The drive from Avondale, AZ to Florence, AZ covers 77.2 miles and takes about 1h 36m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway, West Buckeye Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 23.1 miles on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.38 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.6 miles from Avondale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 77.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Avondale, AZ to Florence, AZ covers 77.2 miles and takes about 1h 36m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 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 23.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near US 80 Hist / West Buckeye Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.2 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.6 miles (US 80 Hist / West Buckeye Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 29.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|US 80 Hist / West Buckeye Road
Turn left onto US 80 Hist / West Buckeye Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
29.5 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward I 10: Phoenix, Tucson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 55A-B
Toward I 10: Phoenix, Tucson
8
29.7 mi into trip|~38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 East: Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 55B
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
8
53.7 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward AZ 187, AZ 387: Casa Grande, Coolidge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 185
Toward AZ 187, AZ 387: Casa Grande, Coolidge
6
54 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward AZ 187 North, AZ 387 North: Coolidge, Florence, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AZ 187 North, AZ 387 North: Coolidge, Fl...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Avondale, AZ and Florence, AZ, road signs point toward Tucson, Coolidge and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
Tucson
29.5 mi in|~38m
Coolidge
53.7 mi in|~1h 3m
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
54 mi in|~1h 4m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
23.1 mi
23m
Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway
19.6 mi
22m
West Buckeye Road
8.9 mi
13m
Florence-Coolidge Highway
8.1 mi
11m
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
7 mi
8m
AZ 387
6.9 mi
9m
South Main Street
0.8 mi
1m
East Western Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
— 23.1 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Avondale, AZ and Florence, AZ.
1
Start on this road
27 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto North Central Avenue
89 ft·9 sec·North Central Avenue
3
Turn left onto East Western Avenue
0.5 mi·54 sec·East Western Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
At end of road, turn right onto South Dysart Road
495 ft·17 sec·South Dysart Road
5
Turn left onto US 80 Hist
8.9 mi·13 min·West Buckeye Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto South 59th Avenue
446 ft·7 sec·South 59th Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop South
8
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
20 mi·22 min·Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 55A-BToward I 10: Phoenix, TucsonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 55BToward I 10 East: TucsonUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 10
23 mi·23 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 185Toward AZ 187, AZ 387: Casa Grande, CoolidgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
298 ft·14 sec
Toward AZ 187 North, AZ 387 North: Coolidge, Florence, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
14
Turn left onto AZ 387
0.4 mi·38 sec·Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway
15
Turn right onto AZ 387
6.9 mi·9 min·AZ 387
16
Turn right onto AZ 87
7.0 mi·8 min·Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
17
Continue on AZ 287
8.1 mi·11 min·Florence-Coolidge Highway
18
Enter roundabout onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
187 ft·3 sec·South Main Street
19
Continue on AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
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 38.6 miles from Avondale, AZ, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.1 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 17 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.6 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florence, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Avondale, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Avondale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 77.2 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Avondale, 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 23.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.6 mi from Avondale, AZ
· 48m into the drive
The midpoint is around 38.6 miles from Avondale, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Florence, AZ
The final approach into Florence, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.38 one way
$30.76 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$16.28
$32.55
premium
$5.59
$16.99
$33.99
diesel
$5.61
$17.04
$34.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.2
0
$8.11
$3.71
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.76
$3.09
EV Truck/SUV
30.9
0
$10.81
$4.94
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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
Avondale, AZ
Evening
in Avondale on Thursday
Local time
8:36 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Florence, AZ
Evening
in Florence on Thursday
Local time
8:36 PM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
1 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
1h 36m 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 Avondale, AZ to Florence, AZ covers 77.2 miles and takes about 1h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway, West Buckeye Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.6 miles from Avondale, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.38 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 77.2 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.6 miles (US 80 Hist / West Buckeye Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 29.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Avondale, AZ and Florence, AZ, road signs point toward Tucson, Coolidge and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
