Origin
Chandler, AZ
Afternoon in Chandler on Sunday
Local time
4:06 PM
MST
Current temp
91°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chandler, AZ to Maricopa, AZ
Drive Time
35m
Distance
25.1 mi
40 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chandler, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Maricopa, AZ
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Traveling from Chandler to Maricopa is a quick 25.1-mile journey that typically takes about 35 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is short enough to handle in one go without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via North Maricopa Road, West Queen Creek Road, and North John Wayne Parkway. With a fuel budget of just $5, it remains an incredibly affordable way to transit between these two Desert Southwest locales. Because both the origin and destination sit within the same region, you can expect a consistent climate and environment 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
12.5 miles from Chandler, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate grind. While approximately 14 miles of the route involve highway driving, the experience is defined by shifting road types as you transition between local paths. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 11.8 miles on North Maricopa Road, providing a brief period of steady travel. Navigating the turns requires a more active driving style than a straight-line highway haul would. The transition between different road segments keeps the route feeling dynamic despite the relatively short distance.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Maricopa Road is the longest continuous segment at about 11.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Washington Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 25.1 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: at 0.1 miles (North Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (East Buffalo Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Santan 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.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Washington Street
Turn right onto North Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Buffalo Street
Turn right onto East Buffalo Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward Dobson Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49
Toward Dobson Road
5
5.3 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
West Queen Creek Road
Turn right onto West Queen Creek Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Maricopa Road | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| West Queen Creek Road | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| North John Wayne Parkway | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| South Dobson Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Santan Freeway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| North Arizona Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Washington Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Buffalo Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Maricopa Road
— 11.8 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chandler, AZ and Maricopa, AZ.
1
Start on East Chandler Boulevard
357 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Chandler Boulevard
2
Turn right onto North Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
North Washington Street
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto East Buffalo Street
393 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Buffalo Street
4
Turn left onto AZ 87
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Arizona Avenue
Use the none lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
6
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Santan Freeway
Use the none lane.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 49
Toward Dobson Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto South Dobson Road
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South Dobson Road
Use the left / right lanes.
9
Turn right onto West Queen Creek Road
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
West Queen Creek Road
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on AZ 347
12 mi
·
13 min
·
North Maricopa Road
Use the none lane.
11
Continue on AZ 347
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North John Wayne Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
AZ 347
Trip Plan
Given the 35-minute duration, you have total flexibility in your departure time, as there are no mandatory stops required to break up the drive. Keep in mind that since this is a local, turn-heavy route, it is best to plan your navigation in advance to account for the multiple road changes. You will not need to worry about extensive refueling or lengthy rest breaks, making this a straightforward point-to-point trip. My best tip for this specific drive is to stay alert during the transition between the local roads and the highway sections, as the road character changes frequently. Since this is a short trip, enjoy the simplicity of a drive that gets you from Chandler to Maricopa in under an hour.
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 12.5 miles from Chandler, AZ, or about 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 11.8 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 25.1 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 12.5 miles or 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maricopa, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 25.1 miles and 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chandler, 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 North Maricopa Road for about 11.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 12.5 mi from Chandler, AZ · 19m 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 25.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 12.5 miles from Chandler, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Maricopa, AZ
The final approach into Maricopa, 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 Maricopa, 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
$5.00 one way
$9.99 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $5.27 | $10.55 |
| premium | $5.59 | $5.52 | $11.04 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.58 | $11.15 |
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: 8.8 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 | 7.5 | 0 | $2.64 | $1.20 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.20 | $1.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10 | 0 | $3.51 | $1.61 |
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
Maricopa, AZ
Afternoon in Maricopa on Sunday
Local time
4:06 PM
MST
Current temp
54°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
37 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
35m 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 Chandler, AZ to Maricopa, AZ covers 25.1 miles and takes about 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Maricopa Road, West Queen Creek Road, North John Wayne Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.5 miles from Chandler, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.00 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 25.1 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: at 0.1 miles (North Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (East Buffalo Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Chandler, AZ to Maricopa, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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