Origin
Blackwater, AZ
Late night in Blackwater on Friday
Local time
2:26 AM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blackwater, AZ to Phoenix, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
51 mi
82 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blackwater, AZ
Yanming Guo
Phoenix, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Blackwater, AZ to Phoenix, AZ covers 51 miles and takes about 1h 2m 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, Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway 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 $10.16 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 51 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Blackwater, AZ to Phoenix, AZ covers 51 miles and takes about 1h 2m, 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 13 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. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in near AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 51 miles you will encounter 9 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 11.5 miles (AZ 387 / Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway): Navigation decision point; at 47 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 9 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
5
11.5 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
AZ 387 / Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway
At end of road, turn left onto AZ 387 / Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway
Navigation decision point
8
47 mi into trip
|
~55m 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
48.9 mi into trip
|
~57m 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
50.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 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 | 23.2 mi | 23m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 13.9 mi | 16m |
| Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway | 7 mi | 9m |
| Blackwater School Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| South 7th Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Junction I-10-Mesa Highway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Maricopa Freeway | <0.1 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 Phoenix, 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 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.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 195B
Toward 7th Street, Central Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn straight onto East Maricopa Freeway
134 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Maricopa Freeway
11
Turn right onto South 7th Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South 7th Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Washington Street
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
West Washington Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.5 mi from Blackwater, AZ · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.5 miles from Blackwater, 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
$10.16 one way
$20.32 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $10.75 | $21.50 |
| premium | $5.59 | $11.23 | $22.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.26 | $22.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.35 | $2.45 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.46 | $2.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.14 | $3.26 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Phoenix, AZ
Late night in Phoenix on Friday
Local time
2:26 AM
MST
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
W 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
90°F
Guadalupe, AZ
26 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
13 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 2m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Phoenix, AZ covers 51 miles and takes about 1h 2m 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, Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.5 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 $10.16 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 51 miles you will encounter 9 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 11.5 miles (AZ 387 / Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway): Navigation decision point; at 47 miles (US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Blackwater, AZ to Phoenix, 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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