Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
42.9 mi
69 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
Photo: Pho Tomass
The drive from Chandler, AZ to Cave Creek, AZ covers 42.9 miles and takes about 1h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Chandler Boulevard, West Chandler Boulevard, South Price Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.36 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
21.4 miles from Chandler, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .
Expect a 1h 1m drive with frequent turns across 42.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Chandler Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Chandler Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Price Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| AZ 101 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Price Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pima Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Scottsdale Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Scottsdale Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Chandler, AZ and Cave Creek, 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 straight toward AZ 101 Loop North
Merge slight left onto Price Freeway
Continue on Pima Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Scottsdale Road
Turn straight onto Pima Freeway
Turn right onto North Scottsdale Road
Continue on North Tom Darlington Drive
Turn straight onto North Tom Darlington Drive
Turn left onto East Cave Creek Road
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 42.9 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 21.4 miles or 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cave Creek, 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 42.9 miles and 1h 1m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.4 mi from Chandler, AZ · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.4 miles from Chandler, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Cave Creek, 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 Cave Creek, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$8.36 one way
$16.72 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $9.02 | $18.03 |
| premium | $5.57 | $9.40 | $18.80 |
| diesel | $6.37 | $10.75 | $21.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.50 | $2.06 |
| Efficient EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.01 | $2.75 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Chandler on Saturday
Local time
9:35 AM
MST
Current temp
91°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Cave Creek on Saturday
Local time
9:35 AM
MST
Current temp
57°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
58°F
Scottsdale, AZ
21 mi in
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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