Origin
Scottsdale, AZ
Morning in Scottsdale on Saturday
Local time
10:46 AM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scottsdale, AZ to Sells, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 51m
Distance
137.5 mi
221 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 40m
★
6 AM
2h 51m
8 AM
3h 13m
10 AM
2h 59m
12 PM
2h 57m
3 PM
3h 0m
5 PM
3h 12m
8 PM
2h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scottsdale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Sells, AZ
András Nyemczovszky
Trip Overview
The drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Sells, AZ covers 137.5 miles and takes about 2h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Indian Route 15, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, North Tucson-Ajo Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.8 miles on Indian Route 15. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.39 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
68.7 miles from Scottsdale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Route 15 | 46.8 mi | 1h 4m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 36.8 mi | 37m |
| North Tucson-Ajo Highway | 21.2 mi | 24m |
| Price Freeway | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| South Chuichu Road | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| Pima Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Santan Freeway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Phoenix Bypass Route | 3 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Indian Route 15
— 46.8 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsdale, AZ and Sells, 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
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 61B
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Santan Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 55A-B
Toward I 10 West: Tucson, Phoenix
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Exit 55B
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
37 mi
·
37 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 199
Toward I 8 West: San Diego
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 8
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Phoenix Bypass Route
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 174
Toward Trekell Road
14
Turn left onto South Trekell Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Trekell Road
15
Turn right onto West Hanna Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Hanna Street
16
Turn left onto South Chuichu Road
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
South Chuichu Road
17
Continue on BIA 15
47 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
Indian Route 15
18
At end of road, turn left onto AZ 86
21 mi
·
24 min
·
North Tucson-Ajo Highway
19
Turn right onto BIA 19
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
San Miguel Road
20
Turn straight onto Main Road
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
Main Road
21
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
22
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
23
Arrive at 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.7 miles from Scottsdale, AZ, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.8 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 30 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.7 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sells, 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 137.5 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 Indian Route 15 for about 46.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 68.7 miles from Scottsdale, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 57.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
15.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 202 Loop West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 61B
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
6
19.3 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: Tucson, Phoenix
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 55A-B
Toward I 10 West: Tucson, Phoenix
8
19.8 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 55B
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
7
57.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward I 8 West: San Diego
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 199
Toward I 8 West: San Diego
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.39 one way
$54.78 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $28.99 | $57.98 |
| premium | $5.59 | $30.27 | $60.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.36 | $60.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.3 | 0 | $14.44 | $6.60 |
| Efficient EV | 34.4 | 0 | $12.03 | $5.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55 | 0 | $19.25 | $8.80 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Sells, AZ
Morning in Sells on Saturday
Local time
10:46 AM
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
4 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 51m 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.
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 52.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
The drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Sells, AZ covers 137.5 miles and takes about 2h 51m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Indian Route 15 is the longest continuous segment at about 46.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 137.5 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 15.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Sells, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Phoenix along the way.
Phoenix
19.3 mi in
|
~23m
About the Cities
Starting in Scottsdale, AZ
Full guide →Scottsdale is a city in the state of Arizona. Scottsdale is home to many galleries, high quality resorts, and golf courses. It is also one of the wealthier parts of the Phoenix Metro Area.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 137.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Sells, AZ covers 137.5 miles and takes about 2h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Indian Route 15, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, North Tucson-Ajo Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68.7 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 $27.39 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 17 significant decision points across 137.5 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 15.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Sells, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Phoenix along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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