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Trip from Peoria, AZ to Sun Valley, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 13m

Distance

105.3 mi

169 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 4m ★
6 AM
2h 14m
8 AM
2h 32m
10 AM
2h 20m
12 PM
2h 18m
3 PM
2h 21m
5 PM
2h 31m
8 PM
2h 8m

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

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Peoria, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Sun Valley, AZ, AZ

Sun Valley, AZ

Josh Sorenson

Trip Overview

The drive from Peoria, AZ to Sun Valley, AZ covers 105.3 miles and takes about 2h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Beeline Highway, Red Mountain Freeway, Grand Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 68.4 miles on Beeline Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.98 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

52.6 miles from Peoria, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 105.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 13m drive with frequent turns across 105.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Beeline Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 68.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 60 / Grand Avenue.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 105.3 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (US 60 / Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

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

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 60 / Grand Avenue

Turn right onto US 60 / Grand Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
11.6 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the ramp toward I 10 East: Tucson

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 10 East: Tucson
8
14.8 mi into trip | ~24m in | Red Mountain Freeway

Take the exit onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 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 147 Toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
8
15.3 mi into trip | ~25m in | Red Mountain Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 202 Loop East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 147A Toward AZ 202 Loop East
8
27.8 mi into trip | ~39m in

Take the exit toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Payson

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 13 Toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Payson

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Peoria, AZ to Sun Valley, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Payson along the way.

Payson

27.8 mi in | ~39m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Beeline Highway 68.4 mi 1h 20m
Red Mountain Freeway 12.9 mi 15m
Grand Avenue 11.2 mi 19m
North Beeline Highway 4.5 mi 5m
AZ 260 3.7 mi 6m
Papago Freeway 2.4 mi 2m
North Country Club Drive 0.5 mi 1m
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Beeline Highway — 68.4 mi, about 1h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Peoria, AZ and Sun Valley, AZ.

1

Start on North 83rd Avenue

128 ft · 8 sec · North 83rd Avenue
2

Turn right onto US 60

9.3 mi · 16 min · Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
3

Continue on Grand Avenue

1.9 mi · 3 min · Grand Avenue
4

Turn right onto North 19th Avenue

0.3 mi · 46 sec · North 19th Avenue
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 48 sec
Toward I 10 East: Tucson Use the left lane.
6

Merge onto I 10

0.9 mi · 1 min · Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7

Continue on I 10

0.5 mi · 35 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
8

Continue on I 10

1.4 mi · 1 min · Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit onto Red Mountain Freeway

0.1 mi · 7 sec · Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147 Toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147A Toward AZ 202 Loop East
11

Keep slight left at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway

12 mi · 14 min · Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147A Toward AZ 202 Loop East Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec
Exit 13 Toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Payson Use the slight right lane.
13

Turn left onto AZ 87

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Country Club Drive
14

Continue on AZ 87

4.5 mi · 5 min · North Beeline Highway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
15

Continue on AZ 87

68 mi · 1 hr 20 min · Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
16

Turn right onto AZ 260

3.7 mi · 6 min · AZ 260
17

Arrive at destination

AZ 260

Trip Plan

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 52.6 miles from Peoria, AZ, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.4 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 23 miles or 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 52.6 miles or 1h 9m 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 49m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Peoria, 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 Peoria, AZ

This is one driving day of about 105.3 miles and 2h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Peoria, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Beeline Highway for about 68.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 52.6 mi from Peoria, AZ · 1h 9m into the drive

city in Pinal and Maricopa counties in Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Apache Junction, AZ

53 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Apache Junction, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 52.6 miles from Peoria, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Beeline Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68.4 miles.

Arriving in Sun Valley, AZ

The final approach into Sun Valley, 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 Sun Valley, 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

$20.98 one way

$41.95 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 37 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $22.20 $44.40
premium $5.59 $23.18 $46.36
diesel $5.61 $23.25 $46.50

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 36.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 31.6 0 $11.06 $5.05
Efficient EV 26.3 0 $9.21 $4.21
EV Truck/SUV 42.1 0 $14.74 $6.74

Gas CO2

37 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (68% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Peoria, AZ

Afternoon in Peoria on Thursday

Local time

3:32 PM

MST

Current temp

92°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sun Valley, AZ

Afternoon in Sun Valley on Thursday

Local time

3:32 PM

MST

Current temp

41°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

51 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

2h 13m 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 Sun Valley, AZ covers 105.3 miles and takes about 2h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Beeline Highway, Red Mountain Freeway, Grand Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.6 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 $20.98 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 105.3 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (US 60 / Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Peoria, AZ to Sun Valley, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Payson along the way.

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