Origin
Phoenix, AZ
Afternoon in Phoenix on Sunday
Local time
4:10 PM
MST
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Phoenix, AZ to El Mirage, AZ
Drive Time
35m
Distance
19.3 mi
31 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Phoenix, AZ
Carter Marchant
El Mirage, AZ
Djamel Ramdani
Trip Overview
Traveling from Phoenix to El Mirage is a straightforward 19.3-mile trip that typically takes about 35 minutes under normal traffic conditions. Because this journey stays entirely within the Desert Southwest, you won't encounter major regional transitions, making it a simple, direct drive. You can easily complete this route in a single day, as it is designed more for local transit than a multi-day excursion. Budgeting roughly $4 for fuel should be sufficient for the trip given the short distance. Since this is a turn-heavy local drive with zero planned stops, it is best approached as a quick point-to-point transit rather than a leisure tour.
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
9.6 miles from Phoenix, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you focused on navigating city streets rather than cruising on open pavement. You will spend your time moving along North 7th Avenue, Grand Avenue, and West Thunderbird Road as you navigate out of the city. With a 0% highway share, this route trades high-speed interstate travel for the constant pace of local road driving. There is no single long, uninterrupted stretch, so you should prepare for frequent adjustments to your speed and direction. This is a practical, utilitarian drive that requires your full attention on the surrounding urban infrastructure.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 6 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Grand Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 17.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Washington Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 35m drive. You will face about 5 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 (West Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (North 7th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Washington Street
Depart onto West Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North 7th Avenue
Turn right onto North 7th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
3
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Grand Avenue
Turn slight left onto Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / slight left / straight lanes.
4
18.3 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
West Thunderbird Road
Turn left onto West Thunderbird Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
19 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
North El Mirage Road
Turn right onto North El Mirage Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Avenue | 17.6 mi | 31m |
| West Thunderbird Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North El Mirage Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North 7th Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Grand Avenue
— 17.6 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Phoenix, AZ and El Mirage, AZ.
1
Start on West Washington Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Washington Street
Use the none lane.
2
Turn right onto North 7th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North 7th Avenue
Use the none lane.
3
Turn slight left onto Grand Avenue
18 mi
·
31 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left / slight left / straight lanes.
4
Turn left onto West Thunderbird Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Thunderbird Road
Use the none lane.
5
Turn right onto North El Mirage Road
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
North El Mirage Road
Use the none lane.
6
Arrive at destination
North El Mirage Road
Trip Plan
Flexibility is your biggest advantage on this short 35-minute drive, allowing you to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Because there are no scheduled stops, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you head out, keeping in mind the $4 estimated cost for the trip. Pay close attention to your navigation as you transition between North 7th Avenue and Grand Avenue, as the turn-heavy nature of the route can be disorienting. If you are sensitive to traffic, try to avoid peak commuting hours to keep your travel time closer to that 35-minute mark. Since the entire route is under 20 miles, you won't need to worry about planning for rest stops or overnight stays.
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 9.6 miles from Phoenix, AZ, or about 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.6 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 19.3 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.6 miles or 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near El Mirage, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Phoenix, 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 Phoenix, AZ
This is one driving day of about 19.3 miles and 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Phoenix, 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 Grand Avenue for about 17.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.6 mi from Phoenix, AZ · 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 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 19.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9.6 miles from Phoenix, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in El Mirage, AZ
The final approach into El Mirage, 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 El Mirage, 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
$3.84 one way
$7.68 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $4.06 | $8.11 |
| premium | $5.59 | $4.25 | $8.49 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.29 | $8.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.03 | $0.93 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.69 | $0.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.24 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
El Mirage, AZ
Afternoon in El Mirage on Sunday
Local time
4:10 PM
MST
Current temp
56°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
35m 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 Phoenix, AZ to El Mirage, AZ covers 19.3 miles and takes about 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Grand Avenue, West Thunderbird Road, West Washington Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.6 miles from Phoenix, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.84 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 35m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (North 7th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Phoenix, AZ to El Mirage, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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