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Tucson to Watson Lake road trip: best stops

The drive from Tucson to Watson Lake takes about 3 hr 13 min (northwest of Tucson), by real roads from ZIP 85701. Along the way we found 60 stops within a short detour: 11 coffee shops, 2 bakeries, 9 ice cream and treats and 20 places to eat.

The list below is the best few of each kind, in driving order, with how far into the drive you reach each one (counted from Tucson) and the detour it adds. Stops marked Our pick are chosen by us; the rest come from OpenStreetMap listings, so confirm hours before you count on them.

Plan this trip All day trips from Tucson

Where you are going: Watson Lake 3 hr 13 min from Tucson

Watson Lake

Photo: Benjamin Cody, CC BY-SA 3.0

Lake

Watson Lake

A lake in the Granite Dells, a maze of rounded boulders great for paddling and scrambling.

  • 2-3 hrs
  • Year-round
  • City of Prescott parking fee (free Wednesdays)

Map of the stops between Tucson and Watson Lake

Open the interactive map

First third Middle third Last third Watson Lake

First stretch 9 stops

  1. Starbucks Coffee shop · Marana
    About 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  2. Nico's Mexican Food Mexican restaurant · Marana
    About 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 06:00-23:00
  3. R&R Pizza Express Pizza restaurant · Marana
    About 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Sa 11:00-09:00 Website
  4. Rooster Cogburn’s Ostrich Ranch Attraction · Picacho
    About 37 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  5. Subway Sandwich place · Wymola
    About 38 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  6. Picacho Peak State Park Visitor Center Attraction · Wymola
    About 38 min into the drive · detour about 3 min Website
  7. Iron Skillet Quick bite · Toltec
    About 54 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  8. Dutch Bros. Coffee Coffee shop · Casa Grande
    About 58 min into the drive · detour about 3 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Th 05:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 05:00-23:00; Su 05:00-22:00
  9. Hideout Steakhouse & BBQ Restaurant · Arizola
    About 58 min into the drive · detour about 2 min

Middle of the drive 13 stops

  1. The Nosh Cafe Coffee shop · Phoenix
    About 1 hr 27 min into the drive · detour about 3 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 06:00-13:00 Website
  2. Charleston's Restaurant · Chandler
    About 1 hr 27 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  3. Boba & Donuts Pastry shop · Guadalupe
    About 1 hr 28 min into the drive · detour about 5 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Sa 06:00-20:00; Su 06:00-19:00 Website
  4. Donut Parlor Donut counter-service · Tempe
    About 1 hr 28 min into the drive · detour about 6 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: We-Su 08:00-13:00 Website
  5. Thanks A Latte Coffee shop · Guadalupe
    About 1 hr 29 min into the drive · detour about 3 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 07:00-19:00 Website
  6. Angelo's Italian Ices Ice cream · Phoenix
    About 1 hr 36 min into the drive · detour about 3 min
  7. Oscar Roberts House Historic site · Phoenix
    About 1 hr 40 min into the drive · detour about 3 min
  8. BoSa Donuts Donut counter-service · Phoenix
    About 1 hr 44 min into the drive · detour about 3 min Website
  9. Rainbow Donuts Coffee shop · Phoenix
    About 1 hr 50 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 04:00-18:00; Dec 25 04:00-12:00
  10. Baker Wee Bakery · Phoenix
    About 1 hr 51 min into the drive · detour about 13 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Fr 07:00-17:00; Sa 07:00-16:00 Website
  11. Elevate Coffee Co. Coffee shop · Phoenix
    About 1 hr 58 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Fr 06:00-20:00; Sa 07:00-20:00; Su 08:00-18:00 Website
  12. Yogurtini Ice cream · Phoenix
    About 1 hr 58 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00 Website
  13. Sweethearts Gourmet Donuts Donut counter-service · Anthem
    About 2 hr 7 min into the drive · detour about 3 min Website

Last stretch 4 stops

  1. The Pie Box Bakery · Rock Springs
    About 2 hr 17 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  2. Rock Shop Attraction · Black Canyon City
    About 2 hr 17 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  3. That Seventies Store Attraction · Mayer
    About 2 hr 42 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  4. Montimer Farms Attraction · Dewey-Humboldt
    About 2 hr 51 min into the drive · detour about 2 min

Questions about the drive from Tucson to Watson Lake

How long is the drive from Tucson to Watson Lake?

About 3 hr 13 min by road, heading northwest from the middle of ZIP 85701. Traffic and weather change that.

What are the best stops on the way from Tucson to Watson Lake?

Good ones to start with: Starbucks (Marana), Nico's Mexican Food (Marana), R&R Pizza Express (Marana), Rooster Cogburn’s Ostrich Ranch (Picacho) and Subway (Wymola). The page lists 26 in all, in driving order.

Where can I get coffee or a bakery stop between Tucson and Watson Lake?

Starbucks in Marana, Dutch Bros. Coffee in Casa Grande, The Nosh Cafe in Phoenix and Thanks A Latte in Guadalupe. Check hours first; they come from OpenStreetMap listings.

Where can I eat on the way to Watson Lake?

Nico's Mexican Food in Marana, R&R Pizza Express in Marana, Subway in Wymola and Iron Skillet in Toltec.

Are there viewpoints or quick sights on the way?

Rooster Cogburn’s Ostrich Ranch in Picacho, Picacho Peak State Park Visitor Center in Wymola, Oscar Roberts House in Phoenix and Rock Shop in Black Canyon City.

More about Tucson and Watson Lake

Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Stops come from our own picks and OpenStreetMap listings; hours and detours change, so check before you go. We do not store anyone's location.

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