Origin
Alhambra, AZ
Late night in Alhambra on Saturday
Local time
4:04 AM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alhambra, AZ to Maricopa, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
40.5 mi
65 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alhambra, AZ
David Vives
Maricopa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Alhambra, AZ to Maricopa, AZ is 40.5 miles and takes about 51 minutes via Maricopa Freeway and Black Canyon Freeway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily through the Desert Southwest region of Arizona. The drive is a mix of highway and local roads, making it a practical option for a short excursion or a quick connection. You'll spend a good portion of the time on major freeways, so expect typical traffic patterns for this type of urban-adjacent travel. It’s a simple route, good for when you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 40.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with 56% of it on major highways like the Maricopa Freeway and Black Canyon Freeway. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 16.3 miles on the Maricopa Freeway, providing a consistent pace. The road character shifts as you progress, moving from freeway conditions to more local road segments as you approach your destination. This blend means you'll experience both the efficiency of highway driving and the slightly slower, more varied conditions of arterial roads. Overall, it’s a predictable drive without significant navigational challenges.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Maricopa Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 16.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near US 60 / West Thomas Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 40.5 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (US 60 / West Thomas Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 60 / West Thomas Road
Turn left onto US 60 / West Thomas Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / slight left lanes.
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway
Turn right onto US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway
Navigation decision point
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward I 17 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 17 South
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 17; US 60 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge onto I 17; US 60 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
24.4 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward AZ 347 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 164
Toward AZ 347 South
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maricopa Freeway | 16.3 mi | 18m |
| North Maricopa Road | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| North John Wayne Parkway | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| West Queen Creek Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Grand Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| US 60 | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Maricopa Freeway
— 16.3 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alhambra, AZ and Maricopa, AZ.
1
Start on North 35th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
North 35th Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 60
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Avenue
3
Take the exit onto US 60
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 60
Toward 27th Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 60
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Thomas Road
Use the left / slight left lanes.
5
Turn right onto US 60
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Black Canyon Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 17 South
7
Merge onto I 17; US 60
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 17; US 60
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 164
Toward AZ 347 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto AZ 347
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Queen Creek Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Continue on AZ 347
12 mi
·
13 min
·
North Maricopa Road
13
Continue on AZ 347
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North John Wayne Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
AZ 347
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.2 mi from Alhambra, AZ · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 40.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.2 miles from Alhambra, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Maricopa, AZ
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Maricopa, AZ if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.07 one way
$16.14 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $8.54 | $17.08 |
| premium | $5.59 | $8.91 | $17.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.94 | $17.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.25 | $1.94 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Maricopa, AZ
Late night in Maricopa on Saturday
Local time
4:04 AM
MST
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
90°F
Guadalupe, AZ
20 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
51m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alhambra, AZ to Maricopa, AZ covers 40.5 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Maricopa Freeway, North Maricopa Road, Black Canyon Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.2 miles from Alhambra, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.07 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 40.5 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (US 60 / West Thomas Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Alhambra, AZ to Maricopa, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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