How far is Vail, AZ from Tucson, AZ?

The driving distance from Vail, AZ to Tucson, AZ is about 21 miles (33.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 17.4 miles (28 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 51m 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
20.98 mi
00h 25m
Flight
17.37 mi
27.96 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Vail.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
20.98 mi
Kilometers
33.76 km
Drive Time
00h 25m

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 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Tucson
Thu, Oct 15, 11:17 AM MST
Return by in Vail
Thu, Oct 15, 11:42 AM MST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Vail
2026-10-15T10:51
Arrive Tucson
Thu, Oct 15, 11:17 AM MST
Route Timing
00h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MST
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:26 AM to 7:26 PM MST

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

Leave by
7:38 PM MST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Vail
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 Vail
10.5 mi
00h 12m
To Tucson
10.5 mi
00h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM MST
Wind
8 to 13 mph E
Destination
84°F
Thursday

Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Colossal Cave Road

    1.4 mi · 3 min · East Colossal Cave Road

  2. 2

    Take the ramp right toward I 10 West: Tucson

    1673 ft · 41 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left onto Tucson-Benson Highway

    13.7 mi · 15 min · Tucson-Benson Highway

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward Alvernon Way North

    3072 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto South Alvernon Way

    1.3 mi · 2 min · South Alvernon Way

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on South Alvernon Way

    1.3 km · 1 min · South Alvernon Way

  7. 7

    Turn left

    1174 ft · 23 sec

  8. 8

    Turn straight onto East Barraza Aviation Highway

    1 mi · 2 min · East Barraza Aviation Highway

  9. 9

    Turn right onto South Country Club Road

    1.6 mi · 4 min · South Country Club Road

  10. 10

    Continue on North Country Club Road

    28 m · 2 sec · North Country Club Road

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Country Club Road

Car Route Details

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

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
11 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
52.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tucson-Benson Highway
13.7 mi · 65%
South Alvernon Way
2.11 mi · 10%
South Country Club Road
1.62 mi · 8%
East Colossal Cave Road
1.4 mi · 7%
East Barraza Aviation Highway
1.01 mi · 5%
Alvernon Way North
0.58 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Tucson-Benson Highway

Merge slight left onto Tucson-Benson Highway

13.7 mi · 00h 15m

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 25m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.6 mi
17.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Littletown
00h 12m from Vail
Leave By
7:38 PM MST
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Vail and Sunny near Tucson.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 21 miles (33.8 km) and usually takes 00h 25m 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 10.5 miles from Vail and 10.5 miles from Tucson.

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 3.6 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:38 PM MST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.46 one way or $6.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Vail and Tucson. Straight-line distance: 17.37 mi (27.96 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 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
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: East Colossal Cave Road (-110.712019, 32.047848)
End: North Country Club Road (-110.926548, 32.221738)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 34 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 15m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.74 gal
2.8 L · about $3.46
Round trip
$6.92
1.48 gal · 5.6 L
Estimated CO2
6.6 kg one way
Round trip: 13.2 kg / 29 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $3.46 $6.92
Mid-grade $5.03 $3.73 $7.45
Premium $5.36 $3.97 $7.94
Diesel $6.27 $4.64 $9.28

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 Vail and Tucson. The current time is 10:51:09.

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.