Drive or Fly: Apache Junction, AZ to Maricopa, AZ?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for AZA–PHX. At 48 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 5m

Distance

48.4 mi

Total Cost

$46

CO2

20 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$11

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

2h 58m

5m in the air

Air Distance

38 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

10 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Apache Junction, AZ → AZA 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 5m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHX → Maricopa, AZ 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Apache Junction, AZ AZA — Mesa Gateway Airport 10 mi, ~14m drive

Maricopa, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 26 mi, ~39m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AZA and PHX. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

2h 9m

45m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Apache Junction, AZ → Tempe Amtrak Bus Stop 34m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 45m

Arrival 10m

Maricopa → Maricopa, AZ 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Tempe Amtrak Bus Stop 23 mi, ~34m drive

To Maricopa 0 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 2 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 39m

25m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US1030s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Apache Junction, AZ → Apache Junction (Chevron) (ACJ6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 25m

Arrival 10m

Mesa Bus Stop (MES6) → Maricopa, AZ 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From ACJ6 — Apache Junction (Chevron) 3 mi, ~10m drive

To MES6 — Mesa Bus Stop 26 mi, ~39m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	1h 5m	2h 58m	2h 9m	1h 39m
Total cost (1 person)	$46	$122	$5	$2
Carbon footprint	20 kg CO₂	10 kg CO₂	2 kg CO₂	1 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS, FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

48.4 mi 1h 5m

via AZ 202 Loop, AZ 347, West Queen Creek Road

Alternative (+0 min)

51.4 mi 1h 5m

via US 60, AZ 347, I 10

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Apache Junction, AZ to Maricopa, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.