Casa Grande AZ to Tucson drive: Distance, time & best stops

Finding the best things to do between Casa Grande AZ and Tucson

The Casa Grande to Tucson drive connects two of the most attractive stops on an Arizona road trip.

In Casa Grande, you can learn about local history at the Museum of Casa Grande. However, the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument provides a far more evocative history lesson. Here, the remains of a great house and farming sites belonging to the Ancestral Sonoran People are preserved.

For something more quirky, head to the Casa Grande Neon Sign Park, where unwanted neon signs spend their retirement.

Track down Casa Grande accommodation deals here.

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.

Casa Grande AZ to Tucson distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Casa Grande AZ to Tucson is 68 miles. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 10 minutes. The quickest route is down the I-10.

The best stops to add to a Casa Grande to Tucson road trip itinerary are Picacho Peak State Park, the Pinal Airpark and Saguaro National Park.

Best stops between Casa Grande AZ and Tucson: Picacho Peak State Park

Picacho Peak is a part of a volcanic flow that has been eroded away over the centuries. Jutting 1,500ft out from the Sonoran Desert, Picacho Peak has long been an iconic landmark.

There are a series of short, easy walking trails with interpretive signs in Picacho Peak State Park. The difficult and very steep two mile Hunter Trail will take you to the top, though. Come after winter rains, and you’re likely to see an explosion of wildflowers.

Casa Grande to Tucson road trip attractions: Pinal Airpark

The Pinal Airpark is better known as one of the world’s most notorious aircraft boneyards. When planes reach the end of their useful lives, they are put out to pasture here in the dry heat. Some of the planes can be seen from the publicly accessible sections of the airpark. Others can only be sighted on a special tour, which needs arranging in advance via email.

Casa Grande AZ to Tucson drive: Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park is a celebration of the biggest cactus in the US – the enormous saguaro – is split into two sections. The western section to the west of Tucson has a cactus garden outside the visitor center, but you can get great photos of cacti with a desert mountain backdrop elsewhere in the park.

There are several hiking trails in the western section. The 1.8 mile Wild Dog Trail is the easiest introductory walk for those passing through.

Tucson, Arizona.
Tucson, Arizona. Photo by Celtenator/ Pixabay.

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