Origin
Blackwater, AZ
Late night in Blackwater on Friday
Local time
5:25 AM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blackwater, AZ to Glendale, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
60.8 mi
98 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blackwater, AZ
Yanming Guo
Glendale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Blackwater, AZ to Glendale, AZ covers 60.8 miles and takes about 1h 15m 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, Maricopa Freeway, Grand Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 23.2 miles on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.11 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 60.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Blackwater, AZ to Glendale, AZ covers 60.8 miles and takes about 1h 15m, 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 15 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 23.2 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 3.7 miles in near AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 3.7 miles (AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway): Navigation decision point; at 47 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 49 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
3.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
At end of road, turn left onto AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
Navigation decision point
6
47 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
I 10 / Papago Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
49 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
I 10 / Papago Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
53.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward 19th Avenue, Grand Avenue
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 143C
Toward 19th Avenue, Grand Avenue
6
53.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
North 19th Avenue
Turn right onto North 19th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 23.2 mi | 23m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 12 mi | 13m |
| Grand Avenue | 7.1 mi | 12m |
| Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway | 7 mi | 9m |
| Papago Freeway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Blackwater School Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Junction I-10-Mesa Highway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
— 23.2 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blackwater, AZ and Glendale, AZ.
1
Start on Blackwater School Road
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Blackwater School Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto AZ 87
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
3
Turn right onto AZ 387
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway
4
At end of road, turn left onto AZ 387
520 ft
·
10 sec
·
Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
6
Merge onto I 10
23 mi
·
23 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 10
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
11
Continue on I 10
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 143C
Toward 19th Avenue, Grand Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto North 19th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North 19th Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
14
Turn slight left onto Grand Avenue
7.1 mi
·
12 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left / slight left lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
US 60
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.4 mi from Blackwater, AZ · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.4 miles from Blackwater, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Glendale, AZ
The final approach into Glendale, 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
$12.11 one way
$24.22 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $12.82 | $25.64 |
| premium | $5.59 | $13.38 | $26.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.42 | $26.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.38 | $2.92 |
| Efficient EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.51 | $3.89 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Glendale, AZ
Late night in Glendale on Friday
Local time
5:25 AM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 15m 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 Blackwater, AZ to Glendale, AZ covers 60.8 miles and takes about 1h 15m 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, Grand Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.4 miles from Blackwater, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.11 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 60.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 3.7 miles (AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway): Navigation decision point; at 47 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 49 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Blackwater, AZ to Glendale, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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