Albuquerque to Tucson drive: Best stops, distance & time
The best road trip stops on the Albuquerque to Tucson drive are Socorro NM, Deming NM and Tombstone AZ. The distance from Albuquerque to Tucson by car is 407 miles, with a 6h29m driving time.
Planning an Albuquerque to Tucson road trip itinerary
The Albuquerque to Tucson drive takes you from the biggest city in New Mexico to southern Arizona.
Fabulous Albuquerque experiences include a sunrise hot air balloon flight, old town ghost walks, nature tours by bike and guided hops between craft breweries . You can also pay a visit to the castle-like Turquoise Museum and old town food tours focusing on New Mexican flavours.
Great Albuquerque accommodation choices include the historic, adobe-style Casas de Suenos and the old town’s art-filled Hotel Chaco.
Tucson is often used as a base for exploring the Sonoran Desert. But it’s a proper city with an arty streak, a Spanish-tinged history and excellent Mexican food.
Top Tucson experiences include exploring the city’s many murals, taking a self-guided audio tour through Saguaro National Park and canyoneering at Mt Lemmon.
There are also several good bike tours you can do in and around Tucson. Choose from a history-focused ride through the city, e-biking in Saguaro National Park and taco-tasting on two wheels.
For resort-style accommodation in Tucson, take a look at the impressive Casino Del Sol Resort. To stay downtown, within walking distance of several restaurants, try the Leo Kent Hotel.
Albuquerque to Tucson distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Albuquerque to Tucson is 407 miles. That makes for a driving time of around six hours and 29 minutes. The quickest route is largely along the I-25 and I-10.
The best stops to add to an Albuquerque to Tucson road trip itinerary are Socorro NM, Deming NM and Tombstone AZ.
For more suggestions, read the guides to individual legs of the trip:
Best stops between Albuquerque and Tucson: Socorro NM
The town of Socorro NM began life as a Spanish mission. The historic plaza is the most attractive part of Socorro, but the parks along the Rio Grande are arguably more alluring for a brief stop.
For outdoors types, the Blue Canyon trailhead is just to the south of town. For cultural attractions, the Hammel Museum covers local history in a former ice plant and the New Mexico Bureau of Geology Mineral Museum hosts lots of rare, colourful mineral specimens.
The Comfort Inn and Suites is arguably the best of Socorro’s motels.
Best stops between Albuquerque and Tucson: Deming NM
If you want to know more about the backstory of life in the Chihuahuan desert, the Deming Luna Mimbres Museum is pretty good as local history museums go. But Deming NM’s best attractions are two state parks. The City of Rocks State Park is to the north-west, with giant, wind-sculpted, volcanic ash boulders the main lure. The Rockhound State Park is to the southeast. Based around the Little Florida Mountains, it’s a better bet for hiking and camping.
You can also stop for wine-tasting at the Luna Rossa Winery.
Albuquerque to Tucson road trip attractions: Tombstone AZ
Tombstone, Arizona, is a fabulously silly place that buys whole-heartedly into Wild West mythology. The Boot Hill graveyard has comic epitaphs, and the streets look as they would back in the days of the Earp Brothers. Costumed actors stage a gunfight at the OK Corral, blacksmiths work the forge and there’s a bizarre collection of mini-museums and attractions
It’s also possible to do a series of themed walking tours that bring Tombstone even further to life. Choose from ghosts and gunslingers or bullets and bordellos.
- For more attraction options, visit the guide to the Tombstone to Tucson drive.
More Albuquerque road trips
Amarillo to Albuquerque | Austin to Albuquerque | Colorado Springs to Albuquerque | Clovis NM to Albuquerque | Dallas to Albuquerque | Denver to Albuquerque | El Paso to Albuquerque | Albuquerque to Flagstaff | Fort Worth to Albuquerque | Gallup to Albuquerque | Albuquerque to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Holbrook AZ to Albuquerque | Houston to Albuquerque | Albuquerque to Kingman AZ | Las Cruces to Albuquerque | Lubbock to Albuquerque | Mesa AZ to Albuquerque | Albuquerque to Phoenix | Albuquerque to San Antonio | Albuquerque to Santa Fe | Santa Rosa NM to Albuquerque | Albuquerque to Scottsdale | Albuquerque to Sedona | Albuquerque to Taos | Tucumcari to Albuquerque | Tulsa to Albuquerque | Winslow to Albuquerque.
More Tucson road trips
Bisbee to Tucson | Casa Grande to Tucson | Chandler to Tucson | Tucson to Colorado Springs | Dallas to Tucson | Deming NM to Tucson | Tucson to Denver | El Paso to Tucson | Tucson to Flagstaff | Tucson to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Houston to Tucson | Las Cruces to Tucson | Tucson to Mesa AZ | Phoenix to Tucson | Tucson to Prescott | Santa Fe to Tucson | Tucson to Scottsdale | Tucson to Sedona | Tempe to Tucson | Tucson to Tombstone | Yuma to Tucson.