Origin
San Luis, AZ
Late night in San Luis on Wednesday
Local time
3:11 AM
MST
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Luis, AZ to Maricopa, AZ
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 24m
Distance
190 mi
306 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 12m
★
6 AM
3h 25m
8 AM
3h 49m
10 AM
3h 33m
12 PM
3h 31m
3 PM
3h 34m
5 PM
3h 48m
8 PM
3h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Luis, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Maricopa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embark on a 190-mile journey from San Luis, AZ to Maricopa, AZ, a drive that will take approximately 3 hours and 24 minutes. This route, primarily traversing the Desert Southwest, is manageable as a single-day trip, with an estimated fuel cost of $38. You'll navigate a mix of main roads including the Blue Star Memorial Highway and Robert A. Vaughan Expressway, with about 18% of your travel on highways. Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience, making it a good option if you prefer more frequent navigation over long, unbroken stretches. This is a straightforward drive within Arizona, perfect for a quick transit between these two points.
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
95 miles from San Luis, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This route offers a 'turn-heavy local drive' feel, meaning you'll be engaging with the road more frequently as you make your way through towns and local networks. While 18% of the drive is on highways, much of your time will be on local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 143.4 miles along the Blue Star Memorial Highway. This suggests a drive that is less about high-speed cruising and more about navigating various road types and transitions as you progress toward Maricopa.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Blue Star Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 143.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 95 / Main Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 24m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 95 / Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.2 miles (East C Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (4th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 95 / Main Street
Enter roundabout onto US 95 / Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East C Street
Turn right onto East C Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
4th Avenue
Turn left onto 4th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
26.6 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
176.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 8m in
|
AZ 347 / South John Wayne Parkway
Turn left onto AZ 347 / South John Wayne Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 143.4 mi | 2h 26m |
| Robert A. Vaughan Expressway | 20.9 mi | 24m |
| South John Wayne Parkway | 13.1 mi | 15m |
| Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| East Cesar Chavez Boulevard | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| North John Wayne Parkway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Araby Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 4th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 143.4 mi, about 2h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Luis, AZ and Maricopa, AZ.
1
Start on Urtuzuastegui Street
20 ft
·
0 sec
·
Urtuzuastegui Street
2
Enter roundabout onto US 95
7 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
3
Continue on US 95
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Main Street
4
Turn right onto East C Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
East C Street
5
Turn left onto 4th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
4th Avenue
6
Turn right onto East Cesar Chavez Boulevard
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
East Cesar Chavez Boulevard
7
Continue on AZ 195
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Robert A. Vaughan Expressway
8
Continue on AZ 195
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
·
South Araby Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Enter roundabout
113 ft
·
1 sec
10
Continue
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
11
Merge onto I 8
143 mi
·
2 hr 26 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Toward AZ 84 East: Maricopa
13
Turn left onto AZ 84
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
14
Turn left onto AZ 347
13 mi
·
15 min
·
South John Wayne Parkway
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on AZ 347
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
North John Wayne Parkway
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
AZ 347
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 24-minute duration and 190-mile distance, this trip is easily accomplished in one day. Aim for an early start to maximize your daylight hours and allow for a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop and a $38 fuel cost, planning is straightforward. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 143.4-mile stretch on the Blue Star Memorial Highway, as services might be spaced out. This route's local nature means paying close attention to speed limit changes and turns will be key to a smooth journey.
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 95 miles from San Luis, AZ, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 143.4 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95 miles or 1h 44m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maricopa, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Luis, 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 San Luis, AZ
This is one driving day of about 190 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from San Luis, 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.
The longest stretch is on Blue Star Memorial Highway for about 143.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 95 mi from San Luis, AZ · 1h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
95 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 95 miles from San Luis, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Blue Star Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 143.4 miles.
Arriving in Maricopa, AZ
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.85 one way
$75.70 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $40.06 | $80.11 |
| premium | $5.59 | $41.82 | $83.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.95 | $83.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57 | 0 | $19.95 | $9.12 |
| Efficient EV | 47.5 | 0 | $16.63 | $7.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76 | 0 | $26.60 | $12.16 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Maricopa, AZ
Late night in Maricopa on Wednesday
Local time
3:11 AM
MST
Current temp
54°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
20 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
3h 24m 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 San Luis, AZ to Maricopa, AZ covers 190 miles and takes about 3h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Blue Star Memorial Highway, Robert A. Vaughan Expressway, South John Wayne Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 95 miles from San Luis, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.85 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.
This is a straightforward 3h 24m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 95 / Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.2 miles (East C Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (4th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from San Luis, AZ to Maricopa, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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