Origin
Fountain Hills, AZ
Evening in Fountain Hills on Sunday
Local time
5:26 PM
MST
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fountain Hills, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ
Drive Time
29m
Distance
17.7 mi
28 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fountain Hills, AZ
Brent Singleton
Scottsdale, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel between Fountain Hills and Scottsdale, you are looking at a quick 17.7-mile journey that typically takes about 29 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited as a simple day excursion, requiring only one day to navigate the connections between these two Desert Southwest locales. You will primarily utilize North Fountain Hills Boulevard, East Shea Boulevard, and the Pima Freeway to get from point A to point B. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, it is a very economical trip that fits easily into any schedule. Since both the origin and destination are located in the Desert Southwest, you can expect a consistent climate and environment throughout the entire drive.
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
8.8 miles from Fountain Hills, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While 27% of your travel occurs on highways, the remainder of the route navigates through local streets that change the pace of your journey. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 8.8 miles along East Shea Boulevard, which serves as a major artery for this transition. Because the route relies heavily on local roads, you should prepare for frequent turns and varied traffic patterns. It is a practical, functional drive that gets you across the region efficiently without any necessary stops.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Shea Boulevard is the longest continuous segment at about 8.8 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,903 ft
1,259 ft
Total Climb
296 ft
Total Descent
644 ft
Highest Point
1,903 ft
~3.7 mi in
Elevation Range
644 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near East Arroyo Vista Drive.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 17.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.2 miles (East Arroyo Vista Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.9 miles (East Shea Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
East Arroyo Vista Drive
At end of road, turn right onto East Arroyo Vista Drive
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
2.9 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
East Shea Boulevard
Turn right onto East Shea Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
11.6 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the ramp toward AZ 101 Loop South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
5
12 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
16.7 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward Chaparral Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Shea Boulevard | 8.8 mi | 13m |
| Pima Freeway | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| North Fountain Hills Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Chaparral Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East La Montana Drive | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North La Montana Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North la Montana Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Hamilton Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East Shea Boulevard
— 8.8 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fountain Hills, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ.
1
Start on North Hamilton Drive
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Hamilton Drive
2
Turn right onto East La Montana Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East La Montana Drive
3
Enter roundabout onto North la Montana Drive
125 ft
·
4 sec
·
North la Montana Drive
4
Continue on North la Montana Drive
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
North la Montana Drive
5
Continue on North La Montana Drive
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
North La Montana Drive
6
At end of road, turn right onto East Arroyo Vista Drive
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Arroyo Vista Drive
7
At end of road, turn left onto North Fountain Hills Boulevard
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Fountain Hills Boulevard
8
Turn right onto East Shea Boulevard
8.8 mi
·
13 min
·
East Shea Boulevard
Use the right lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
Use the left lane.
10
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Chaparral Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13
Turn left
64 ft
·
4 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short trip with zero scheduled stops, you have the advantage of total flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 17.7-mile distance in under half an hour, making it simple to plan around peak traffic hours in the Scottsdale area. Keep an eye on your navigation as you move from the local boulevards onto the Pima Freeway, as the transition is the most significant change in your driving environment. Given the low $4 fuel cost, you do not need to worry about specialized refueling stops along the way. Focus on staying alert during the turn-heavy sections of the local roads to ensure a smooth arrival.
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 8.8 miles from Fountain Hills, AZ, or about 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.8 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 17.7 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.8 miles or 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scottsdale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fountain 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 Fountain Hills, AZ
This is one driving day of about 17.7 miles and 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fountain Hills, 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 East Shea Boulevard for about 8.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.8 mi from Fountain Hills, AZ · 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
9 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
Arriving in Scottsdale, AZ
The final approach into Scottsdale, 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 Scottsdale, 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
$3.52 one way
$7.05 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $3.72 | $7.44 |
| premium | $5.59 | $3.89 | $7.79 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.93 | $7.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.86 | $0.85 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.55 | $0.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.48 | $1.13 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Scottsdale, AZ
Evening in Scottsdale on Sunday
Local time
5:26 PM
MST
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
63°F
Mesa, AZ
9 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 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
29m 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 Fountain Hills, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ covers 17.7 miles and takes about 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Shea Boulevard, Pima Freeway, North Fountain Hills Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.8 miles from Fountain Hills, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.52 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 17.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.2 miles (East Arroyo Vista Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.9 miles (East Shea Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Fountain Hills, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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