Origin
El Mirage, AZ
Afternoon in El Mirage on Sunday
Local time
2:56 PM
MST
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from El Mirage, AZ to Buckeye, AZ
Drive Time
42m
Distance
30.4 mi
49 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
El Mirage, AZ
Djamel Ramdani
Buckeye, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward connection between El Mirage and Buckeye, this 30.4-mile trip is a manageable journey that typically takes about 42 minutes. Because of the short distance, it works perfectly as a quick day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You will primarily navigate via the Bob Stump Memorial Parkway, the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, and West Waddell Road. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, the route is very cost-effective for commuters or travelers moving between these two Desert Southwest locations. Expect a practical drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently without the need for extensive planning or multiple rest stops.
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
15.2 miles from El Mirage, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 21m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 30.4-mile trek offers a mixed driving experience that blends local roads with faster highway segments. You will spend about 31% of your time on highways, providing a nice balance between steady speeds and city transitions. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 9.5 miles along the Bob Stump Memorial Parkway, giving you a chance to settle into a rhythm behind the wheel. As you progress from El Mirage to Buckeye, the road transitions through different traffic environments, requiring you to stay alert during the local stretches. Overall, the drive feels functional and direct, lacking the monotony of a long-haul interstate grind.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 9.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near West Thunderbird Road.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 30.4 miles you will encounter 7 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: at 0.3 miles (West Thunderbird Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Thunderbird Road
Turn right onto West Thunderbird Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
5.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the ramp toward AZ 303 Loop South: Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward AZ 303 Loop South: Bob Stump Memorial Pa...
7
15.6 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 104B
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
7
25.1 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward Buckeye
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 114
Toward Buckeye
6
30 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
US 80 Hist / East Monroe Avenue
Turn left onto US 80 Hist / East Monroe Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Stump Memorial Parkway | 9.5 mi | 10m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| West Waddell Road | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| South Miller Road | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| West Thunderbird Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| North 1st Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Monroe Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North El Mirage Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
— 9.5 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between El Mirage, AZ and Buckeye, AZ.
1
Start on North El Mirage Road
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
North El Mirage Road
2
Turn right onto West Thunderbird Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Thunderbird Road
Use the none lane.
3
Continue on West Waddell Road
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
West Waddell Road
Use the none lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward AZ 303 Loop South: Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto AZ 303 Loop
9.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 104B
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 10
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 114
Toward Buckeye
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on South Miller Road
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
South Miller Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Continue on North 1st Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North 1st Street
Use the none lane.
11
Turn left onto US 80 Hist
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
East Monroe Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
US 80 Hist
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 42-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns to ensure a smooth transit. You won't need to schedule any formal stops for this 30.4-mile trip, as it is easily completed in one go. Keep your $6 fuel budget in mind, but remember that local road conditions can fluctuate, so check for any construction on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway before you head out. Because there are no required stops, use this opportunity to enjoy the efficiency of the route rather than rushing. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to keep an eye on your navigation during the transitions between the parkways and West Waddell Road to maintain your momentum.
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 15.2 miles from El Mirage, AZ, or about 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9.5 miles.
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 30.4 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.2 miles or 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buckeye, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving El Mirage, 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 El Mirage, AZ
This is one driving day of about 30.4 miles and 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from El Mirage, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Bob Stump Memorial Parkway for about 9.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.2 mi from El Mirage, AZ · 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.2 miles from El Mirage, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Buckeye, AZ
The final approach into Buckeye, 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 Buckeye, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.05 one way
$12.10 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $6.39 | $12.78 |
| premium | $5.59 | $6.69 | $13.37 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.75 | $13.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.19 | $1.46 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.66 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.26 | $1.95 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Buckeye, AZ
Afternoon in Buckeye on Sunday
Local time
2:56 PM
MST
Current temp
56°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
42m 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 El Mirage, AZ to Buckeye, AZ covers 30.4 miles and takes about 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Bob Stump Memorial Parkway, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, West Waddell Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.2 miles from El Mirage, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.05 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 30.4 miles you will encounter 7 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: at 0.3 miles (West Thunderbird Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from El Mirage, AZ to Buckeye, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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