The drive from Scottsdale, AZ to San Manuel, AZ covers 126.1 miles and takes about 2h 39m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pinal Pioneer Parkway, Superstition Freeway, US 80 Hist for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.9 miles on Pinal Pioneer Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.12 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
63.1 miles from Scottsdale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 39m. Total distance: 126.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 39m highway drive covering 126.1 miles, with most of the trip on Pinal Pioneer Parkway and Superstition Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 35.9 miles on Pinal Pioneer Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pinal Pioneer Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 35.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pinal Pioneer Parkway and Superstition Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 126.1 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 1 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
8.5 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward US 60 East, US 60 West: Globe, Phoenix
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 55A; 55B
Toward US 60 East, US 60 West: Globe, Phoenix
8
8.7 mi into trip|~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 60 East: Globe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 55A
Toward US 60 East: Globe
5
9.8 mi into trip|~13m in|US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge onto US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
44.7 mi into trip|~55m in|US 80 Hist
Keep slight right at fork onto US 80 Hist toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Scottsdale, AZ and San Manuel, AZ, road signs point toward Phoenix and Tucson.
Phoenix
8.5 mi in|~10m
Tucson
44.3 mi in|~54m|via US 80 Hist
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pinal Pioneer Parkway
35.9 mi
41m
Superstition Freeway
22.2 mi
25m
US 80 Hist
16.2 mi
21m
Tucson-Globe Highway
15 mi
20m
Phoenix–Globe Highway
12.3 mi
15m
South Pinal Parkway Avenue
6.2 mi
8m
Pima Freeway
4.9 mi
5m
Veterans Memorial Boulevard
4.5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Pinal Pioneer Parkway
— 35.9 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsdale, AZ and San Manuel, AZ.
1
Start on this road
64 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
0.6 mi·1 min·East Chaparral Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
4
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
4.9 mi·5 min·Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
2.7 mi·3 min·Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 55A; 55BToward US 60 East, US 60 West: Globe, PhoenixUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 55AToward US 60 East: GlobeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto US 60
22 mi·25 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
12 mi·15 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 80 Hist
0.5 mi·1 min·US 80 Hist
Toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 80 Hist
16 mi·20 min·US 80 Hist
Toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson
12
Continue on AZ 79
6.2 mi·8 min·South Pinal Parkway Avenue
13
Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist
36 mi·41 min·Pinal Pioneer Parkway
14
Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist
0.4 mi·28 sec·State Route 79
15
Turn left onto AZ 77
13 mi·17 min·Tucson-Globe Highway
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on AZ 77
2.0 mi·2 min·American Avenue
17
Continue on AZ 77
2.4 mi·3 min·Tucson-Globe Highway
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
19
Turn right onto Veterans Memorial Boulevard
4.5 mi·6 min·Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Use the right lane.
20
Continue on North Redington Road
0.5 mi·58 sec·North Redington Road
21
Turn right onto South McNab Parkway
1.1 mi·2 min·South McNab Parkway
Use the right lane.
22
Arrive at destination
South McNab Parkway
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.1 miles from Scottsdale, AZ, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.9 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 28 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.1 miles or 1h 19m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Manuel, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Scottsdale, 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 Scottsdale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 126.1 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Scottsdale, 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 Pinal Pioneer Parkway for about 35.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 63.1 mi from Scottsdale, AZ
· 1h 19m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 60.9
Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are pr...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
$25
near mile 104.4
Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
$10
near mile 34.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.12 one way
$50.24 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$26.59
$53.17
premium
$5.59
$27.76
$55.51
diesel
$5.61
$27.84
$55.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.8
0
$13.24
$6.05
Efficient EV
31.5
0
$11.03
$5.04
EV Truck/SUV
50.4
0
$17.65
$8.07
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Scottsdale, AZ
Night
in Scottsdale on Thursday
Local time
11:02 PM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Manuel, AZ
Night
in San Manuel on Thursday
Local time
11:02 PM
MST
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
89°F
Florence, AZ
63 mi in
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
40 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 39m 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 Scottsdale, AZ to San Manuel, AZ covers 126.1 miles and takes about 2h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pinal Pioneer Parkway, Superstition Freeway, US 80 Hist. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 63.1 miles from Scottsdale, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.12 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.
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 demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 126.1 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 1 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Scottsdale, AZ and San Manuel, AZ, road signs point toward Phoenix and Tucson.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Saguaro National Park and Tonto National Monument.
