Origin
Phoenix, AZ
Afternoon in Phoenix on Sunday
Local time
3:43 PM
MST
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Phoenix, AZ to Queen Creek, AZ
Drive Time
51m
Distance
38.1 mi
61 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Phoenix, AZ
Carter Marchant
Queen Creek, AZ
Fernando Capetillo
Trip Overview
Traveling from Phoenix to Queen Creek covers a compact 38.1 miles through the heart of the Desert Southwest. Expect the journey to take approximately 51 minutes, making it a straightforward day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate via local surface streets including South 1st Avenue, West Madison Street, and South 1st Street rather than relying on major interstates. With a modest fuel budget of just $7, this is an incredibly cost-effective excursion. Since both cities are located within the same region, you will experience a consistent desert landscape throughout the entire transit.
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
19 miles from Phoenix, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 38.1-mile transit is a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike long-haul interstate routes, this trip features a 0% highway share, meaning you will navigate city infrastructure from start to finish. You won't find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, as the longest segment on South 1st Avenue is negligible. Prepare for a series of frequent turns and urban transitions rather than a high-speed cruise. It is a practical, functional drive that keeps you engaged with the local road network for the duration of the 51-minute transit.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 60 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and Maricopa Freeway. 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.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 38.1 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 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 miles (US 60): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South 1st Avenue
Turn left onto South 1st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 17 South, US 60 East
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 17 South, US 60 East
8
8.8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
US 60
Take the exit onto US 60 toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe
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 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe
7
27.4 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward AZ Loop 202 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 190B
Toward AZ Loop 202 South
7
31 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward AZ 24 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 34A
Toward AZ 24 East
Towns Along This Route
Between Phoenix, AZ and Queen Creek, AZ, road signs point toward Globe and Az Loop 202 South.
Globe
8.8 mi in
|
~13m
|
via US 60
Az Loop 202 South
27.4 mi in
|
~34m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 60 | 18.7 mi | 21m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| South Ellsworth Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Santan Freeway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| South Ellsworth Loop Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| South 7th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| East Lincoln Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Gateway Freeway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 18.7 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Phoenix, AZ and Queen Creek, AZ.
1
Start on West Washington Street
322 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Washington Street
2
Turn left onto South 1st Avenue
436 ft
·
9 sec
·
South 1st Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Keep slight left at fork onto South 1st Avenue
350 ft
·
14 sec
·
South 1st Avenue
4
Turn left onto West Madison Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
West Madison Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto South 1st Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
South 1st Street
6
Turn left onto East Lincoln Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Lincoln Street
7
Turn right onto South 7th Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South 7th Street
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto East Maricopa Freeway
290 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Maricopa Freeway
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 17 South, US 60 East
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 17; US 60
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto US 60
19 mi
·
21 min
·
US 60
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 190B
Toward AZ Loop 202 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Santan Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Exit 34A
Toward AZ 24 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on AZ 24
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
Gateway Freeway
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1
Toward Ellsworth Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto South Ellsworth Road
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
South Ellsworth Road
18
Continue on South Ellsworth Loop Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Ellsworth Loop Road
19
Turn left onto East Ocotillo Road
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Ocotillo Road
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
East Ocotillo Road
Trip Plan
Because this is a short, 51-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak local traffic. Since you are not dealing with long, monotonous highway miles, you can easily tackle the entire 38.1-mile distance without needing planned rest stops. Keep your $7 fuel budget in mind, as local city driving can sometimes be less efficient than steady highway cruising. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, prioritize using a reliable GPS navigation app to manage the frequent transitions between South 1st Avenue, West Madison Street, and South 1st Street. Staying alert for urban intersections will make your journey much smoother.
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 19 miles from Phoenix, AZ, or about 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.7 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 38.1 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 19 miles or 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Queen Creek, 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 38.1 miles and 51m.
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 US 60 for about 18.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19 mi from Phoenix, AZ · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19 miles from Phoenix, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Queen Creek, AZ
The final approach into Queen Creek, 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 Queen Creek, 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
$7.58 one way
$15.17 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $8.01 | $16.01 |
| premium | $5.59 | $8.38 | $16.76 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $8.46 | $16.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.33 | $2.44 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Queen Creek, AZ
Afternoon in Queen Creek on Sunday
Local time
3:43 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
51m 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 Queen Creek, AZ covers 38.1 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 60, Maricopa Freeway, South Ellsworth Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19 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 $7.58 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 demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 38.1 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 miles (US 60): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Phoenix, AZ and Queen Creek, AZ, road signs point toward Globe and Az Loop 202 South.
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