- Must visit
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
A renowned fusion of zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, and natural history museum focused on the Sonoran Desert. It is one of Tucson’s signature attractions and excellent for understanding local desert
Cheapest price
$39
Average price
$42
Fastest journey
1 h 45 m
Average duration
2 h 2 m
Buses per day
3
Distance
161 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Tempe, AZ to Tucson, AZ is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Tempe, AZ to Tucson, AZ will cost around $42 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $39.
Of the 3 buses that leave Tempe, AZ for Tucson, AZ on Sat, Jun 20, 3 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Sat, Jun 20 the direct buses cover the 161 km distance in an average of 2 h 2 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 1 h 45 m .
On Sat, Jun 20 the slowest buses will take 2 h 25 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.






Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Tempe, AZ to Tucson, AZ among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $29. For those with little time consider booking a bus which can get you there in 1h 46m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $29, and a flight costs an average of $222.
Distance: 100 miles (161 km)
Most popular Bus | Flight | Train |
|---|---|---|
$38 Average price Cheapest | $388 Average price | $73 Average price |
2h 16m Average total duration Fastest 1h 46m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 52m Average total duration 1h 52m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 3h 38m Average total duration 3h 8m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Tempe, AZ to Tucson, AZ:
A bus is $35 (€29) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Tempe, AZ to Tucson, AZ costing on average $73 (€60).
A bus is $349 (€285) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Tempe, AZ to Tucson, AZ costing on average $388 (€316).
Other travel options to Tucson, AZ take longer:
Flight takes on average 1h 52m.
Train takes on average 3h 8m.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:35AM | Arrival Time 05:00AM | Duration 2h25 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $32 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:00AM | Arrival Time 04:45AM | Duration 1h45 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $37 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:55AM | Arrival Time 09:40AM | Duration 1h45 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $42 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:20PM | Arrival Time 02:20PM | Duration 2h00 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $48 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:40PM | Arrival Time 05:40PM | Duration 2h00 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $39 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:25PM | Arrival Time 06:35PM | Duration 2h10 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $41 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:35PM | Arrival Time 09:35PM | Duration 2h00 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $39 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:00PM | Arrival Time 09:45PM | Duration 1h45 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $37 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:25PM | Arrival Time 01:35AM | Duration 2h10 | Departure days Tue, Fri | Cheapest price $35 |
The table below shows live departures for Tempe, AZ to Tucson, AZ buses for today, Thursday, June 18. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FlixBus | 7:55 AM Tempe, University Dr Rural, AZ | 1h45 | 9:40 AM Tucson, Downtown, AZ | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 7:55 AM Tempe, University Dr Rural, AZ | 2h00 | 9:55 AM Tuscon, University of Arizona Transportation Office, AZ | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 12:20 PM Tempe, University Dr Rural, AZ | 2h00 | 2:20 PM Tuscon, University of Arizona Transportation Office, AZ | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 12:20 PM Tempe, University Dr Rural, AZ | 1h45 | 2:05 PM Tucson, Downtown, AZ | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 4:25 PM Tempe, University Dr Rural, AZ | 2h10 | 6:35 PM Tuscon, University of Arizona Transportation Office, AZ | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 4:25 PM Tempe, University Dr Rural, AZ | 1h55 | 6:20 PM Tucson, Downtown, AZ | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 7:35 PM Tempe, University Dr Rural, AZ | 2h00 | 9:35 PM Tuscon, University of Arizona Transportation Office, AZ | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 7:35 PM Tempe, University Dr Rural, AZ | 2h25 | 10:00 PM Tucson, E Broadway Blvd (Dave's Hot Chicken Parking Lot), AZ | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 7:35 PM Tempe, University Dr Rural, AZ | 1h45 | 9:20 PM Tucson, Downtown, AZ | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Friday, June 19 | |||||
![]() | 2:35 AM Tempe, AZ | 2h25 | 5:00 AM Tucson, AZ | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 8:00 PM Tempe, University Dr Rural, AZ | 1h45 | 9:45 PM Tucson, Downtown, AZ | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 8:00 PM Tempe, University Dr Rural, AZ | 2h00 | 10:00 PM Tuscon, University of Arizona Transportation Office, AZ | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Friday, June 19 | |||||
![]() | 3:00 AM Tempe, AZ | 1h45 | 4:45 AM Tucson, AZ | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare bus, flight, and train prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Buses from Tempe, AZ to Tucson, AZ run on average 12 times per day, taking around 1h 46m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $29 (€24) if you book in advance.
There are 11 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:09, the last at 23:20. The fastest bus covers the 100 miles (161 km) distance in 1h 45m.
Distance 100 miles (161 km) |
Average bus duration 1h 46m |
Cheapest ticket price $29 (€24) |
Buses per day 12 |
Direct buses 11 |
Fastest bus 1h 45m |
First bus 12:09 AM |
Last bus 11:20 PM |
Cheapest Month Jan |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Sun |
Least Busy Day Wed |
Best time to book 4 days |
Discover the best of Tucson — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Tucson trip today.
A renowned fusion of zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, and natural history museum focused on the Sonoran Desert. It is one of Tucson’s signature attractions and excellent for understanding local desert
One of the largest non-government aviation museums in the world, displaying hundreds of aircraft indoors and outdoors. It is especially popular with aviation enthusiasts and families visiting Tucson.
The city’s leading art museum, with collections spanning Latin American, Western, Indigenous, and contemporary art in the historic El Presidio area. A strong choice for both major exhibitions and a
A scenic desert canyon area with paved and unpaved trails, mountain views, and classic Sonoran scenery. It is one of Tucson’s top outdoor destinations and especially popular for walking and photograp
A spectacular desert landscape filled with iconic saguaro cacti, scenic drives, and hiking trails. It is one of the defining Tucson experiences and a priority for first-time visitors.
Known for dense saguaro forests and excellent sunset views, this section of the park is especially photogenic and widely featured on social media. It is a top outdoor stop near the Arizona-Sonora Dese
A bacon-wrapped hot dog in a bolillo roll, typically topped with beans, onions, tomatoes, mustard, mayo, and jalapeo salsa. It is one of Tucsons signature borderlands street foods.
Air-dried beef, often shredded and served with eggs, chiltepin, or in burritos and plates. It is a hallmark of Sonoran cooking and strongly associated with Tucson.
An open-faced flour tortilla baked until crisp and topped with melted cheese, sometimes with green chiles. This simple dish is a long-standing Tucson and Arizona favorite.
Upscale dining with desert views, known for Southwestern ingredients, polished service, and a romantic hacienda setting. Good choice for a fine dining meal in Tucson.
Well-known downtown spot celebrated for refined Mexican cooking, colorful presentations, and an intimate atmosphere. A long-time favorite for distinctive regional flavors.
Popular casual venue serving regional Mexican dishes with Sonoran influences, including tacos, bowls, and breakfast. Relaxed atmosphere and consistently well-liked food.
Tucson is generally affordable by U.S. city standards, with reasonable food costs and many mid-priced hotels.
Tip 15-20% in restaurants; 20% for great service. Tip bartenders USD 1-2 per drink, taxi and rideshare drivers 10-15%, and round up for cafes.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Tempe, AZ to Tucson, AZ by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Tucson, AZ, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

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