Tucson to PHX -- how much time to allow?
 

How much driving time should I allow for a late May weekday morning drive from the the Oro Valley area north of Tucson to PHX. I have a 9:30 a.m. flight (which would be very inconvenient to miss) and a rental car to return.

Depends on when you want to get to PHX. If it is a UA flight (going from T2,) security is a breeze and many of us will hit the terminal 1 hour (or less) prior to the flight. I haven't returned a car to PHX in years, so don't know how much time to build in there.

So, if you want to arrive 1-1/2 hours before your flight, that will put you in 8:00 Phoenix traffic coming from the east side. Always lots of "yellow cars" on the news around that time, so pad some time there... maybe another 1/2 hour.

Then, the drive is about 2-hours (give or take.) I10 between Tucson and Phoenix *can be* heavily patrolled, so I don't recommend speeding (too fast.) The math looks like you'd want to leave no later than 6:00 a.m., but YMMV.

I've done the drive down to Oro Valley from my office near the airport in 1-1/2 hour. That said, it was mid-day on a weekday.

Will you be alone, or with another passenger? Having another passenger will be extremely helpful, as you'll be able to use the HOV/Express lane once you get into the Phoenix area.

With returning a car, I'd plan at least 2-1/2 hours, maybe even 3. You'd probably be early, but you never know. Once you get close to the Phoenix area, that stretch of I-10 (anywhere from Riggs Rd to Chandler Blvd) will be extremely busy, all the way through the Broadway Curve (just past the airport exit). There's an HOV lane that starts around Chandler Blvd, you could stay in it until around 40th St (the rental car facility is signed from the I-10), and it would save you some time.

I'd suggest listening to traffic once you hit the Eloy/Casa Grande area. If there is something MAJOR on I-10, you could (normally it would be longer) take the AZ-202 San Tan Fwy (just before Chandler Blvd) East to the AZ Loop 101 North (Price Freeway), to the AZ Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) West. That is a longer route (and no to minimal HOV lanes), but keep it as an option for a worst-case scenario.

The drive time to within 10 miles of PHX is <60 min, then it is another 30 min to get to the car rental center, and another 30 min to get by bus to your terminal -- yes, it is that slow most of the time!!!! Very inconvenient rental car arrangement at PHX (for which they charge a huge surcharge). T4 security can take 1 hour at that time of day (much less at T2 and T3). Most airlines have 45 min cutoff at PHX (longer than at most airports), so you also need to take that into consideration. So 6 am departure is about the latest without cutting it too close.

This is all very helpful. Thank you. I assume that T2 has an elite line at security?

I think it does, but there are only four airlines flying out of T2: UA, CO, AS, and Great Lakes. http://phoenix.gov/skyharborairport/...minal-two.html

So, worst case scenario, you could have the following flights departing at the same time (which I doubt)

UA: 1 each SFO, LAX, DEN, ORD, IAD
CO: 1 each IAH, EWR, CLE
AS: 1 each PDX, SEA

I doubt that this would occur... ;)

The outbound flight got changed to 10:30. I assume that will make a big difference?

Yes, I believe that so. There is elite security lines is further side of TSA checkpoint. I have been there at T2 before. It was very old terminal. I'm sure PHX will be demolished old T2 for more than 40 years. It will begin constructions new West terminal sometimes in between 2013 or 2016 will be there.

You'll still be hitting PHX traffic during part of the rush, but you can probably leave by 7:30 if you want to be at rental car return by 9:00.