Origin
Scottsdale, AZ
Afternoon in Scottsdale on Saturday
Local time
12:48 PM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scottsdale, AZ to Ajo, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 39m
Distance
123.6 mi
199 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 29m
★
6 AM
2h 39m
8 AM
3h 1m
10 AM
2h 47m
12 PM
2h 45m
3 PM
2h 48m
5 PM
2h 59m
8 PM
2h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scottsdale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Ajo, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Ajo, AZ covers 123.6 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 East Chaparral Road, North Scottsdale Road, North Goldwater Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.62 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
61.8 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 |
|---|---|---|
| East Chaparral Road | — | — |
| North Scottsdale Road | — | — |
| North Goldwater Boulevard | — | — |
| East Indian School Road | — | — |
| North 64th Street | — | — |
| East McDowell Road | — | — |
| Hohokam Expressway | — | — |
| AZ 202 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East Chaparral Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsdale, AZ and Ajo, AZ.
1
Start on the route
62 ft
·
10 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto East Chaparral Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
East Chaparral Road
3
Turn left onto North Scottsdale Road
217 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Scottsdale Road
4
Turn slight right onto North Goldwater Boulevard
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Goldwater Boulevard
5
Turn right onto East Indian School Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Indian School Road
6
Turn left onto North 64th Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North 64th Street
7
Turn right onto East McDowell Road
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
East McDowell Road
8
Turn left onto Hohokam Expressway
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Hohokam Expressway
9
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 202 Loop West
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
AZ 202 Loop West
10
Merge slight left onto Red Mountain Freeway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Red Mountain Freeway
11
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 West
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10 West
12
Merge slight right onto Papago Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
13
Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
14
Continue on Papago Freeway
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Papago Freeway
15
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
16
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 85: Yuma, San Diego
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
AZ 85: Yuma, San Diego
17
Continue on South Oglesby Road
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
South Oglesby Road
18
Continue on Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
19
Continue on Arizona State Highway 85
28 mi
·
33 min
·
Arizona State Highway 85
20
Take the exit slight right toward AZ-85 South: Gila Bend
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
AZ-85 South: Gila Bend
21
Continue on Arizona State Highway 85
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Arizona State Highway 85
22
Continue on East Pima Street
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
East Pima Street
23
Turn right
42 mi
·
53 min
24
Arrive at your 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 61.8 miles from Scottsdale, AZ, or about 1h 19m 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 27 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.8 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ajo, 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 123.6 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
62 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 61.8 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.62 one way
$49.25 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $26.06 | $52.12 |
| premium | $5.59 | $27.21 | $54.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.29 | $54.58 |
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: 43.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.1 | 0 | $12.98 | $5.93 |
| Efficient EV | 30.9 | 0 | $10.82 | $4.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49.4 | 0 | $17.30 | $7.91 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Ajo, AZ
Afternoon in Ajo on Saturday
Local time
12:48 PM
MST
Current temp
84°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
8 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.
What kind of drive is this?
123.6 mi in 2h 39m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: East Chaparral Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Ajo, AZ is easy. At 2h 39m 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 Scottsdale, AZ to Ajo, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
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 39m. Total distance: 123.6 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 (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Ajo, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ajo, AZ before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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