Trip from Marana, AZ to Avondale, AZ

Drive Time

2h 1m

Distance

107.8 mi

173 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 53m ★
6 AM
2h 2m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 8m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 9m
5 PM
2h 18m
8 PM
1h 57m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Marana, AZ, AZ

Marana, AZ

Zsolt Pujsz

Downtown Avondale, AZ, AZ

Avondale, AZ

Atlantic Ambience

Trip Overview

Traveling between Marana and Avondale covers 107.5 miles of the Arizona Desert Southwest, typically taking about 1 hour and 46 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a relatively short distance, it serves perfectly as a straightforward day trip that doesn’t require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $21 for fuel to complete the journey. Navigating this route involves a series of local roads, including West Swanson Street, North Whitney Lane, and West Moore Road, rather than relying on major interstates. It is a practical, direct way to move between these two desert communities without the complexities of long-haul logistics.

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

53.9 miles from Marana, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged throughout the entire 107.5-mile trip. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will navigate through local roads rather than high-speed lanes. You won't find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, as the longest segment is 0 miles on West Swanson Street, emphasizing the constant turns and transitions required. This road's personality is defined by its technical, local nature, requiring you to stay alert as you maneuver through the desert landscape. It is a hands-on driving experience that demands your full attention from start to finish.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 38.1 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 early in the drive near West Swanson Street.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 107.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Swanson Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 77 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Swanson Street

Turn right onto West Swanson Street

Navigation decision point

5
2.3 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the ramp toward I 10 West: Phoenix

Navigation decision point

Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
7
77 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in

Take the exit toward AZ 202 Loop

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 161A-B Toward AZ 202 Loop
8
77.1 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in

Keep slight left at fork toward AZ 202 Loop West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Exit 161A Toward AZ 202 Loop West
7
97.9 mi into trip | ~1h 45m in

Take the exit toward Buckeye Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 76 Toward Buckeye Road

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway 38.1 mi 38m
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway 36.1 mi 36m
Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway 19.6 mi 22m
West Buckeye Road 8.9 mi 13m
North Sandario Road 1.6 mi 3m
East Western Avenue 0.5 mi <1m
West Moore Road 0.3 mi <1m
West Swanson Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway — 38.1 mi, about 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Marana, AZ and Avondale, AZ.

1

Start on North Steele Drive

214 ft · 12 sec · North Steele Drive
2

Turn right onto West Swanson Street

0.2 mi · 49 sec · West Swanson Street
3

Turn left onto North Whitney Lane

0.1 mi · 27 sec · North Whitney Lane
4

Turn right onto West Moore Road

0.3 mi · 44 sec · West Moore Road
5

Turn left onto North Sandario Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · North Sandario Road
6

Enter roundabout onto North Sandario Road

103 ft · 3 sec · North Sandario Road
7

Continue on North Sandario Road

0.3 mi · 59 sec · North Sandario Road
8

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
9

Merge onto I 10

36 mi · 36 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 10

38 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 14 sec
Exit 161A-B Toward AZ 202 Loop Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork

1.1 mi · 1 min
Exit 161A Toward AZ 202 Loop West Use the slight left lane.
13

Merge onto AZ 202 Loop

20 mi · 22 min · Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Exit 76 Toward Buckeye Road Use the slight right lane.
15

Continue on South 59th Avenue

0.1 mi · 11 sec · South 59th Avenue
16

Turn left onto US 80 Hist

8.9 mi · 13 min · West Buckeye Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
17

Turn slight right

363 ft · 13 sec
Toward South Dysart Road
18

Turn straight onto South Dysart Road

300 ft · 9 sec · South Dysart Road
19

Turn left onto East Western Avenue

0.5 mi · 56 sec · East Western Avenue
Use the left lane.
20

Turn right onto North Central Avenue

89 ft · 5 sec · North Central Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21

Turn right

27 ft · 1 sec
22

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a concise 1-hour and 46-minute drive with no formal stops scheduled, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time. However, because the route consists entirely of local roads like West Whitney Lane and West Moore Road, you should plan for a slower pace than you would experience on a major highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, as the $21 cost is an estimate that may fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency. Given the turn-heavy nature of the drive, ensure your GPS is updated and ready to handle frequent directional changes. Taking the journey during daylight hours is highly recommended to better navigate the local intersections effectively.

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 53.9 miles from Marana, AZ, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.1 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 80 miles or 1h 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 53.9 miles or 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 1h 34m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Avondale, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Marana, 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 Marana, AZ

This is one driving day of about 107.8 miles and 2h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Marana, 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 Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway for about 38.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 53.9 mi from Marana, AZ · 57m into the drive

Downtown Tempe, AZ, AZ

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tempe, AZ

54 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

Tempe, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Casa Grande, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 53.9 miles from Marana, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Avondale, AZ

The final approach into Avondale, 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 Avondale, 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

$21.45 one way

$42.91 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 38 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.34 $22.65 $45.31
premium $5.59 $23.71 $47.42
diesel $5.64 $23.95 $47.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 37.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 32.3 0 $11.32 $5.17
Efficient EV 27 0 $9.43 $4.31
EV Truck/SUV 43.1 0 $15.09 $6.90

Gas CO2

38 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Marana, AZ

Afternoon in Marana on Sunday

Local time

4:45 PM

MST

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Avondale, AZ

Afternoon in Avondale on Sunday

Local time

4:45 PM

MST

Current temp

57°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

5 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

2h 1m 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 Marana, AZ to Avondale, AZ covers 107.8 miles and takes about 2h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 53.9 miles from Marana, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.45 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 is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 107.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Swanson Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 77 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Marana, AZ to Avondale, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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