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 106.5 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Fort Defiance and Tucson, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Fort Defiance and Sunny near Tucson.
Stop Ideas Near Cibecue
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Cibecue.
Winslow
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Fort Defiance and Tucson. Straight-line distance: 265.46 mi (427.21 km).
#1 Fort Defiance
Census designated place in Apache County, Arizona, United States
| Population | 4,061 |
| Coordinates | 35.7444600, -109.0764800 |
| Altitude | 2083 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Tucson
The second most populous city in Arizona and the center of the Tucson metropolitan area.
| Population | 553,571 |
| Coordinates | 32.2217400, -110.9264800 |
| Altitude | 759 |
| Country | United States |
End: North Country Club Road (-110.926548, 32.221738)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 546 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 18m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 29m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 47m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 39m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 50m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 14m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.95 | $59.31 | $118.63 |
| Mid-grade | $5.34 | $63.95 | $127.90 |
| Premium | $5.57 | $66.68 | $133.36 |
| Diesel | $6.37 | $76.26 | $152.53 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.