Origin
Phoenix, AZ
Afternoon in Phoenix on Sunday
Local time
4:05 PM
MST
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
45m
Distance
34.6 mi
56 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Phoenix, AZ
Carter Marchant
Maricopa, AZ
Tom Fisk
If you are looking to travel from Phoenix to Maricopa, you are facing a quick 33.2-mile journey that typically takes about 41 minutes. This trip remains entirely within the Desert Southwest region of Arizona, making it an ideal candidate for a simple one-day outing. You will navigate primarily via local surface streets like South 1st Avenue, West Madison Street, and South 1st Street rather than utilizing major interstate corridors. With a fuel budget of just $6, this is an incredibly economical route to navigate. Because the drive is short and direct, you can easily complete it without needing an overnight stay, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
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
17.3 miles from Phoenix, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel from start to finish. Since the highway share for this 33.2-mile route is 0%, you won't be dealing with high-speed interstate cruising or long, monotonous stretches of pavement. Instead, the trip is defined by navigating through urban and local infrastructure, requiring your full attention at intersections. Because there is no extended highway time, the road personality is strictly functional and urban in nature. You will find that the rhythm of the drive stays consistent throughout the 41-minute duration as you transition between the specified local streets.
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 0.1 miles in near South 1st Avenue.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 34.6 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 0.1 miles (South 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (South 1st Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2 miles (East Maricopa Freeway): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto South 1st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto South 1st Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn left onto East Maricopa Freeway
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 17 South, US 60 East
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward AZ 347 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maricopa Freeway | 14 mi | 16m |
| North Maricopa Road | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| North John Wayne Parkway | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| West Queen Creek Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| South 7th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| East Lincoln Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South 1st Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Phoenix, AZ and Maricopa, AZ.
Start on West Washington Street
Turn left onto South 1st Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto South 1st Avenue
Turn left onto West Madison Street
At end of road, turn right onto South 1st Street
Turn left onto East Lincoln Street
Turn right onto South 7th Street
Turn left onto East Maricopa Freeway
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 17; US 60
Continue on I 10
Take the exit
Turn right onto AZ 347
Continue on AZ 347
Continue on AZ 347
Arrive at destination
Given the short 41-minute duration, you have plenty of freedom to plan your departure time around traffic patterns rather than worrying about long-haul fatigue. You will not need to factor in any planned stops, as the entire distance is easily manageable in one go. Keep in mind that since the route relies exclusively on local roads, you should account for typical city stop-and-go travel times. Make sure to have your $6 for fuel ready before you head out, as this covers the expected costs for the full 33.2 miles. Since you are navigating through city streets, stay alert for frequent turns as you transition from South 1st Avenue to the final destination.
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.
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 34.6 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 17.3 miles or 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maricopa, AZ than in the middle of the route.
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 34.6 miles and 45m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.3 mi from Phoenix, AZ · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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.
A short stop after about 34.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.3 miles from Phoenix, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Maricopa, 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 Maricopa, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$6.89 one way
$13.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $7.27 | $14.54 |
| premium | $5.59 | $7.61 | $15.22 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.69 | $15.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.03 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Phoenix on Sunday
Local time
4:05 PM
MST
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Maricopa on Sunday
Local time
4:05 PM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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