Origin
Maricopa, AZ
Late night in Maricopa on Wednesday
Local time
4:48 AM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maricopa, AZ to El Mirage, AZ
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
60.6 mi
97 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maricopa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
El Mirage, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 60.6-mile drive from Maricopa, AZ, to El Mirage, AZ, is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 17 minutes. Given its short duration and manageable distance, it's perfectly suited as a day trip, with no need for an overnight stop. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $12, making it an economical option. You'll primarily be navigating via the Papago Freeway and Maricopa Freeway, with a portion on Maricopa Road, offering a consistent driving experience. Both your origin and destination are within the Desert Southwest region of Arizona, so expect arid desert landscapes throughout.
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
30.3 miles from Maricopa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 38m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The character of this drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 63% of the route utilizing major freeways. You'll experience stretches of faster driving, including a continuous 15-mile segment on the Papago Freeway, which allows for steady progress. While the majority of the journey is on these main arteries, there's a portion on Maricopa Road that might offer a slight change of pace. Overall, expect a consistent driving feel with limited complex road transitions, making it an uncomplicated route to navigate.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Papago Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 15 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Papago Freeway and Maricopa Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.9 miles in.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 60.6 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: at 15.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.6 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
15.9 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Turn left toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
6
30.7 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
I 10 / Papago Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
32.6 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
I 10 / Papago Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
46.2 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 133B
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
7
55.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward US 60
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward US 60
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Papago Freeway | 15 mi | 17m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 12 mi | 13m |
| Maricopa Road | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| Agua Fria Freeway | 8.8 mi | 10m |
| Grand Avenue | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| North John Wayne Parkway | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| West Queen Creek Road | 1.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Papago Freeway
— 15 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maricopa, AZ and El Mirage, 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
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Queen Creek Road
5
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 10
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
7
Continue on I 10
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
11
Continue on I 10
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 133B
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 11
Toward US 60
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto US 60
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto West Thunderbird Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Thunderbird Road
17
Turn right onto North El Mirage Road
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
North El Mirage Road
18
Arrive at destination
North El Mirage Road
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 1-hour-and-17-minute trip, flexibility is your greatest advantage. Leaving Maricopa, AZ, in the morning or late afternoon can help you avoid the peak heat of the Desert Southwest. With only 60.6 miles to cover and no specific stops recommended, you can easily adjust your departure time to suit your schedule. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $12; it's always wise to have a bit of buffer. A practical tip for this route is to ensure your navigation system is updated, as freeway names can sometimes be a bit fluid within the Phoenix metro area.
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 30.3 miles from Maricopa, AZ, or about 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15 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 60.6 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.3 miles or 38m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near El Mirage, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Maricopa, 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 Maricopa, AZ
This is one driving day of about 60.6 miles and 1h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Maricopa, 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 Papago Freeway for about 15 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.3 mi from Maricopa, AZ · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 60.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.3 miles from Maricopa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in El Mirage, AZ
The final approach into El Mirage, 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 El Mirage, 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
$12.07 one way
$24.14 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $12.78 | $25.55 |
| premium | $5.59 | $13.34 | $26.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.38 | $26.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.36 | $2.91 |
| Efficient EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.30 | $2.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.48 | $3.88 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
El Mirage, AZ
Late night in El Mirage on Wednesday
Local time
4:48 AM
MST
Current temp
89°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
35 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 17m 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 El Mirage, AZ covers 60.6 miles and takes about 1h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Papago Freeway, Maricopa Freeway, Maricopa Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.3 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 $12.07 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 8 significant decision points across 60.6 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: at 15.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.6 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Maricopa, AZ to El Mirage, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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