Origin
Deer Valley, AZ
Night in Deer Valley on Thursday
Local time
10:20 PM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Deer Valley, AZ to San Carlos, AZ
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
49m
Distance
38.3 mi
62 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Deer Valley, AZ
Line Knipst
San Carlos, AZ
Andrea Hinojosa
Trip Overview
The drive from Deer Valley, AZ to San Carlos, AZ covers 38.3 miles and takes about 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Black Canyon Freeway, Maricopa Freeway, US 60 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.1 miles on Black Canyon Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.63 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 38.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 49m highway drive covering 38.3 miles, with most of the trip on Black Canyon Freeway and Maricopa Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 17.1 miles on Black Canyon Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Black Canyon Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 17.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Black Canyon Freeway and Maricopa Freeway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Deer Valley Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 38.3 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (West Deer Valley Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.1 miles (US 60): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Deer Valley Road
Turn left onto West Deer Valley Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge onto I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
28.1 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
US 60
Take the exit onto US 60 toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe
7
34.6 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward Alma School Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 178
Toward Alma School Road
5
38.3 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Deer Valley, AZ to San Carlos, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Globe along the way.
Globe
28.1 mi in
|
~33m
|
via US 60
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Black Canyon Freeway | 17.1 mi | 19m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 8.8 mi | 10m |
| US 60 | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| South Alma School Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| West Deer Valley Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Black Canyon Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West Elliot Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Hartford Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Black Canyon Freeway
— 17.1 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Deer Valley, AZ and San Carlos, AZ.
1
Start on North 35th Avenue
37 ft
·
8 sec
·
North 35th Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Deer Valley Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Deer Valley Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto North Black Canyon Highway
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
North Black Canyon Highway
4
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
this road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 17
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
6
Continue on I 17; US 60
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 60
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
US 60
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 178
Toward Alma School Road
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto South Alma School Road
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
South Alma School Road
10
Turn left onto West Elliot Road
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
West Elliot Road
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto North Hartford Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Hartford Street
12
Turn right
141 ft
·
13 sec
13
Turn right
102 ft
·
7 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.2 mi from Deer Valley, AZ · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.2 miles from Deer Valley, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in San Carlos, AZ
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into San Carlos, AZ if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.63 one way
$15.26 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $8.07 | $16.15 |
| premium | $5.59 | $8.43 | $16.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.46 | $16.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 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 | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.35 | $1.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.36 | $2.45 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
San Carlos, AZ
Night in San Carlos on Thursday
Local time
10:20 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
49m 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 Deer Valley, AZ to San Carlos, AZ covers 38.3 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Black Canyon Freeway, Maricopa Freeway, US 60. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.2 miles from Deer Valley, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.63 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 38.3 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (West Deer Valley Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.1 miles (US 60): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Deer Valley, AZ to San Carlos, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Globe along the way.
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