Origin
Cave Creek, AZ
Evening in Cave Creek on Sunday
Local time
6:01 PM
MST
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cave Creek, AZ to Phoenix, AZ
Drive Time
49m
Distance
31.9 mi
51 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 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cave Creek, AZ
Pho Tomass
Phoenix, AZ
Carter Marchant
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick transition from the high desert charm of Cave Creek to the urban heart of Phoenix, this 32.6-mile route is a straightforward journey. Expect to spend about 43 minutes behind the wheel, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via North Tatum Boulevard, the Pima Freeway, and AZ 101 to connect these two Desert Southwest locations. With a fuel budget of just $6, this is an incredibly economical trek for commuters or weekend travelers. Because both the origin and destination are situated within the same region, you will experience a consistent desert landscape throughout the entire drive.
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
15.9 miles from Cave Creek, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26m into the drive .
Drive Character
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you transition between residential streets and major thoroughfares. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this 32.6-mile path keeps you engaged with frequent shifts in traffic flow and direction. Since the route features 0% highway share in the traditional sense, you won't be spending much time cruising at high speeds on long, uninterrupted stretches. Instead, the personality of this drive is defined by its local character, requiring you to navigate city-style intersections as you move from the outskirts into the metropolitan area. It is a functional, practical route that prioritizes connection over scenic highway cruising.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Piestewa Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 14.5 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 12.8 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 31.9 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 12.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
12.8 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward AZ 51 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 29B
Toward AZ 51 South
7
28.7 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West, AZ 202 Loop East: Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 10 West, AZ 202 Loop East: Los Angeles
7
28.8 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
7
30 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward 7th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 145A
Toward 7th Street
9
30.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 7th Street South, Downtown Cultural/Sports Facilitles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward 7th Street South, Downtown Cultural/Spor...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Piestewa Freeway | 14.5 mi | 17m |
| North Tatum Boulevard | 6.2 mi | 10m |
| East Cave Creek Road | 6 mi | 11m |
| North 7th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Papago Freeway | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Pima Freeway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Washington Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Piestewa Freeway
— 14.5 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cave Creek, AZ and Phoenix, AZ.
1
Start on East Cave Creek Road
6.0 mi
·
11 min
·
East Cave Creek Road
Use the none lane.
2
Turn left onto North Tatum Boulevard
6.2 mi
·
10 min
·
North Tatum Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward AZ 101 Loop West
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Pima Freeway
5
Take the exit
1.3 mi
·
1 min
Exit 29B
Toward AZ 51 South
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Merge onto AZ 51
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Piestewa Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
271 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 10 West, AZ 202 Loop East: Los Angeles
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 10
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
Papago Freeway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 145A
Toward 7th Street
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward 7th Street South, Downtown Cultural/Sports Facilitles
Use the left lane.
12
Turn straight onto North 7th Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North 7th Street
Use the none lane.
13
Turn right onto East Washington Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Washington Street
Use the none lane.
14
Arrive at destination
West Washington Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 43-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule rather than worrying about strict timing. You won't need to worry about planning for rest stops or food breaks given the short duration and the lack of designated stops on this route. Keep your $6 fuel budget in mind, but otherwise, focus on the local traffic patterns you might encounter while using North Tatum Boulevard and the Pima Freeway. My best advice for this specific drive is to stay alert for turn-heavy sections, as the local road configuration requires more frequent adjustments than a standard highway route. Use the ease of this quick drive to your advantage by keeping your itinerary light and adaptable.
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 15.9 miles from Cave Creek, AZ, or about 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.5 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 31.9 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.9 miles or 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Phoenix, 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 31.9 miles and 49m.
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 Piestewa Freeway for about 14.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.9 mi from Cave Creek, AZ · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.9 miles from Cave Creek, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Phoenix, 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
$6.35 one way
$12.70 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $6.70 | $13.41 |
| premium | $5.59 | $7.02 | $14.03 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.09 | $14.17 |
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: 11.2 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 | 9.6 | 0 | $3.35 | $1.53 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.79 | $1.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.47 | $2.04 |
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
Phoenix, AZ
Evening in Phoenix on Sunday
Local time
6:01 PM
MST
Current temp
61°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
4 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
49m 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 Phoenix, AZ covers 31.9 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Piestewa Freeway, North Tatum Boulevard, East Cave Creek Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.9 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 $6.35 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 13 significant decision points across 31.9 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 12.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Cave Creek, AZ to Phoenix, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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