Origin
Phoenix, AZ
Afternoon in Phoenix on Thursday
Local time
3:54 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Phoenix, AZ to Picture Rocks, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 1m
Distance
102.2 mi
164 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 53m
★
6 AM
2h 2m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 8m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 9m
5 PM
2h 18m
8 PM
1h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Phoenix, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Picture Rocks, AZ
Mark Direen
Trip Overview
The drive from Phoenix, AZ to Picture Rocks, AZ covers 102.2 miles and takes about 2h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South 1st Avenue, West Madison Street, South 1st Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.36 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
51.1 miles from Phoenix, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 102.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 1m drive with frequent turns across 102.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South 1st Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Phoenix, AZ to Picture Rocks, AZ is easy. At 2h 1m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Phoenix, AZ to Picture Rocks, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 1st Avenue | — | — |
| West Madison Street | — | — |
| South 1st Street | — | — |
| East Lincoln Street | — | — |
| South 7th Street | — | — |
| East Maricopa Freeway | — | — |
| I 17 South | — | — |
| Maricopa Freeway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South 1st Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Phoenix, AZ and Picture Rocks, AZ.
1
Start on West Washington Street
322 ft
·
19 sec
·
West Washington Street
2
Turn left onto South 1st Avenue
436 ft
·
10 sec
·
South 1st Avenue
3
Keep slight left to continue on South 1st Avenue
351 ft
·
14 sec
·
South 1st Avenue
4
Turn left onto West Madison Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
West Madison Street
5
At the end of the 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
8
Turn left onto East Maricopa Freeway
292 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Maricopa Freeway
9
Take the ramp slight left toward I 17 South, US 60 East
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 17 South, US 60 East
10
Merge slight left onto Maricopa Freeway
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
11
Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
12
Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
36 mi
·
36 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
13
Take the exit slight right toward Marana Road
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Marana Road
14
Turn right onto North Sandario Road
341 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Sandario Road
15
Turn right onto West Marana Road
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Marana Road
16
Turn right onto Marana Main Street
469 ft
·
9 sec
·
Marana Main Street
17
Continue on West Marana Road
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
West Marana Road
18
Turn left onto North Sanders Road
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
North Sanders Road
19
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Avra Valley Road
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West Avra Valley Road
20
Turn sharp left onto Clayton Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Clayton Road
21
At the end of the road, turn left onto West Twin Peaks Road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Twin Peaks Road
22
Turn right onto North Sanders Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Sanders Road
23
Turn right onto West Emigh Road
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
West Emigh Road
24
Keep slight left to continue on North Avra Road
1.4 mi
·
5 min
·
North Avra Road
25
Arrive at your destination
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 51.1 miles from Phoenix, AZ, or about 1h into the drive.
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 22 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.1 miles or 1h 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Picture Rocks, 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 102.2 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Phoenix, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51.1 mi from Phoenix, AZ · 1h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.1 miles from Phoenix, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Picture Rocks, AZ
The final approach into Picture Rocks, 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 Picture Rocks, 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
$20.36 one way
$40.72 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $21.55 | $43.09 |
| premium | $5.59 | $22.50 | $44.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.56 | $45.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.7 | 0 | $10.73 | $4.91 |
| Efficient EV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.94 | $4.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.9 | 0 | $14.31 | $6.54 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Picture Rocks, AZ
Afternoon in Picture Rocks on Thursday
Local time
3:54 PM
MST
Current temp
88°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
2h 1m 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 Picture Rocks, AZ covers 102.2 miles and takes about 2h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South 1st Avenue, West Madison Street, South 1st Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.1 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 $20.36 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.
The drive from Phoenix, AZ to Picture Rocks, AZ is easy. At 2h 1m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Phoenix, AZ to Picture Rocks, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Phoenix, AZ to Picture Rocks, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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