How far is Tucson, AZ from Vail, AZ?

The driving distance from Tucson, AZ to Vail, AZ is about 21.4 miles (34.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 17.4 miles (28 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 58m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MST.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
21.38 mi
00h 29m
Flight
17.37 mi
27.96 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Tucson.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
17.37 mi
Kilometers
27.96 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
21.38 mi
Kilometers
34.41 km
Drive Time
00h 29m

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 00h 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Vail
Thu, Oct 15, 12:08 PM MST
Return by in Tucson
Thu, Oct 15, 12:37 PM MST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Tucson
2026-10-15T11:39
Arrive Vail
Thu, Oct 15, 12:08 PM MST
Route Timing
00h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MST
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:29 AM to 7:29 PM MST

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:32 PM MST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Tucson
10:00 PM MST
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Littletown
AZ

Census-designated place in Pima County, Arizona

From Tucson
10.7 mi
00h 14m
To Vail
10.7 mi
00h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM MST
Wind
2 to 8 mph E
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM MST
Wind
8 to 13 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tucson and Vail.

  1. 1

    Start on North Country Club Road

    61 m · 32 sec · North Country Club Road

  2. 2

    Continue on North Country Club Road

    1.7 mi · 4 min · North Country Club Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp straight

    49 m · 4 sec

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto East Barraza Aviation Highway

    1.6 km · 2 min · East Barraza Aviation Highway

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto Alvernon Way

    47 m · 3 sec

  6. 6

    Continue on Alvernon Way

    985 ft · 23 sec

  7. 7

    Turn right onto South Alvernon Way

    2.4 mi · 4 min · South Alvernon Way

  8. 8

    Turn left onto I 10 East: El Paso

    2748 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Tucson-Benson Highway

    13.6 mi · 14 min · Tucson-Benson Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward Colossal Cave Road, Wentworth Road

    1478 ft · 35 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto South Wentworth Road

    803 ft · 16 sec · South Wentworth Road

  12. 12

    Continue on East Colossal Cave Road

    1.5 mi · 3 min · East Colossal Cave Road

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Colossal Cave Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
13 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
60.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tucson-Benson Highway
13.6 mi · 64%
South Alvernon Way
2.43 mi · 11%
North Country Club Road
1.75 mi · 8%
East Colossal Cave Road
1.46 mi · 7%
East Barraza Aviation Highway
0.99 mi · 5%
I 10 East
0.52 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Tucson-Benson Highway

Merge slight left onto Tucson-Benson Highway

13.6 mi · 00h 14m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 29m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4 mi
17.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Littletown
00h 14m from Tucson
Leave By
7:32 PM MST
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Tucson and Sunny near Vail.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Tucson to Vail?

The road trip is about 21.4 miles (34.4 km) and usually takes 00h 29m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Littletown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 10.7 miles from Tucson and 10.7 miles from Vail.

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

The direct path is about 17.4 miles (28 km), while the road route adds roughly 4 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:32 PM MST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.55 one way or $7.10 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Tucson and Sunny near Vail.

Stop Ideas Near Littletown

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Littletown, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Tucson

14 mi away
400 North Toole Avenue
RAIL

Benson

57 mi away
105 E. 4th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Tucson and Vail. Straight-line distance: 17.37 mi (27.96 km).

Tucson

#1 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
Photo coming soon

#2 Vail

Situated southeast of Tucson in Pima County at an elevation of 3,235 feet, this expanding community lies within the Sonoran Desert landscape near the Rincon Mountains.

Population0
Coordinates32.0478600, -110.7120300
Altitude986
CountryUnited States
Start: Tucson (-110.92648, 32.22174)
End: Vail (-110.71203, 32.04786)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 34 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.76 gal
2.86 L · about $3.55
Round trip
$7.10
1.52 gal · 5.72 L
Estimated CO2
6.8 kg one way
Round trip: 13.5 kg / 30 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $3.55 $7.10
Mid-grade $5.03 $3.83 $7.65
Premium $5.36 $4.08 $8.15
Diesel $6.27 $4.77 $9.53

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Tucson and Vail. The current time is 11:39:10.

Distance to Other Cities

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