Origin
Buckeye, AZ
Late night in Buckeye on Wednesday
Local time
3:33 AM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buckeye, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
48.7 mi
78 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buckeye, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Scottsdale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Buckeye, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ covers 48.7 miles and takes about 1h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Papago Freeway, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, South Miller Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.2 miles on Papago Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.70 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
24.3 miles from Buckeye, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 31m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Buckeye, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ covers 48.7 miles and takes about 1h 5m, 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 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Papago Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 21.2 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 0.4 miles in near North 1st Street.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 48.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 36.7 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.2 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 1st Street
Turn right onto North 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
36.7 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
Red Mountain Freeway
Take the exit onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
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 147
Toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
8
37.2 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
Red Mountain Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 202 Loop East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 147A
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
8
39.8 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward AZ 143 South: Washington Street, McDowell Road
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 3
Toward AZ 143 South: Washington Street, McDowel...
7
40 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward McDowell Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward McDowell Road
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Papago Freeway | 21.2 mi | 24m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 9.6 mi | 10m |
| South Miller Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| East McDowell Road | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Red Mountain Freeway | 3 mi | 3m |
| North Scottsdale Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| North Hayden Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Osborn Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Papago Freeway
— 21.2 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buckeye, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ.
1
Start on US 80 Hist
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
East Monroe Avenue
2
Turn right onto North 1st Street
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
North 1st Street
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on South Miller Road
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
South Miller Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 114
Toward I 10 East: Phoenix
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 10
9.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 10
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
8
Continue on I 10
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto Red Mountain Freeway
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147
Toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147A
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
11
Keep slight left at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147A
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 3
Toward AZ 143 South: Washington Street, McDowell Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward McDowell Road
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Merge onto AZ 143
478 ft
·
9 sec
·
Hohokam Expressway
15
Turn right onto East McDowell Road
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
East McDowell Road
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto North Scottsdale Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Scottsdale Road
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto East Osborn Road
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
East Osborn Road
Use the right lane.
18
Enter roundabout onto East Osborn Road
90 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Osborn Road
19
Continue on East Osborn Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Osborn Road
20
Turn left onto North Hayden Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Hayden Road
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Chaparral Road
Use the right lane.
22
Turn right
64 ft
·
4 sec
23
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 24.3 miles from Buckeye, AZ, or about 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.2 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 48.7 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 24.3 miles or 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 52m
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 Buckeye, 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 Buckeye, AZ
This is one driving day of about 48.7 miles and 1h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Buckeye, 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 Papago Freeway for about 21.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.3 mi from Buckeye, AZ · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 48.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.3 miles from Buckeye, 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
$9.70 one way
$19.40 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $10.27 | $20.53 |
| premium | $5.59 | $10.72 | $21.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.75 | $21.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.11 | $2.34 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.26 | $1.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.82 | $3.12 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Scottsdale, AZ
Late night in Scottsdale on Wednesday
Local time
3:33 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
5 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 5m 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 Buckeye, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ covers 48.7 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Papago Freeway, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, South Miller Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.3 miles from Buckeye, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.70 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 is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 48.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 36.7 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.2 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Buckeye, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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