How far is Tucson, AZ from Cottonwood, AZ?
The driving distance from Tucson, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ is about 356.3 miles (573.4 km), with a travel time of about 08h 09m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 272.6 miles (438.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 18m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MST.
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 08h 09m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Small town in Navajo County
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Tucson and Cottonwood.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tucson and Cottonwood.
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1
Start on North Country Club Road
3 mi · 7 min · North Country Club Road
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2
Turn left onto East Fort Lowell Road
1.6 km · 2 min · East Fort Lowell Road
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3
Turn right onto North Campbell Avenue
1.5 mi · 3 min · North Campbell Avenue
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4
Turn left onto East River Road
1.2 mi · 2 min · East River Road
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5
Turn right onto North 1st Avenue
1.9 mi · 3 min · North 1st Avenue
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6
Turn left onto East Orange Grove Road
2645 ft · 52 sec · East Orange Grove Road
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7
Continue on West Orange Grove Road
1572 ft · 42 sec · West Orange Grove Road
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8
Turn right onto North Oracle Road
14 mi · 22 min · North Oracle Road
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9
Continue on Tucson-Globe Highway
15.8 mi · 22 min · Tucson-Globe Highway
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10
Continue on American Avenue
2 mi · 3 min · American Avenue
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11
Continue on Tucson-Globe Highway
61 mi · 1 hr 22 min · Tucson-Globe Highway
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12
At the end of the road, turn left onto Globe-Lordsburg Highway
1.4 km · 2 min · Globe-Lordsburg Highway
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13
Continue on East Ash Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · East Ash Street
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14
Take the exit right
73 m · 7 sec
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15
Merge slight left onto Globe-Show Low Highway
83.4 mi · 1 hr 36 min · Globe-Show Low Highway
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16
Continue on West Deuce of Clubs
3 mi · 7 min · West Deuce of Clubs
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17
Turn left onto North Penrod Road
3.5 mi · 4 min · North Penrod Road
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18
Continue on Show Low-Holbrook Highway
11.4 mi · 13 min · Show Low-Holbrook Highway
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19
Continue on South Main Street
2176 ft · 53 sec · South Main Street
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20
Continue on Show Low-Holbrook Highway
1 mi · 2 min · Show Low-Holbrook Highway
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21
Continue on South Main Street
2.4 mi · 5 min · South Main Street
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22
Continue on Show Low-Holbrook Highway
900 ft · 12 sec · Show Low-Holbrook Highway
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23
Continue on Arizona State Highway 77
2 mi · 3 min · Arizona State Highway 77
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24
Continue on Show Low-Holbrook Highway
24.5 mi · 28 min · Show Low-Holbrook Highway
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25
Continue on Holbrook-Springerville Highway
2841 ft · 57 sec · Holbrook-Springerville Highway
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26
Continue on Navajo Boulevard
1.4 km · 2 min · Navajo Boulevard
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27
Take the exit right
3058 ft · 1 min
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28
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
45.7 mi · 46 min · Purple Heart Trail
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29
Take the exit slight right toward US 191 North: Ganado
1307 ft · 38 sec
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30
Turn left onto Chambers-Mexican Water Highway
37.9 mi · 56 min · Chambers-Mexican Water Highway
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31
Turn left
5.9 mi · 7 min
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32
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
53 m · 2 sec
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33
Exit the roundabout
536 ft · 7 sec
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34
Merge slight left onto Arizona State Highway 264
2.4 mi · 3 min · Arizona State Highway 264
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35
Turn right onto Navajo Route 25
18.6 mi · 45 min · Navajo Route 25
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36
At the end of the road, turn left onto Navajo Routes 25 and 251
1749 ft · 48 sec · Navajo Routes 25 and 251
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37
Continue on Navajo Route 25
5.6 mi · 14 min · Navajo Route 25
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38
At the end of the road, turn left onto Navajo Route 4
1.5 km · 2 min · Navajo Route 4
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39
Turn left
1460 ft · 1 min
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40
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Tucson and Cottonwood.
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
Merge slight left onto Globe-Show Low Highway
83.4 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 Tucson and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Cottonwood.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Tucson to Cottonwood?
The road trip is about 356.3 miles (573.4 km) and usually takes 08h 09m 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?
Pinetop-Lakeside is a useful midpoint, sitting about 178.3 miles from Tucson and 178 miles from Cottonwood.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 272.6 miles (438.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 83.7 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 MST. 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 $56.19 one way or $112.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 100.9 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Tucson and Cottonwood, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Tucson and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Cottonwood.
Stop Ideas Near Pinetop-Lakeside
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 Pinetop-Lakeside.
Winslow
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Tucson and Cottonwood. Straight-line distance: 272.58 mi (438.68 km).
#1 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 |
#2 Cottonwood
City in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
| Population | 12,762 |
| Coordinates | 36.0730600, -109.8923400 |
| Altitude | 1850 |
| Country | United States |
End: Cottonwood (-109.89234, 36.07306)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 573 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 52m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 54m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 07m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 56m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 05m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 26m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.95 | $56.19 | $112.39 |
| Mid-grade | $5.34 | $60.59 | $121.17 |
| Premium | $5.57 | $63.17 | $126.35 |
| Diesel | $6.37 | $72.25 | $144.51 |
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 11, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.