Drive Time
3h 54m
Distance
199.7 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
The drive from Desert Hills, AZ to Glendale, AZ covers 199.7 miles and takes about 3h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Mountain View Drive, Thrasher Drive, London Bridge Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.93 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
99.9 miles from Desert Hills, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 54m drive with frequent turns across 199.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain View Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Thrasher Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| London Bridge Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Chenoweth Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Riverside Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Rio Vista Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| California Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Desert Hills, AZ and Glendale, AZ.
Start on Bayshore Road
Continue on Mountain View Drive
At the end of the road, turn right onto Thrasher Drive
At the end of the road, turn right onto London Bridge Road
Turn left onto Chenoweth Road
Turn right onto Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Continue on Riverside Drive
Turn straight onto Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Continue on Rio Vista Highway
Turn left onto California Avenue
Continue on Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Continue on Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Continue on North Central Boulevard
Turn left onto East Main Street
Turn right onto Riggles Road
Take the ramp left
Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Continue on Papago Freeway
Take the exit slight right
Continue on Agua Fria Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Glendale Avenue
Keep slight right to continue on Glendale Avenue East, Glendale Sports Facilities
Turn straight onto West Glendale Avenue
Turn right onto North 58th Avenue
Continue on West Lamar Road
Turn right onto North 57th Drive
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.9 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Glendale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Desert Hills, 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 Desert Hills, AZ
This is one driving day of about 199.7 miles and 3h 54m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 99.9 mi from Desert Hills, AZ · 1h 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
100 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 99.9 miles from Desert Hills, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Glendale, 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 Glendale, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$38.93 one way
$77.85 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $41.97 | $83.94 |
| premium | $5.57 | $43.76 | $87.52 |
| diesel | $6.37 | $50.05 | $100.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.9 | 0 | $20.97 | $9.59 |
| Efficient EV | 49.9 | 0 | $17.47 | $7.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.9 | 0 | $27.96 | $12.78 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Late night in Desert Hills on Saturday
Local time
5:23 AM
MST
Current temp
63°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Glendale on Saturday
Local time
5:23 AM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
56°F
Calipatria, CA
100 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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