Origin
Cave Creek, AZ
Evening in Cave Creek on Sunday
Local time
5:27 PM
MST
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cave Creek, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ
Drive Time
40m
Distance
26.2 mi
42 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cave Creek, AZ
Pho Tomass
Scottsdale, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
Traveling from Cave Creek to Scottsdale is a quick, straightforward journey covering 26.2 miles. You can expect to spend about 40 minutes on the road, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of just $5, it is an incredibly affordable route that keeps you entirely within the Desert Southwest. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a change of scenery, the trip is simple enough that you will not need to worry about overnight logistics. It is a practical, efficient connection between these two Arizona hubs, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
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
13.1 miles from Cave Creek, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .
Drive Character
This drive offers a mixed-road profile that transitions from local routes to faster highway sections. You will navigate using North Tom Darlington Drive and North Scottsdale Road before spending 43% of your journey on the Pima Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the freeway, lasting 11.2 miles, which provides a steady rhythm before you exit back onto local surface streets. Because the route balances surface roads with a significant highway segment, you get a feel for both the suburban flow and the higher-speed corridors of the region.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pima Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 11.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Cave Creek Road.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.2 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (East Cave Creek Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Cave Creek Road
Continue onto East Cave Creek Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
13.6 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Turn left toward AZ 101 Loop East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward AZ 101 Loop East
5
14 mi into trip
|
~25m 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.
7
25.2 mi into trip
|
~38m 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
5
25.6 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
East Chaparral Road
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pima Freeway | 11.2 mi | 12m |
| North Scottsdale Road | 9.8 mi | 15m |
| North Tom Darlington Drive | 2 mi | 4m |
| East Cave Creek Road | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| East Chaparral Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Pima Freeway
— 11.2 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cave Creek, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ.
1
Start on East Cave Creek Road
206 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Cave Creek Road
2
Continue on East Cave Creek Road
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Cave Creek Road
Use the none lane.
3
Turn slight right
171 ft
·
7 sec
Toward North Tom Darlington Drive
4
Turn straight onto North Tom Darlington Drive
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Tom Darlington Drive
Use the none lane.
5
Turn straight onto North Tom Darlington Drive
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Tom Darlington Drive
Use the none lane.
6
Continue on North Scottsdale Road
9.8 mi
·
15 min
·
North Scottsdale Road
Use the none lane.
7
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop East
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Chaparral Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
11
Turn left
64 ft
·
4 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 40-minute drive, you have the advantage of total scheduling flexibility. You do not need to plan for any formal stops, as the distance is easily manageable in one go. If you are heading out during peak hours, keep in mind that the Pima Freeway portion may experience typical traffic fluctuations common to the area. Make sure to check your fuel gauge before leaving Cave Creek, though the modest $5 estimated cost makes it easy to factor into your travel budget. Take advantage of the short travel time to leave whenever it best suits your plans.
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 13.1 miles from Cave Creek, AZ, or about 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 11.2 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 26.2 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.1 miles or 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 35m
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 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 26.2 miles and 40m.
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 Pima Freeway for about 11.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.1 mi from Cave Creek, AZ · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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
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
$5.21 one way
$10.43 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $5.51 | $11.01 |
| premium | $5.59 | $5.76 | $11.53 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.82 | $11.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.75 | $1.26 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.29 | $1.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.67 | $1.68 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% 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
Evening in Scottsdale on Sunday
Local time
5:27 PM
MST
Current temp
58°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
40m 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 Scottsdale, AZ covers 26.2 miles and takes about 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pima Freeway, North Scottsdale Road, North Tom Darlington Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.1 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 $5.21 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 26.2 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (East Cave Creek Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Cave Creek, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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