Tucson to Grand Canyon drive: Best stops, distance and drive time

The best road trip stops on the Tucson to Grand Canyon drive are Phoenix, Sedona and Flagstaff. The distance from Tucson to the Grand Canyon by car is 341 miles, with a 5h29m driving time.

Planning a Tucson to Grand Canyon road trip itinerary

The Tucson to Grand Canyon drive connects southern Arizona to the state’s number one tourist attraction.

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.

The most visited section of the Grand Canyon is on the South Rim by Grand Canyon Village. This is where you’ll find the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, which shows a 20 minute orientation film every half hour.

Most of the walking trails are also here, with the 12 mile, mostly paved Rim Trail being the most popular option. Free shuttle buses run along the route, so you can just do parts of it. The 0.7 mile stretch between Mather Point and the Yavapai Observation Station is the obvious taster.

The National Parks Service website has details of the tougher walks into the canyon.

Grand Canyon experiences departing from Grand Canyon Village include jeep tours.

Tucson to Grand Canyon distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Tucson to the Grand Canyon is 341 miles. You can expect a driving time of around five hours and 29 minutes. The quickest route is mostly along the I-10, I-17, I-40 and AZ-64

The best stops to add to a Tucson to Grand Canyon road trip itinerary are Phoenix, Sedona and Flagstaff.

Best stops between Tucson and the Grand Canyon: Phoenix, Arizona

A stay in Phoenix is at its best when you explore the surrounding Sonoran Desert. That might be in a hot air balloon flight, on an ATV tour or on a guided sunset hiking adventure. You can also do day tours along the Apache Trail.

For other Phoenix experiences, try a downtown food tour, a street art tour or a spooky nighttime ghost walk.

Attractions that you might wish to buy advance include cell phone-friendly tickets for include Phoenix Zoo, the Sea Life aquarium or a drunk Shakespeare performance.

For Phoenix accommodation options with a bit of character, try the art-splashed Foundre or the resort-like Raintree at Phoenix South Mountain Preserve.

Tucson to Grand Canyon road trip attractions: Sedona, Arizona

Desert town Sedona sits in an inspirational setting amid red rock buttes, canyons and forest. It’s no wonder so many artists choose to live there.

The surrounding desert trails and state parks are magnificent for hiking and biking. You can also explore on a scenic helicopter flight, outback Jeep tour, guided ATV adventure or e-biking at Cathedral Rock. 

Other Sedona experiences include Verde Valley wine tours, Jeep tours of the mystical Sedona vortexes, glassblowing workshops and nighttime stargazing sessions.

For great Sedona accommodation that makes the most of the views, try the Sky Ranch Lodge or Amara Resort.

Tucson to Grand Canyon drive: Flagstaff, Arizona

Flagstaff AZ is largely known as a gateway to the Grand Canyon. You can take a Grand Canyon day tour from here, but you can also do a day trip to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.

Other Flagstaff experiences include haunted pub crawls, e-bike tours and an adventure course of wobbly bridges, ropes and ziplines. Stargazing enthusiasts can also take a tour of the Lowell Observatory and the Walnut Canyon National Monument is just to the east of the city. The latter is home to several ancient cliff dwellings.

Good Flagstaff accommodation options include the utterly charming Little America, and the great value Elev8.

The Grand Canyon from the South Rim.
The Grand Canyon from the South Rim. Photo by Becky Vogel/ Unsplash.

More Tucson road trips

Albuquerque to Tucson | 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 | 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.

More Grand Canyon (South Rim) road trips

Albuquerque to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Flagstaff to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Mesa to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Phoenix to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Scottsdale to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Sedona to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Williams AZ to Grand Canyon (South Rim).