Desert Wonder Adventures
Near the end, right off the route
Kingman, Arizona
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+19287162046
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 38m
Distance
222.5 mi
358 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chandler, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Golden Valley, AZ
Brent Singleton
The drive from Chandler, AZ to Golden Valley, AZ covers 222.5 miles and takes about 4h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway, Grand Avenue, Purple Heart Trail for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 106.7 miles on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.32 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
111.2 miles from Chandler, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 25m into the drive .
Chandler is a city in Arizona, and a medium-sized suburb of Phoenix with over 240,000 residents. It is a delightful place to visit.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 38m. Total distance: 222.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Expect a 4h 38m drive with frequent turns across 222.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.5 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 32 significant decision points across 222.5 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 8.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward US 60 West, US 60 East: Phoenix, Globe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward US 60 West: Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 60
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward AZ 68 West: Bullhead City, Laughlin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wickenburg–Kingman Highway | 106.7 mi | 2h 9m |
| Grand Avenue | 27.4 mi | 37m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 21.5 mi | 21m |
| Papago Freeway | 15 mi | 17m |
| Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway | 9 mi | 10m |
| Agua Fria Freeway | 8.8 mi | 10m |
| Bullhead City–Kingman Highway | 5 mi | 6m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between Chandler, AZ and Golden Valley, AZ.
Start on East Chandler Boulevard
Continue on East Chandler Boulevard
Continue on West Chandler Boulevard
Turn right onto South Price Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 60
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60
Merge onto I 10; US 60
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Continue on I 10
Continue on I 10
Take the exit
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 60
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Enter roundabout onto US 93
Continue on US 93
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
Enter roundabout onto US 93
Continue on US 93
Enter roundabout onto US 93
Continue on US 93
Turn left onto US 93
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
Continue on US 93
Take the exit onto US 93
Merge onto I 40; US 93
Take the exit onto US 93
Turn slight right onto US 93
Merge onto US 93
Continue on US 93
Take the exit
Continue on AZ 68
Turn right onto Verde Road
Turn left onto West Chino Drive
Turn left onto Santa Maria Road
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 49 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.2 miles or 2h 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 3h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Golden Valley, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Chandler, 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 Chandler, AZ
This is one driving day of about 222.5 miles and 4h 38m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 111.2 mi from Chandler, AZ · 2h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
111 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.
A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 111.2 miles from Chandler, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Wickenburg–Kingman Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 106.7 miles.
The final approach into Golden Valley, 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 Golden Valley, AZ.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Near the end, right off the route
Kingman, Arizona
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+19287162046
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Tempe, Arizona
Hours: 11 am–5 pm
+14805657081
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Phoenix, Arizona
Hours: Closed
+14809958653
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Tempe, Arizona
+14803556060
Visit websiteNear the start, ~10 min detour
Tempe, Arizona
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Monument
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$44.32 one way
$88.65 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $46.91 | $93.82 |
| premium | $5.59 | $48.98 | $97.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $49.13 | $98.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.8 | 0 | $23.36 | $10.68 |
| Efficient EV | 55.6 | 0 | $19.47 | $8.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89 | 1 | $31.15 | $14.24 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Chandler on Friday
Local time
9:39 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Golden Valley on Friday
Local time
9:39 PM
MST
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Chandler, AZ or browse trips ending in Golden Valley, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.