Origin
Sun City, AZ
Evening in Sun City on Sunday
Local time
5:55 PM
MST
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sun City, AZ to Phoenix, AZ
Drive Time
29m
Distance
16 mi
26 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sun City, AZ
Toàn Văn
Phoenix, AZ
Carter Marchant
Trip Overview
Traveling from Sun City to Phoenix covers a short 23.5-mile distance that typically takes around 28 minutes to complete. Because this is a quick local transit within the Desert Southwest, a single day is more than enough time to finish the trip. You can expect to spend roughly $5 on fuel for this straightforward commute. Since you won't need to stay overnight, this route offers maximum flexibility for your schedule. Navigating through the city via Grand Avenue, West Van Buren Street, and North 1st Avenue keeps you on local roads for the entire duration.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
8 miles from Sun City, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than an open highway experience, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will navigate a series of city streets that require constant attention to traffic lights and urban intersections. Because the path is entirely local, there is no long-distance, uninterrupted stretch of road to settle into. Instead, the character of the drive remains consistent as you transition from the residential feel of Sun City into the heart of Phoenix. The lack of high-speed lanes means you should anticipate a slower, stop-and-go pace throughout the entire 28-minute journey.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Grand Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 15.1 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 around 15.1 miles in near US 80 Hist / West Van Buren Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 29m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 15.1 miles (US 80 Hist / West Van Buren Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.6 miles (West Adams Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.8 miles (North 1st Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
15.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
US 80 Hist / West Van Buren Street
Turn left onto US 80 Hist / West Van Buren Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
4
15.6 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
West Adams Street
Turn left onto West Adams Street
Navigation decision point
5
15.8 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
North 1st Street
Turn right onto North 1st Street
Navigation decision point
4
15.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
East Washington Street
Turn right onto East Washington Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Avenue | 15.1 mi | 26m |
| West Van Buren Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North 1st Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Adams Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Washington Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Washington Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Grand Avenue
— 15.1 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sun City, AZ and Phoenix, AZ.
1
Start on US 60
23 ft
·
2 sec
·
Grand Avenue
2
Continue on US 60
12 mi
·
20 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on Grand Avenue
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the none lane.
4
Turn left onto US 80 Hist
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Van Buren Street
Use the none lane.
5
Turn slight right onto North 1st Avenue
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
North 1st Avenue
6
Turn left onto West Adams Street
0.1 mi
·
40 sec
·
West Adams Street
7
Turn right onto North 1st Street
408 ft
·
18 sec
·
North 1st Street
8
Turn right onto East Washington Street
453 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Washington Street
9
Arrive at destination
West Washington Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a brief, 23.5-mile trip, you have the advantage of choosing your departure time based on personal preference rather than endurance. Keep in mind that because you are using city streets like Grand Avenue and North 1st Avenue, local traffic patterns will have a significant impact on your travel time. There are no mandatory stops required to complete this drive, allowing you to head straight to your destination without logistical concerns. Be prepared for frequent turns and urban congestion, which are hallmarks of this specific path. For the smoothest experience, check local traffic reports before you leave to avoid peak congestion hours on these primary local thoroughfares.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 8 miles from Sun City, AZ, or about 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.1 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 16 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8 miles or 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 24m
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 Sun City, 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 Sun City, AZ
This is one driving day of about 16 miles and 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sun City, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Grand Avenue for about 15.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8 mi from Sun City, AZ · 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8 miles from Sun City, 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
$3.18 one way
$6.37 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $3.36 | $6.73 |
| premium | $5.59 | $3.52 | $7.04 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.55 | $7.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
| Efficient EV | 4 | 0 | $1.40 | $0.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.24 | $1.02 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Phoenix, AZ
Evening in Phoenix on Sunday
Local time
5:55 PM
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
3 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
29m 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 Sun City, AZ to Phoenix, AZ covers 16 miles and takes about 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Grand Avenue, West Van Buren Street, North 1st Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8 miles from Sun City, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.18 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.
This is a straightforward 29m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 15.1 miles (US 80 Hist / West Van Buren Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.6 miles (West Adams Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.8 miles (North 1st Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Sun City, AZ to Phoenix, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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