Origin
Peoria, AZ
Afternoon in Peoria on Friday
Local time
4:02 PM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Peoria, AZ to Rio Verde, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
45 mi
72 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Peoria, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Rio Verde, AZ
Guillermo Berlin
Trip Overview
This straightforward 45-mile drive from Peoria, AZ to Rio Verde, AZ will take you about 1 hour and 16 minutes. It's an easy one-day trip, so you won't need to worry about booking overnight stays. The route primarily utilizes the Agua Fria Freeway and Pima Freeway before transitioning to East Rio Verde Drive. With a projected fuel cost of around $9, this is an economical option for a short excursion within the Desert Southwest region. Expect a mixed driving experience, making it a convenient and manageable journey.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 45 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive offers a varied experience, with 42% of it being on highways. You'll encounter stretches of open road, including an uninterrupted 11.4-mile segment on the Agua Fria Freeway, allowing for steady progress. The profile is described as a 'mixed drive,' suggesting a blend of faster freeway travel and potentially more local or slower-paced sections as you approach your destination. The transition between major freeways and East Rio Verde Drive will likely change the feel of the road, so be prepared for a slight shift in pace.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Agua Fria Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 11.4 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 1.4 miles in near North 91st Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45 miles you will encounter 14 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 1.4 miles (North 91st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
North 91st Avenue
Turn right onto North 91st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
21.1 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward Tatum Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31
Toward Tatum Boulevard
8
21.4 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Tatum Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward Tatum Boulevard
6
25.8 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
North Scottsdale Road
Turn left onto North Scottsdale Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
28.8 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
East Dynamite Boulevard
Turn right onto East Dynamite Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Agua Fria Freeway | 11.4 mi | 13m |
| East Rio Verde Drive | 9.8 mi | 23m |
| Pima Freeway | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| East Dynamite Boulevard | 4.9 mi | 10m |
| North Scottsdale Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| East Pinnacle Peak Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| North Tatum Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Grand Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Agua Fria Freeway
— 11.4 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Peoria, AZ and Rio Verde, AZ.
1
Start on North 83rd Avenue
128 ft
·
6 sec
·
North 83rd Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 60
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Grand Avenue
3
Turn right onto North 91st Avenue
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
North 91st Avenue
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
5
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 31
Toward Tatum Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward Tatum Boulevard
Use the left lane.
9
Turn straight onto North Tatum Boulevard
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
North Tatum Boulevard
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto East Pinnacle Peak Road
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East Pinnacle Peak Road
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto North Scottsdale Road
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
North Scottsdale Road
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto East Dynamite Boulevard
4.9 mi
·
10 min
·
East Dynamite Boulevard
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on East Rio Verde Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Rio Verde Drive
14
Enter roundabout onto East Rio Verde Drive
95 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Rio Verde Drive
15
Continue on East Rio Verde Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Rio Verde Drive
16
Enter roundabout onto East Rio Verde Drive
73 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Rio Verde Drive
17
Continue on East Rio Verde Drive
8.4 mi
·
20 min
·
East Rio Verde Drive
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto North Forest Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Forest Road
19
Turn right onto East Poco Rio Drive
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Poco Rio Drive
20
Turn left onto North Medelice Lane
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Medelice Lane
21
Arrive at destination
North Medelice Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.5 mi from Peoria, AZ · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.5 miles from Peoria, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Rio Verde, AZ
The final approach into Rio Verde, 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
$8.96 one way
$17.93 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $9.49 | $18.97 |
| premium | $5.59 | $9.91 | $19.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.94 | $19.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.94 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.30 | $2.88 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Rio Verde, AZ
Afternoon in Rio Verde on Friday
Local time
4:02 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
85°F
Cave Creek, AZ
23 mi in
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
2 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
1h 16m 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 Peoria, AZ to Rio Verde, AZ covers 45 miles and takes about 1h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Agua Fria Freeway, East Rio Verde Drive, Pima Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.5 miles from Peoria, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.96 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 45 miles you will encounter 14 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 1.4 miles (North 91st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Peoria, AZ to Rio Verde, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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