Origin
Maryvale, AZ
Evening in Maryvale on Sunday
Local time
6:34 PM
MST
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maryvale, AZ to Cave Creek, AZ
Drive Time
51m
Distance
33.3 mi
54 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maryvale, AZ
Mikhail Nilov
Cave Creek, AZ
Pho Tomass
Trip Overview
Traveling from Maryvale to Cave Creek covers 33.3 miles of the Desert Southwest, making for a straightforward 51-minute journey. Because the total duration is under an hour, this trip is ideal as a simple day outing rather than an overnight excursion. You can expect to spend about $7 on fuel for the round trip, keeping your transit costs low. The route utilizes a mix of local roads like West Indian School Road and North Cave Creek Road, alongside the Black Canyon Freeway, to navigate between these two Arizona communities. It is a practical, efficient drive that lets you transition between locations without the need for extensive travel planning.
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
16.7 miles from Maryvale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience that transitions from suburban streets to faster highway segments. You will spend roughly 44% of your time on highways, providing a balanced pace throughout the 33.3-mile distance. The longest uninterrupted portion of the trip occurs on North Cave Creek Road, which stretches for 12.3 miles and serves as the backbone of your route. As you move away from the starting point, the road character shifts from city grid patterns to the more open transit corridors typical of the region. This combination of surface streets and freeway driving keeps the journey engaging without becoming overly technical.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Cave Creek Road is the longest continuous segment at about 12.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.2 miles in near North Black Canyon Highway.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 33.3 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 4.2 miles (North Black Canyon Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
6
4.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
North Black Canyon Highway
Turn left onto North Black Canyon Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
15.7 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop West, AZ 101 Loop East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 214C
Toward AZ 101 Loop West, AZ 101 Loop East
7
16.1 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 101 Loop East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward AZ 101 Loop East
7
20.5 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward Cave Creek Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 28
Toward Cave Creek Road
6
20.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Cave Creek Road, National Memorial Cemetery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Cave Creek Road, National Memorial Cemet...
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Maryvale, AZ to Cave Creek, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward National Memorial Cemetery along the way.
National Memorial Cemetery
20.9 mi in
|
~29m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Cave Creek Road | 12.3 mi | 21m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 11.1 mi | 12m |
| West Indian School Road | 3.8 mi | 7m |
| Pima Freeway | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| North 55th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Black Canyon Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Cave Creek Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Cave Creek Road
— 12.3 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maryvale, AZ and Cave Creek, AZ.
1
Start on North 55th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North 55th Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Indian School Road
3.8 mi
·
7 min
·
West Indian School Road
Use the none lane.
3
Turn left onto North Black Canyon Highway
406 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Black Canyon Highway
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
5
Merge onto I 17
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 214C
Toward AZ 101 Loop West, AZ 101 Loop East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward AZ 101 Loop East
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 28
Toward Cave Creek Road
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
507 ft
·
11 sec
Toward Cave Creek Road, National Memorial Cemetery
11
Turn slight left onto North Cave Creek Road
12 mi
·
21 min
·
North Cave Creek Road
Use the none lane.
12
Continue on East Cave Creek Road
106 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Cave Creek Road
13
Arrive at destination
East Cave Creek Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 51-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. You won't need to plan for any formal stops given the manageable length of the trip, allowing you to head straight to your destination. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you leave, as the $7 estimated cost assumes a standard vehicle efficiency; topping off in Maryvale ensures you won't need to worry about refueling once you arrive in Cave Creek. Given that the longest stretch is 12.3 miles on North Cave Creek Road, prepare for a steady, consistent pace once you hit that section. Take advantage of the short travel time to maximize your afternoon once you reach your destination.
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 16.7 miles from Maryvale, AZ, or about 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.3 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 33.3 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 16.7 miles or 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cave Creek, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Maryvale, 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 Maryvale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 33.3 miles and 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Maryvale, 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 North Cave Creek Road for about 12.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.7 mi from Maryvale, AZ · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.7 miles from Maryvale, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cave Creek, AZ
The final approach into Cave Creek, 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 Cave Creek, 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
$6.63 one way
$13.25 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $7.00 | $14.00 |
| premium | $5.59 | $7.32 | $14.65 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.40 | $14.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10 | 0 | $3.50 | $1.60 |
| Efficient EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.91 | $1.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.66 | $2.13 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Cave Creek, AZ
Evening in Cave Creek on Sunday
Local time
6:34 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
3 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
51m 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 Maryvale, AZ to Cave Creek, AZ covers 33.3 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Cave Creek Road, Black Canyon Freeway, West Indian School Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.7 miles from Maryvale, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.63 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 10 significant decision points across 33.3 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 4.2 miles (North Black Canyon Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Maryvale, AZ to Cave Creek, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward National Memorial Cemetery along the way.
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