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Trip from Arizona City, AZ to Phoenix, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

1h 8m

Distance

58.1 mi

93 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 3m ★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

census designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States

Arizona City, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

seat of Maricopa County, largest city in, and capital of, the State of Arizona, United States

Phoenix, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 58.1-mile drive from Arizona City to Phoenix, AZ, is a straightforward 1 hour and 8 minute journey. It's an easy day trip, so no need to plan an overnight stop. Expect a fuel cost of around $12 for this route, which stays within the Desert Southwest region. The drive primarily uses local roads, indicated by its turn-heavy profile, making it less about open highway cruising and more about navigating through communities. It's a practical option for a quick transfer between these two Arizona locations.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

29 miles from Arizona City, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .

Drive Character

This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be making frequent turns rather than settling into long stretches of highway. With only a 24% highway share, expect a mix of local roads and some higher-speed segments. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 36.7 miles along the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before transitioning back to more local, community-focused roads. The Maricopa Freeway and South Sunland Gin Road also feature in this drive, contributing to its varied but predominantly local feel.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 36.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.1 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 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 54.1 miles (US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8
3.8 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the ramp toward I 8 West, I 10 West: San Diego, Phoenix

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward I 8 West, I 10 West: San Diego, Phoenix
5
4.1 mi into trip | ~7m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: Phoenix

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
8
54.1 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in | US 60 / Maricopa Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 60 / Maricopa Freeway toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
8
56 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in

Take the exit toward 7th Street, Central Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 195B Toward 7th Street, Central Avenue
6
57.6 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | East Washington Street

Turn left onto East Washington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway 36.7 mi 37m
Maricopa Freeway 13.9 mi 16m
South Sunland Gin Road 3.8 mi 6m
South 7th Street 1.3 mi 2m
East Washington Street 0.5 mi 1m
East Maricopa Freeway <0.1 mi <1m
West Washington Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway — 36.7 mi, about 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arizona City, AZ and Phoenix, AZ.

1

Start on South Sunland Gin Road

3.8 mi · 6 min · South Sunland Gin Road
2

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 8 West, I 10 West: San Diego, Phoenix Use the left lane.
3

Keep slight right at fork

1.3 mi · 2 min
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
4

Merge onto I 10

37 mi · 37 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Continue on I 10

12 mi · 13 min · Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto US 60

1.9 mi · 2 min · Maricopa Freeway
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff Use the slight right lane.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 195B Toward 7th Street, Central Avenue Use the slight right lane.
8

Turn straight onto East Maricopa Freeway

134 ft · 2 sec · East Maricopa Freeway
9

Turn right onto South 7th Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · South 7th Street
Use the straight lane.
10

Turn left onto East Washington Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Washington Street
Use the left lane.
11

Arrive at destination

West Washington Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short drive of just over an hour, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Arizona City in the morning should get you into Phoenix with plenty of the day left. With no designated stops, you can easily pull over if you need a break or find something interesting, though none are specifically noted on this route. Keep an eye on your fuel as you approach Phoenix, as prices can fluctuate. A practical tip for this 'turn-heavy local drive' is to ensure your GPS is fully charged and functioning, as navigating frequent turns can be more demanding than a simple highway cruise.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 29 miles from Arizona City, AZ, or about 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.7 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 13 miles or 18m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 29 miles or 34m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 56m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Phoenix, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Arizona City, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Arizona City, AZ

This is one driving day of about 58.1 miles and 1h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Arizona City, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway for about 36.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 29 mi from Arizona City, AZ · 34m into the drive

town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Guadalupe, AZ

29 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.

Popular next leg

Guadalupe, AZ to Phoenix, AZ

10.8 mi · 19m

Pacing Suggestions

Casa Grande, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sun Lakes, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29 miles from Arizona City, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Phoenix, AZ

The final approach into Phoenix, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.57 one way

$23.15 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 20 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $12.25 $24.50
premium $5.59 $12.79 $25.58
diesel $5.61 $12.83 $25.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.4 0 $6.10 $2.79
Efficient EV 14.5 0 $5.08 $2.32
EV Truck/SUV 23.2 0 $8.13 $3.72

Gas CO2

20 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (65% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Arizona City, AZ

Afternoon in Arizona City on Wednesday

Local time

1:54 PM

MST

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Phoenix, AZ

Afternoon in Phoenix on Wednesday

Local time

1:54 PM

MST

Current temp

93°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

90°F

Guadalupe, AZ

29 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

40 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 8m 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 Arizona City, AZ to Phoenix, AZ covers 58.1 miles and takes about 1h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Maricopa Freeway, South Sunland Gin Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29 miles from Arizona City, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.57 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 58.1 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 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 54.1 miles (US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Arizona City, AZ to Phoenix, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Phoenix, AZ to Arizona City, AZ

Plan the drive back the other way.

58.1 mi 1h 7m

Explore more options from Arizona City, AZ or browse trips ending in Phoenix, AZ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.

Explore maps for Arizona City, AZ or Phoenix, AZ on MapSof.net.