Origin
Blackwater, AZ
Late night in Blackwater on Wednesday
Local time
5:10 AM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blackwater, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
45.1 mi
73 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blackwater, AZ
Yanming Guo
Scottsdale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Blackwater, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ covers 45.1 miles and takes about 1h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Junction I-10-Mesa Highway, Price Freeway, South Arizona Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.9 miles on Junction I-10-Mesa Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.98 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
22.6 miles from Blackwater, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 3m highway drive covering 45.1 miles, with most of the trip on Junction I-10-Mesa Highway and Price Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 16.9 miles on Junction I-10-Mesa Highway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 16.9 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,384 ft
1,172 ft
Total Climb
88 ft
Total Descent
213 ft
Highest Point
1,384 ft
Elevation Range
212 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Junction I-10-Mesa Highway and Price Freeway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 20.6 miles in near AZ 87 / South Arizona Avenue.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.1 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 20.6 miles (AZ 87 / South Arizona Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 26.8 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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
20.6 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
AZ 87 / South Arizona Avenue
Turn right onto AZ 87 / South Arizona Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
26.4 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Turn left toward AZ 202 Loop West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
5
26.8 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
28.7 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 50A
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
7
44.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward Chaparral Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Junction I-10-Mesa Highway | 16.9 mi | 24m |
| Price Freeway | 9.3 mi | 10m |
| South Arizona Avenue | 5.8 mi | 9m |
| Pima Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Blackwater School Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Santan Freeway | 2 mi | 2m |
| East Chaparral Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Hunt Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
— 16.9 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blackwater, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ.
1
Start on Blackwater School Road
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Blackwater School Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 87
17 mi
·
24 min
·
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
3
Continue on AZ 87; BIA 56
226 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Hunt Highway
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto AZ 87
5.8 mi
·
9 min
·
South Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Santan Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 50A
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto East Chaparral Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Chaparral Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left
64 ft
·
4 sec
13
Arrive at destination
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 22.6 miles from Blackwater, AZ, or about 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.9 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 45.1 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.6 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scottsdale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Blackwater, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Blackwater, AZ
This is one driving day of about 45.1 miles and 1h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Blackwater, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Junction I-10-Mesa Highway for about 16.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.6 mi from Blackwater, AZ · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 45.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.6 miles from Blackwater, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Scottsdale, AZ
The final approach into Scottsdale, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Scottsdale, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.98 one way
$17.97 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $9.51 | $19.02 |
| premium | $5.59 | $9.93 | $19.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.96 | $19.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.95 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.31 | $2.89 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Scottsdale, AZ
Late night in Scottsdale on Wednesday
Local time
5:10 AM
MST
Current temp
94°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
2 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 3m 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 Scottsdale, AZ covers 45.1 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Junction I-10-Mesa Highway, Price Freeway, South Arizona Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.6 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 $8.98 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 45.1 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 20.6 miles (AZ 87 / South Arizona Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 26.8 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Blackwater, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 1,172 ft to 1,384 ft elevation with about 88 ft of total climbing.
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