Origin
Maricopa, AZ
Night in Maricopa on Thursday
Local time
11:22 PM
MST
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maricopa, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
48.3 mi
78 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maricopa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Apache Junction, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Maricopa, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ covers 48.3 miles and takes about 1h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Santan Freeway, Maricopa Road, West Queen Creek Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.3 miles on Santan Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.62 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 48.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Maricopa, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ covers 48.3 miles and takes about 1h 4m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Santan Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 18.3 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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 21.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 21.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 22 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
21.6 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the ramp toward AZ 202 Loop East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
5
22 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
40.3 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward US 60 East: Globe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 30A
Toward US 60 East: Globe
7
45 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward Ironwood Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 195
Toward Ironwood Drive
5
48.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
North Apache Trail
Turn left onto North Apache Trail
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santan Freeway | 18.3 mi | 21m |
| Maricopa Road | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| West Queen Creek Road | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| Superstition Freeway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| North John Wayne Parkway | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| South Ironwood Drive | 2 mi | 3m |
| South Dobson Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| West Apache Trail | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Santan Freeway
— 18.3 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maricopa, AZ and Apache Junction, AZ.
1
Start on AZ 347
124 ft
·
3 sec
·
North John Wayne Parkway
2
Continue on AZ 347
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North John Wayne Parkway
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on AZ 347
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Maricopa Road
4
Continue on AZ 347
5.7 mi
·
8 min
·
West Queen Creek Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto South Dobson Road
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Dobson Road
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Santan Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 30A
Toward US 60 East: Globe
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 60
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Superstition Freeway
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 195
Toward Ironwood Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto South Ironwood Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South Ironwood Drive
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto US 80 Hist
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Apache Trail
13
Turn slight left
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
14
Turn left onto North Apache Trail
178 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Apache Trail
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
North Apache Trail
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.1 mi from Maricopa, AZ · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.1 miles from Maricopa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Apache Junction, AZ
The final approach into Apache Junction, 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
$9.62 one way
$19.24 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $10.18 | $20.37 |
| premium | $5.59 | $10.63 | $21.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.66 | $21.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.76 | $3.09 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Apache Junction, AZ
Night in Apache Junction on Thursday
Local time
11:22 PM
MST
Current temp
60°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
3 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
1h 4m 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 Maricopa, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ covers 48.3 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Santan Freeway, Maricopa Road, West Queen Creek Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.1 miles from Maricopa, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.62 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 48.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 21.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 22 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Maricopa, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Tonto National Monument.
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