Origin
Glendale, AZ
Afternoon in Glendale on Thursday
Local time
12:21 PM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Glendale, AZ to Rio Verde, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
41 mi
66 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
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Glendale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Rio Verde, AZ
Guillermo Berlin
Trip Overview
This 41-mile drive from Glendale, AZ to Rio Verde, AZ is a straightforward one-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 20 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate East Shea Boulevard and West Northern Avenue before transitioning to East McDowell Mountain Road. With a fuel cost estimated at $8, this route is an economical choice for a short excursion within the Desert Southwest. The drive is generally turn-heavy, so expect a more local feel rather than a high-speed highway experience. It's perfectly suited for a single day, allowing ample time to enjoy your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 41 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a drive characterized by frequent turns, typical of local routes, rather than long stretches of uninterrupted highway. Only about a quarter of this journey involves highway driving, with the longest continuous segment spanning 15.6 miles on East Shea Boulevard. As you transition from West Northern Avenue to East McDowell Mountain Road, the road's personality shifts, offering a more winding and potentially slower pace. This route requires your attention due to its numerous intersections and changes in direction, making it an engaging drive for those who prefer a more interactive experience behind the wheel.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 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 15.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near North 59th Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 41 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: at 0.5 miles (North 59th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (West Northern Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles (AZ 51 / Piestewa Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North 59th Avenue
Turn left onto North 59th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
West Northern Avenue
Turn right onto West Northern Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
10.5 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
AZ 51 / Piestewa Freeway
Merge onto AZ 51 / Piestewa Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
12.1 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward Shea Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 9
Toward Shea Boulevard
8
12.4 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Shea Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward Shea Boulevard
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Shea Boulevard | 15.6 mi | 26m |
| West Northern Avenue | 8.7 mi | 17m |
| East McDowell Mountain Road | 8.1 mi | 19m |
| North Fountain Hills Boulevard | 3.8 mi | 7m |
| Piestewa Freeway | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| North 59th Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Forest Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Four Peaks Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
East Shea Boulevard
— 15.6 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glendale, AZ and Rio Verde, AZ.
1
Start on US 60
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Grand Avenue
2
Turn sharp right onto West Myrtle Avenue
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
West Myrtle Avenue
3
Turn left onto North 59th Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North 59th Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto West Northern Avenue
8.7 mi
·
17 min
·
West Northern Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward AZ 51 North
6
Merge onto AZ 51
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Piestewa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 9
Toward Shea Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward Shea Boulevard
Use the left / right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto East Shea Boulevard
16 mi
·
26 min
·
East Shea Boulevard
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto North Fountain Hills Boulevard
3.8 mi
·
7 min
·
North Fountain Hills Boulevard
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on East McDowell Mountain Road
8.1 mi
·
19 min
·
East McDowell Mountain Road
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on North Forest Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Forest Road
13
Turn left onto East Four Peaks Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Four Peaks Boulevard
14
Turn right onto North Medelice Lane
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
North Medelice Lane
15
Arrive at destination
North Medelice Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.5 mi from Glendale, AZ · 37m 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.5 miles from Glendale, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Rio Verde, AZ
The final approach into Rio Verde, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.17 one way
$16.34 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $8.64 | $17.29 |
| premium | $5.59 | $9.02 | $18.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.05 | $18.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
| Efficient EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.59 | $1.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.74 | $2.62 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Rio Verde, AZ
Afternoon in Rio Verde on Thursday
Local time
12:21 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 20m 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 Glendale, AZ to Rio Verde, AZ covers 41 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Shea Boulevard, West Northern Avenue, East McDowell Mountain Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.5 miles from Glendale, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.17 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 41 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: at 0.5 miles (North 59th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (West Northern Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles (AZ 51 / Piestewa Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Glendale, AZ to Rio Verde, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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