Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
36.5 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
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
Rio Verde, AZ
Guillermo Berlin
This 36.5-mile drive from Chandler, AZ, to Rio Verde, AZ, will take about 1 hour and 5 minutes, making it a perfect one-day excursion. You'll navigate primarily using East McDowell Mountain Road, South Country Club Drive, and the Beeline Highway, with no significant highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $7. This route offers a straightforward journey within the Desert Southwest region, ideal for a relaxed day trip without the need for an overnight stay. Expect a local road feel throughout.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 36.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive with a 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.1 miles on East McDowell Mountain Road. This route is characterized by its frequent turns and local road feel, rather than long, high-speed segments. The roads will likely transition and change character as you move from more urbanized areas towards your destination. It's a drive that requires your attention to navigation and local conditions.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Chandler Boulevard.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 5m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Chandler Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (AZ 87 / North Arizona Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles (East Shea Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Continue onto East Chandler Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto AZ 87 / North Arizona Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto East Shea Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto North Saguaro Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn right onto North Fountain Hills Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East McDowell Mountain Road | 8.1 mi | 19m |
| South Country Club Drive | 6.8 mi | 12m |
| Beeline Highway | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| North Beeline Highway | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| North Arizona Avenue | 4 mi | 6m |
| North Saguaro Boulevard | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| North Forest Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Shea Boulevard | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Chandler, AZ and Rio Verde, AZ.
Start on East Chandler Boulevard
Continue on East Chandler Boulevard
Turn right onto AZ 87
Continue on AZ 87
Continue on AZ 87
Continue on AZ 87
Turn left onto East Shea Boulevard
Turn right onto North Saguaro Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto North Fountain Hills Boulevard
Continue on East McDowell Mountain Road
Continue on North Forest Road
Turn left onto East Four Peaks Boulevard
Turn right onto North Medelice Lane
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.2 mi from Chandler, AZ · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 18.2 miles from Chandler, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Rio Verde, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$7.27 one way
$14.54 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $7.70 | $15.39 |
| premium | $5.59 | $8.03 | $16.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.06 | $16.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.83 | $1.75 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.19 | $1.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.11 | $2.34 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Chandler on Thursday
Local time
1:42 PM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Rio Verde on Thursday
Local time
1:42 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
92°F
Mesa, AZ
18 mi in
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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