Trip from Miami, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ

Drive Time

1h 37m

Distance

76.8 mi

124 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 30m ★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 52m
8 PM
1h 33m

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

Downtown Scottsdale, AZ, AZ

Scottsdale, AZ

Abhishek Navlakha

Trip Overview

Spanning 76.8 miles across the Desert Southwest, this trip from Miami to Scottsdale typically takes about 1 hour and 37 minutes. You will primarily navigate the Phoenix–Globe Highway, the Superstition Freeway, and the Pima Freeway. Because of the relatively short distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $15 for fuel should cover your travel costs between these two Arizona hubs. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a change of scenery, the transition from the high desert to the Scottsdale area is straightforward and efficient.

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

38.4 miles from Miami, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a mixed driving experience that shifts from rural highway stretches to more urban freeway segments. Roughly 38% of your journey is spent on major highways, offering a balance between open road and city traffic. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 42.9 miles on the Phoenix–Globe Highway, which provides the bulk of the initial transit. As you transition from the quiet terrain of Miami onto the Superstition and Pima Freeways, the pace of the drive naturally quickens. Being behind the wheel requires attention to these changing road types as you transition into the Scottsdale metropolitan region.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Phoenix–Globe Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 42.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 1h 37m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 60 / West Live Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 66.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 60 / West Live Oak Street

Turn left onto US 60 / West Live Oak Street

Navigation decision point

7
66.5 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in

Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop North

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 176B Toward AZ 101 Loop North
5
68.2 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in | AZ 101 Loop / Price Freeway

Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Price Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
7
75.7 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in

Take the exit toward Chaparral Road

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 46 Toward Chaparral Road

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Phoenix–Globe Highway 42.9 mi 55m
Superstition Freeway 21.9 mi 25m
Pima Freeway 4.9 mi 5m
Price Freeway 2.6 mi 3m
West Live Oak Street 1.7 mi 3m
East Chaparral Road 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Phoenix–Globe Highway — 42.9 mi, about 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Miami, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ.

1

Start on this road

85 ft · 8 sec · this road
2

Turn right

153 ft · 12 sec
3

Turn left onto US 60

1.7 mi · 3 min · West Live Oak Street
4

Continue on US 60

43 mi · 55 min · Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the none lane.
5

Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist

22 mi · 25 min · Superstition Freeway
Use the none lane.
6

Take the exit

1.6 mi · 2 min
Exit 176B Toward AZ 101 Loop North Use the slight right lane.
7

Merge onto AZ 101 Loop

2.6 mi · 3 min · Price Freeway
Use the none lane.
8

Continue on AZ 101 Loop

4.9 mi · 5 min · Pima Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Exit 46 Toward Chaparral Road Use the slight right lane.
10

Turn left onto East Chaparral Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Chaparral Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
11

Turn left

64 ft · 4 sec
12

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Flexibility is your biggest advantage on this short 1.5-hour trip, allowing you to easily work around peak traffic times in the Phoenix metro area. Since the entire drive is under 80 miles, you won't need to plan for formal rest stops, though checking your fuel levels before departing Miami is a smart move given the $15 estimated cost. Try to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the Superstition Freeway, which can add time to your commute. Keep a close watch on the transition points between the Phoenix–Globe Highway and the freeways to ensure you stay on track. Enjoy the ease of this quick Arizona transit by keeping your itinerary simple and fluid.

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 38.4 miles from Miami, AZ, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.9 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 76.8 miles or 1h 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 38.4 miles or 50m 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 22m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Miami, 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 Miami, AZ

This is one driving day of about 76.8 miles and 1h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Miami, 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–Globe Highway for about 42.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 38.4 mi from Miami, AZ · 50m into the drive

Downtown Queen Creek, AZ, AZ

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Queen Creek, AZ

38 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 76.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Queen Creek, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 38.4 miles from Miami, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Scottsdale, AZ

The final approach into Scottsdale, 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 Scottsdale, 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

$15.28 one way

$30.57 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.34 $16.14 $32.28
premium $5.59 $16.89 $33.79
diesel $5.64 $17.06 $34.12

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23 0 $8.06 $3.69
Efficient EV 19.2 0 $6.72 $3.07
EV Truck/SUV 30.7 0 $10.75 $4.92

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 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

Miami, AZ

Evening in Miami on Sunday

Local time

6:35 PM

MST

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Scottsdale, AZ

Evening in Scottsdale on Sunday

Local time

6:35 PM

MST

Current temp

58°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

1h 37m 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 Miami, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ covers 76.8 miles and takes about 1h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Phoenix–Globe Highway, Superstition Freeway, Pima Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.4 miles from Miami, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.28 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 straightforward 1h 37m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 60 / West Live Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 66.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Miami, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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