Origin
Cave Creek, AZ
Afternoon in Cave Creek on Sunday
Local time
4:46 PM
MST
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cave Creek, AZ to Goodyear, AZ
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
45.7 mi
74 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cave Creek, AZ
Pho Tomass
Goodyear, AZ
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
Spanning 45.7 miles across the Desert Southwest, this trip from Cave Creek to Goodyear is a straightforward commute that typically takes about 1 hour and 3 minutes. Because of the relatively short distance, you can easily complete this journey as a simple one-day excursion without needing to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting around $9 for fuel should comfortably cover your transit between these two Arizona hubs. The route utilizes a mix of local roads and major freeways to transition between the northern and western reaches of the Phoenix metropolitan area. It is a highly practical drive, perfect for those looking for an efficient connection rather than a scenic tour.
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
22.9 miles from Cave Creek, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as roughly 66% of your drive involves navigating high-speed arterial roads. You will transition from East Cave Creek Road onto the Agua Fria Freeway, which serves as the backbone of the trip, featuring a longest uninterrupted stretch of 21.5 miles. Eventually, the route merges onto the Papago Freeway to complete the final leg of the journey. While you start on local surface streets, the character of the drive quickly shifts into a more industrial and fast-paced interstate grind. Be prepared for consistent traffic flow as you transition between these major urban thoroughfares.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Agua Fria Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 21.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Agua Fria Freeway and East Cave Creek Road. 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
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 45.7 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 12.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 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
5
12.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
8
38.6 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
5
39.2 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
I 10 / Papago Freeway
Merge onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
8
43.7 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward Litchfield Road, Phoenix-Goodyear Airport
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 128
Toward Litchfield Road, Phoenix-Goodyear Airpor...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Agua Fria Freeway | 21.5 mi | 24m |
| East Cave Creek Road | 12.3 mi | 21m |
| Papago Freeway | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Pima Freeway | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| North Litchfield Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| South Litchfield Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Agua Fria Freeway
— 21.5 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cave Creek, AZ and Goodyear, 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
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the none lane.
5
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
22 mi
·
24 min
·
Agua Fria Freeway
Use the none lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1A
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 10
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the none lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 128
Toward Litchfield Road, Phoenix-Goodyear Airport
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto North Litchfield Road
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Litchfield Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on South Litchfield Road
337 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Litchfield Road
11
Arrive at destination
South Litchfield Road
Trip Plan
Since this 1-hour drive is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak rush hours on the Agua Fria Freeway will make for a much smoother experience. There are no mandatory stops required for this 45.7-mile distance, meaning you can easily push through the entire route in one go. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Cave Creek, as the $9 estimate is based on standard consumption and urban driving conditions. If you are sensitive to heavy traffic, planning your departure for mid-morning or mid-afternoon will likely save you significant frustration. Use the fluidity of the freeway transitions to your advantage, as maintaining a steady speed is the best way to handle the highway-heavy sections of this trip.
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 22.9 miles from Cave Creek, AZ, or about 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.5 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 45.7 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.9 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Goodyear, 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 45.7 miles and 1h 3m.
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 Agua Fria Freeway for about 21.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.9 mi from Cave Creek, 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 45.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.9 miles from Cave Creek, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Goodyear, AZ
The final approach into Goodyear, 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 Goodyear, 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
$9.10 one way
$18.19 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $9.60 | $19.21 |
| premium | $5.59 | $10.05 | $20.10 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.15 | $20.31 |
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: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.80 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.40 | $2.92 |
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
Goodyear, AZ
Afternoon in Goodyear on Sunday
Local time
4:46 PM
MST
Current temp
56°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
1 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 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 Cave Creek, AZ to Goodyear, AZ covers 45.7 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 Agua Fria Freeway, East Cave Creek Road, Papago Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.9 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 $9.10 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 8 significant decision points across 45.7 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 12.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Cave Creek, AZ to Goodyear, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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