Origin
Cave Creek, AZ
Evening in Cave Creek on Sunday
Local time
7:08 PM
MST
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cave Creek, AZ to Glendale, AZ
Drive Time
48m
Distance
30.6 mi
49 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cave Creek, AZ
Pho Tomass
Glendale, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
If you are planning to head from Cave Creek to Glendale, you are looking at a straightforward 30.6-mile journey that typically takes about 48 minutes. Because the trip is short and located entirely within the Desert Southwest region of Arizona, it is perfect for a quick day trip rather than an overnight excursion. Budgeting about $6 for fuel is a safe bet for this trek. You will navigate a mix of local roads and major thoroughfares, starting on East Cave Creek Road before transitioning to the Black Canyon Freeway and finishing on West Glendale Avenue. This route offers a practical connection between these two desert communities, making it an easy drive to manage in a single sitting.
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
15.3 miles from Cave Creek, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .
Drive Character
This drive offers a mixed-road profile, balancing local navigation with faster highway travel. You will spend roughly 39% of your time on the highway, providing a nice contrast to the slower-paced segments. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 12.3-mile run along East Cave Creek Road, which sets the pace early on. As you move from the initial local stretches onto the Black Canyon Freeway, the rhythm of the drive shifts from steady road cruising to a more high-speed flow. Expect a functional, transitionary experience behind the wheel that gets you to your destination efficiently without unnecessary complexity.
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.
East Cave Creek Road is the longest continuous segment at about 12.3 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 12.3 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 30.6 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 12.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
12.3 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the ramp toward AZ 101 Loop West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward AZ 101 Loop West
8
16.3 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
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 23C-B
Toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Phoenix, Flagsta...
7
16.8 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 17 South: Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 17 South: Phoenix
7
25.9 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward Glendale Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 205
Toward Glendale Avenue
6
26.1 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
West Glendale Avenue
Turn right onto West Glendale Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Cave Creek, AZ to Glendale, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Flagstaff along the way.
Flagstaff
16.3 mi in
|
~26m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Cave Creek Road | 12.3 mi | 21m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| West Glendale Avenue | 4 mi | 8m |
| Pima Freeway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Grand Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North 57th Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Black Canyon Highway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East Cave Creek Road
— 12.3 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cave Creek, AZ and Glendale, AZ.
1
Start on East Cave Creek Road
12 mi
·
21 min
·
East Cave Creek Road
Use the none lane.
2
Take the ramp
394 ft
·
7 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop West
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
this road
Toward AZ 101 Loop West
Use the none lane.
4
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the none lane.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 23C-B
Toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 17 South: Phoenix
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 17
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the none lane.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 205
Toward Glendale Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto North Black Canyon Highway
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Black Canyon Highway
10
Turn right onto West Glendale Avenue
4.0 mi
·
8 min
·
West Glendale Avenue
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto North 57th Drive
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
North 57th Drive
12
Turn right onto US 60
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Grand Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
US 60
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 48-minute trip with zero mandatory stops, you have plenty of flexibility in your scheduling. You don't need to worry about complex pacing or overnight logistics, allowing you to hit the road whenever it fits your agenda. Keep in mind that your primary transit occurs on the Black Canyon Freeway, so checking for typical traffic patterns on that highway before you depart is a smart move. Because the fuel cost is a modest $6, you can easily top off your tank at the start of your journey and arrive in Glendale without needing to refuel along the way. Use the lack of required stops to your advantage by planning your arrival time around your specific needs in Glendale.
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 15.3 miles from Cave Creek, AZ, or about 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.3 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 30.6 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.3 miles or 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Glendale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cave Creek, 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 Cave Creek, AZ
This is one driving day of about 30.6 miles and 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cave Creek, 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 East Cave Creek Road for about 12.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.3 mi from Cave Creek, AZ · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.3 miles from Cave Creek, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Glendale, 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
$6.09 one way
$12.18 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $6.43 | $12.86 |
| premium | $5.59 | $6.73 | $13.46 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.80 | $13.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.21 | $1.47 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.68 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Evening in Glendale on Sunday
Local time
7:08 PM
MST
Current temp
59°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
48m 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 Cave Creek, AZ to Glendale, AZ covers 30.6 miles and takes about 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Cave Creek Road, Black Canyon Freeway, West Glendale Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.3 miles from Cave Creek, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.09 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 11 significant decision points across 30.6 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 12.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Cave Creek, AZ to Glendale, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Flagstaff along the way.
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