Scenic drive from Phoenix to Tucson?

February 11, 2009 2:20 PM

Scenic drive from Phoenix to Tucson?

Tomorrow we're flying into PHX and driving to Northeast Tucson (specifically, 7000 N. Resort Rd., Tucson, AZ 85750).

I see that it would be very easy/direct to take just take I-10 South to W Ina Road.

But it looks like some other options are available -- 60 to 79 to 77; 87 to 79 to 77; even 60 to 177 to 77.

How's the I-10 drive? Are any of the other routes particularly pleasant? How much time would we be adding to the trip? Any recommendations en route?

Thanks!

posted by Perplexity to travel & transportation (11 answers total)

I really enjoyed going the side route that took me through Olberg, the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, and Coolidge. I didn't go all the way over to go through Cactus Forest, but that's a viable option. It's not a long drive so taking a detour doesn't prolong it a ton.
posted by jessamyn at 2:25 PM on February 11, 2009

I haven't driven any of your alternate routes. The I-10 route is not scenic and is usually fairly busy at any time of day. You usually cannot maintain cruise control for any length of time, although you can usually stay close to the speed limit (there are also usually lots of police giving tickets).
posted by bove at 2:30 PM on February 11, 2009

Seconding. . .the 1-10 drive is one of the ugliest in the world. But it's fastest, even with the traffic.
posted by Danf at 3:14 PM on February 11, 2009

I can't answer your whole question, but I can answer parts of it. I've only ever gone to Tucson on the I-10 route. It's not scenic by AZ standards, but it's not too bad overall because it isn't really long enough to be annoying. The first leg is somewhat interesting with some mountains and desert plants, then there's a big stretch in the middle that's forgettable, then it starts to pick up again towards the end when you hit the pecan orchards and the mountains.

I've taken the 60E from about the airport to about Apache Junction (the ren fest is out there). That stretch takes about 40 minutes, 4/5 of it is fairly boring city, then you get into the dramatic Superstition Mountains in the last bit. Looking at Google Maps, the 60 between Apache Junction and Florence Junction should be very nice, but then you'll have a lot of the same flat, boring desert as you would going on I-10 until you're around Oracle Junction. I don't think adding nearly 2 hours to your trip is worth it, your time is probably better spent in Tucson.
posted by TungstenChef at 3:25 PM on February 11, 2009

Jessamyn is correct -that way is more beautiful! Take 87 South to Florence, where you catch 79 south towards Oracle Junction. 79 turns into 77, which is Oracle Road. You'll start to see the outskirts of the greater Tucson area as you pass Oracle Junction and things just start getting denser and denser until you hit W. Ina Road (it's a couple of lights south of Magee and a mile or so past the Hilton El Conquistador resort. look for those landmarks to help orient you).

You'll take W. Ina Road to the left (headed East) until you get to Ventana Canyon.

You may want to stop at AJ's at Ina & Campbell (in the La Encantada shopping plaza on the left side of the street) to pick up some yummy foods. If it's more your thing, there's a Trader Joes just south of Magee on Oracle (before you turn onto Ina, on the left side of the street) and a Whole Foods at Ina and Oracle (on the right side of the street).
posted by parilous at 3:31 PM on February 11, 2009

However, the scenic route will take significantly longer, true. :\
posted by parilous at 3:33 PM on February 11, 2009

I'd like to suggest an alternate route from Apache Junction. At Florence Junction, continue on 60 to Superior, then take 177 south to 77, to Oracle Junction. You will drive some of the capillaries of the state, rather than an artery, and see some of Arizona's tiniest copper towns. A detour up to Christmas, AZ would take you to a 20th century ghost town.

The route is not significantly longer than doing it parilous's way, about 2 1/2 hours versus 2 hours via 79.
posted by Tufa at 7:21 PM on February 11, 2009

I have done this exact drive to Ina Road several times. Coming from the east coast, I usually land at around 10pm or later. The drive is plain and boring, but at midnight, you can cruise. Fast. If it is during the day, you are on a major route that will have traffic unless it is a Sunday.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:30 PM on February 11, 2009

I can't believe no one has recommended going through Sedona on your way to Tucson. We took that route when we flew into Phoenix and stayed a night in Tucson before going to the Grand Canyon, then over the Hoover Dam to Las Vegas. Driving north from Phoenix then veering west through Sedona is beautiful, and it's a "Scenic Route" from Sedona north to Tucson.
posted by atm at 11:53 AM on February 12, 2009

atm: I think you're thinking of Flagstaff, not Tucson. Sedona's in the opposite direction of Tucson.

I want to suggest that the I-10 route, while desolate, is kind of awesome if you're attuned to the things you can see. There's this haunting abandoned amusement park thing. And a lovely pecan grove. Right at the end of the trip, you can catch a glimpse of the AZ airplane graveyard, which is kind of beautiful in a strange sort of way. There's usually a bunch of weird billboards once you get near Tuscon, some religious, others political, all kind of kooky.

And the rest is just a desolate stretch of Sonoran desert -- not really a lot going on, but the vastness and subtle changes are kind of neat. Put some Calexico records on the stereo, and you'll be equipped to pick up on the sparse aesthetics of that span of road.

Also, you'll get to Tucson much much faster and easier (and with better access to AAA, or other services, should something go wrong along the way) if you just take I-10.
posted by .kobayashi. at 12:42 PM on February 12, 2009

Kobayashi,

Uh yep, I see I confused Tucson and Flagstaff. \embarrassed/ Thanks for correcting me. I thought it was a strange wonder that no one had suggested Sedona yet.

\thinks to self: "it's not a wonder now, is it?"\
posted by atm at 3:38 PM on February 12, 2009