Trip from Maryvale, AZ to Thatcher, AZ

Drive Time

3h 42m

Distance

171.5 mi

276 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min

4 AM

3h 30m ★

6 AM

3h 42m

8 AM

4h 7m

10 AM

3h 51m

12 PM

3h 48m

3 PM

3h 52m

5 PM

4h 6m

8 PM

3h 35m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Maryvale, AZ

Mikhail Nilov

Thatcher, AZ

Abhishek Navlakha

Trip Overview

Traveling from Maryvale to Thatcher covers 171.5 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 42 minutes. Because this journey stays entirely within the Desert Southwest region of Arizona, you can easily complete the trip in a single day. You will spend roughly $34 on fuel, making it an affordable trek for a weekend getaway or a necessary visit. The route relies on the Phoenix–Globe Highway, US 60, and the Globe-Lordsburg Highway to navigate between these two points. Since it is a straightforward drive, you won't need to worry about planning an overnight split unless you prefer a leisurely pace. Overall, this is a manageable commute that offers a clear path across the state.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

85.8 miles from Maryvale, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. While about 27% of your travel occurs on highways, the remainder of the trip involves navigating winding local stretches that shift the feel of the road significantly. You will face a longest uninterrupted stretch of 71.2 miles on the Globe-Lordsburg Highway, which provides a break from the more technical sections of the route. As you transition between the various highways, the driving environment changes from broader corridors to tighter, more involved road segments. It isn't a monotonous interstate grind, so be prepared to adjust your speed and focus as the road conditions fluctuate.

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.

Globe-Lordsburg Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 71.2 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 West Indian School Road.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 171.5 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 0.5 miles (West Indian School Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (North 51st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

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

0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | West Indian School Road

Turn left onto West Indian School Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

1 mi into trip | ~2m in | North 51st Avenue

Turn right onto North 51st Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

3.2 mi into trip | ~6m in

Turn left toward I 10 East: Tucson

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 10 East: Tucson

12.2 mi into trip | ~17m 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 none / straight / slight right lanes.

18.3 mi into trip | ~24m in | US 60

Take the exit onto US 60 toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe

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 154 Toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Maryvale, AZ to Thatcher, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Globe along the way.

Globe

18.3 mi in | ~24m | via US 60

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Globe-Lordsburg Highway	71.2 mi	1h 28m
Phoenix–Globe Highway	43 mi	55m
US 60	31.9 mi	39m
Papago Freeway	9.3 mi	10m
Maricopa Freeway	4.8 mi	5m
East Ash Street	2.3 mi	4m
North 51st Avenue	2.3 mi	4m
North Broad Street	2 mi	3m

Longest stretch: Globe-Lordsburg Highway — 71.2 mi, about 1h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Maryvale, AZ and Thatcher, AZ.

Start on North 55th Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · North 55th Avenue

Turn left onto West Indian School Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Indian School Road

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto North 51st Avenue

2.3 mi · 4 min · North 51st Avenue

Use the none lane.

Turn left

0.4 mi · 58 sec

Toward I 10 East: Tucson Use the left lane.

Merge onto I 10

4.9 mi · 5 min · Papago Freeway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 10

0.5 mi · 35 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

Continue on I 10

3.2 mi · 3 min · Papago Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

1.2 mi · 1 min · Papago Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 10; US 60

4.8 mi · 5 min · Maricopa Freeway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit onto US 60

28 mi · 32 min · US 60

Exit 154 Toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist

43 mi · 55 min · Phoenix–Globe Highway

Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.

Continue on US 60

1.9 mi · 3 min · Live Oak Street

Continue on US 60

4.0 mi · 7 min · US 60

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 60

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Broad Street

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto North Broad Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Broad Street

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto East Oak Street

366 ft · 9 sec · East Oak Street

Turn right onto South Hill Street

0.3 mi · 39 sec · South Hill Street

Turn left onto US 60

2.3 mi · 4 min · East Ash Street

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 70; AZ 77

0.8 mi · 1 min · Globe-Lordsburg Highway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 70; AZ 77

70 mi · 1 hr 27 min · Globe-Lordsburg Highway

Continue on US 70

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

Arrive at destination

US 70

Trip Plan

Planning for this 3 hour and 42 minute drive is simple due to its moderate length. Since there is only one recommended stop along the way, use that time to stretch your legs and refuel before finishing the final leg of the journey. Departing early in the day is your best strategy to avoid any potential congestion while navigating the turn-heavy portions of the local roads. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the 71.2-mile stretch on the Globe-Lordsburg Highway, as service options may be spaced out. Because the total trip is relatively short, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time to fit your personal schedule without needing a complex itinerary.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 85.8 miles from Maryvale, AZ, or about 1h 47m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.2 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 40m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 85.8 miles or 1h 47m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 3m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thatcher, 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 171.5 miles and 3h 42m.

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.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Globe-Lordsburg Highway for about 71.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 85.8 mi from Maryvale, AZ · 1h 47m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Queen Creek, AZ

86 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

Queen Creek, AZ

Fuel and coffee

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

Queen Creek, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 85.8 miles from Maryvale, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Globe-Lordsburg Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71.2 miles.

Arriving in Thatcher, AZ

The final approach into Thatcher, 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 Thatcher, 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

$34.13 one way

$68.26 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 60 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.34	$36.04	$72.08
premium	$5.59	$37.72	$75.45
diesel	$5.64	$38.10	$76.20

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 60 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	51.4	$18.01	$8.23
Efficient EV	42.9	$15.01	$6.86
EV Truck/SUV	68.6	$24.01	$10.98

Gas CO2

60 kg

EV CO2

20 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Maryvale, AZ

Evening in Maryvale on Sunday

Local time

5:54 PM

MST

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Thatcher, AZ

Evening in Thatcher on Sunday

Local time

5:54 PM

MST

Current temp

48°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

12 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

3h 42m 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 Thatcher, AZ covers 171.5 miles and takes about 3h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Globe-Lordsburg Highway, Phoenix–Globe Highway, US 60. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 85.8 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 $34.13 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.