Trip from Phoenix, AZ to San Tan Valley, AZ

Drive Time

56m

Distance

48.2 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Quick day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Phoenix, AZ to San Tan Valley, AZ covers 48.2 miles and takes about 56m 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 $9.40 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.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

24.1 miles from Phoenix, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 56m drive with frequent turns across 48.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 30 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.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South 1st Avenue	0 mi	0m
West Madison Street	0 mi	0m
South 1st Street	0 mi	0m
East Lincoln Street	0 mi	0m
South 7th Street	0 mi	0m
East Maricopa Freeway	0 mi	0m
I 17 South	0 mi	0m
Maricopa Freeway	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: South 1st Avenue — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on West Washington Street

2

Turn left onto South 1st Avenue

3

Keep slight left to continue on South 1st Avenue

4

Turn left onto West Madison Street

5

At the end of the road, turn right onto South 1st Street

6

Turn left onto East Lincoln Street

7

Turn right onto South 7th Street

8

Turn left onto East Maricopa Freeway

9

Take the ramp slight left toward I 17 South, US 60 East

10

Merge slight left onto Maricopa Freeway

11

Take the exit slight right toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe

12

Take the exit slight right toward AZ Loop 202 South

13

Merge slight left onto Santan Freeway

14

Take the exit slight right toward AZ 24 East

15

Continue on Gateway Freeway

16

Continue straight

17

Continue straight

18

Continue on Gateway Freeway

19

Continue straight

20

Continue straight

21

Continue on Gateway Freeway

22

Continue straight

23

Continue straight

24

Continue on Gateway Expressway

25

Continue on Gateway Expressway

26

Turn right onto North Ironwood Road

27

Continue on North Gantzel Road

28

Turn left onto East Combs Road

29

Turn right onto North Schnepf Road

30

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 24.1 miles from Phoenix, AZ.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles

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

Halfway reset

Around 24.1 miles

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Last hour of driving

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Tan Valley, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Phoenix, AZ

This is one driving day of about 48.2 miles and 56m.

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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Queen Creek, AZ

24 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into San Tan 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 San Tan Valley, AZ.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 24.1 mi from Phoenix, AZ

Tempe, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Queen Creek, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.1 miles from Phoenix, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$4.95	$9.40	$18.79
midgrade	$5.34	$10.13	$20.26
premium	$5.57	$10.56	$21.12
diesel	$6.37	$12.08	$24.16

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Phoenix, AZ to San Tan Valley, AZ covers 48.2 miles and takes about 56m 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 24.1 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 $9.40 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.