Origin
Chandler, AZ
Morning in Chandler on Saturday
Local time
10:40 AM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chandler, AZ to Ajo, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 26m
Distance
120.9 mi
195 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 17m
★
6 AM
2h 27m
8 AM
2h 47m
10 AM
2h 34m
12 PM
2h 32m
3 PM
2h 35m
5 PM
2h 46m
8 PM
2h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chandler, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Ajo, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Chandler, AZ to Ajo, AZ covers 120.9 miles and takes about 2h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Washington Street, East Buffalo Street, North Arizona Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.08 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.5 miles from Chandler, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Washington Street | — | — |
| East Buffalo Street | — | — |
| North Arizona Avenue | — | — |
| AZ 202 | — | — |
| Santan Freeway | — | — |
| Dobson Road | — | — |
| South Dobson Road | — | — |
| West Queen Creek Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Washington Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chandler, AZ and Ajo, AZ.
1
Start on East Chandler Boulevard
358 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Chandler Boulevard
2
Turn right onto North Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
North Washington Street
3
Turn right onto East Buffalo Street
394 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Buffalo Street
4
Turn left onto North Arizona Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Arizona Avenue
5
Take the ramp right toward AZ 202 Loop West
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
AZ 202 Loop West
6
Merge slight left onto Santan Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Santan Freeway
7
Take the exit slight right toward Dobson Road
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Dobson Road
8
Turn left onto South Dobson Road
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South Dobson Road
9
Turn right onto West Queen Creek Road
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
West Queen Creek Road
10
Continue on North Maricopa Road
12 mi
·
13 min
·
North Maricopa Road
11
Continue on North John Wayne Parkway
15 mi
·
18 min
·
North John Wayne Parkway
12
At the end of the road, turn right onto Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 8 West: San Diego
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 8 West: San Diego
14
Merge slight left onto Phoenix Bypass Route
32 mi
·
31 min
·
Phoenix Bypass Route
15
Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway
3.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
16
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 85: Phoenix Ajo
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
AZ 85: Phoenix Ajo
17
Turn left onto Gila Bend-Lukeville Highway
32 mi
·
36 min
·
Gila Bend-Lukeville Highway
18
Continue on North Ajo Gila Bend Highway
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
North Ajo Gila Bend Highway
19
Continue on North 2nd Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North 2nd Avenue
20
Continue on West Solana Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Solana Avenue
21
Continue on North Pizal Lane
479 ft
·
17 sec
·
North Pizal Lane
22
Continue on East Taladro Avenue
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
East Taladro Avenue
23
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 60.5 miles from Chandler, AZ, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
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 27 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.5 miles or 1h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ajo, 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 120.9 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Chandler, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.5 miles from Chandler, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.08 one way
$48.17 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $25.49 | $50.98 |
| premium | $5.59 | $26.61 | $53.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.69 | $53.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.3 | 0 | $12.69 | $5.80 |
| Efficient EV | 30.2 | 0 | $10.58 | $4.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.4 | 0 | $16.93 | $7.74 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Ajo, AZ
Morning in Ajo on Saturday
Local time
10:40 AM
MST
Current temp
84°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
6 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
2h 26m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
120.9 mi in 2h 26m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: North Washington Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Chandler, AZ to Ajo, AZ is easy. At 2h 26m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chandler, AZ to Ajo, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
About the Cities
Starting in Chandler, AZ
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 120.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chandler, AZ to Ajo, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ajo, AZ before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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