Rapid City to Tucson: Road Trip Guide & Distance

920 miles 1480.6 km · straight line
1300.5 miles actual route 2093 km · driving distance
22h 56min estimated drive time
$125 - $154 estimated fuel cost
~2h 21min flight time
210° SSW bearing direction

How far is Rapid City from Tucson?

The distance from Rapid City to Tucson is 920 miles (1480.6 km) as the crow flies. Tucson is located SSW of Rapid City. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1300.5 miles, taking about 22h 56min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 21min. Both are located in United States — Rapid City in South Dakota and Tucson in Arizona.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Since you'll be heading mostly West, pack a good pair of sunglasses if you plan to drive during the late afternoon to avoid the harsh sun glare. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Rapid City and Tucson. The driving distance uses an OSRM road-route result when route data is available. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.

How to Get from Rapid City to Tucson

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 22h 56min $125 - $154 Flexible stops
Fly ~2h 21min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~27h 31min $104–$195* Budget
Train ~29h 49min $156–$455* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Rapid City & Tucson

Quick Facts

Rapid City
44.08°N, 103.23°W
America/Chicago
966m elevation
Tucson
32.22°N, 110.97°W
America/Phoenix
728m elevation
Explore more routes from Tucson

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 307 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 77 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 27.1 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · OSRM