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Trip from Saint David, AZ to Phoenix, AZ

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

3h 2m

Distance

167.4 mi

269 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
2h 51m ★
6 AM
3h 3m
8 AM
3h 26m
10 AM
3h 11m
12 PM
3h 8m
3 PM
3h 12m
5 PM
3h 24m
8 PM
2h 56m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

patron saint of Wales

Saint David, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

seat of Maricopa County, largest city in, and capital of, the State of Arizona, United States

Phoenix, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Saint David to Phoenix covers 167.4 miles of the Desert Southwest, a journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 2 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, this trip works perfectly as a single-day excursion, requiring only one planned stop to keep you refreshed. You can expect to spend approximately $33 on fuel for the trek, making it a budget-friendly option for a quick change of scenery. The route transitions you through the heart of Arizona, moving between the smaller, quieter atmosphere of Saint David and the urban expanse of Phoenix. Whether you are heading to the city for business or leisure, the straightforward nature of this drive allows for a stress-free transition between these two desert hubs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

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

Midpoint

83.7 miles from Saint David, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a mixed-drive route where you will spend 41% of your time on highways, balancing interstate speed with more moderate pace sections. You will navigate via the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, I-10 Bus, and the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway to reach your destination. The longest uninterrupted segment you’ll encounter is a 54.5-mile stretch along the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, which provides a steady rhythm for your cruise. Because the road changes in character as you progress, stay alert for transitions between high-speed highway travel and local roadway conditions. Expect a blend of environments that keeps the drive engaging without becoming overly technical or demanding behind the wheel.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Patton Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

4,126 ft 1,088 ft

Total Climb

10 ft

Total Descent

3,048 ft

Highest Point

4,126 ft

~12 mi in

Elevation Range

3,038 ft

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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Saint David, AZ to Phoenix, AZ is easy. At 3h 2m 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 Saint David, AZ to Phoenix, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East Patton Street Unavailable Refreshing
State Route 80 Unavailable Refreshing
East 4th Street Unavailable Refreshing
I 10 West Unavailable Refreshing
South Freeway Unavailable Refreshing
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway Unavailable Refreshing
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway Unavailable Refreshing
Maricopa Freeway Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: East Patton Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint David, AZ and Phoenix, AZ.

1

Start on South Lee Street

0.1 mi · 10 sec · South Lee Street
2

Continue on East Patton Street

2.0 mi · 2 min · East Patton Street
3

Continue on State Route 80

5.3 mi · 8 min · State Route 80
4

Turn left

62 ft · 2 sec
5

Turn right onto East 4th Street

1.8 mi · 2 min · East 4th Street
6

Keep slight left to continue on I 10 West: Tucson

44 mi · 46 min · I 10 West: Tucson
7

Continue on South Freeway

6.0 mi · 6 min · South Freeway
8

Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

3.7 mi · 4 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
9

Keep slight left to continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

51 mi · 51 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
10

Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

38 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
11

Continue on Maricopa Freeway

12 mi · 13 min · Maricopa Freeway
12

Keep slight right to continue on Maricopa Freeway

1.9 mi · 2 min · Maricopa Freeway
13

Take the exit slight right toward 7th Street, Central Avenue

0.2 mi · 26 sec · 7th Street, Central Avenue
14

Turn straight onto East Maricopa Freeway

135 ft · 3 sec · East Maricopa Freeway
15

Turn right onto South 7th Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · South 7th Street
16

Turn left onto East Washington Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Washington Street
17

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. Aim to depart early in the day to avoid peak traffic as you approach the Phoenix metropolitan area. With only one recommended stop, use that break strategically to stretch your legs and refuel once you reach the halfway point of your journey. Keep in mind that the $33 fuel estimate is a baseline, so check your vehicle's efficiency before heading out to ensure you have enough for the full 167.4-mile trip. By pacing your drive and maintaining a consistent speed on the longer stretches, you will ensure a comfortable and efficient arrival in Phoenix.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 83.7 miles from Saint David, AZ, or about 1h 31m 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 80 miles or 1h 27m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 83.7 miles or 1h 31m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 29m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Phoenix, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Saint David, 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 Saint David, AZ

This is one driving day of about 167.4 miles and 3h 2m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Saint David, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 83.7 mi from Saint David, AZ · 1h 31m into the drive

town in Pima and Pinal counties in Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marana, AZ

84 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.

Popular next leg

Marana, AZ to Phoenix, AZ

92.9 mi · 1h 42m

Pacing Suggestions

Oro Valley, AZ

Fuel and coffee

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

Marana, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 83.7 miles from Saint David, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Phoenix, AZ

The final approach into Phoenix, 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 Phoenix, 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

$33.35 one way

$66.70 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 59 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $35.29 $70.58
premium $5.59 $36.85 $73.70
diesel $5.61 $36.96 $73.92

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 58.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 50.2 0 $17.58 $8.04
Efficient EV 41.9 0 $14.65 $6.70
EV Truck/SUV 67 0 $23.44 $10.71

Gas CO2

59 kg

EV CO2

20 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 9 hours ago

Origin

Saint David, AZ

Late night in Saint David on Wednesday

Local time

1:14 AM

MST

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Phoenix, AZ

Late night in Phoenix on Wednesday

Local time

1:14 AM

MST

Current temp

61°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

17 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 2m 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 Saint David, AZ to Phoenix, AZ covers 167.4 miles and takes about 3h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Patton Street, State Route 80, East 4th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 83.7 miles from Saint David, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.35 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Saint David, AZ to Phoenix, AZ is easy. At 3h 2m 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 Saint David, AZ to Phoenix, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Saint David, AZ to Phoenix, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes. The route ranges from 1,088 ft to 4,126 ft elevation with about 10 ft of total climbing.

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Return Trip

Phoenix, AZ to Saint David, AZ

Plan the drive back the other way.

167.4 mi 3h 3m

Explore more options from Saint David, AZ or browse trips ending in Phoenix, AZ.

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