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Trip from Sun Valley, AZ to Peoria, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 14m

Distance

105.3 mi

169 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 5m ★
6 AM
2h 14m
8 AM
2h 33m
10 AM
2h 21m
12 PM
2h 19m
3 PM
2h 22m
5 PM
2h 32m
8 PM
2h 9m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Sun Valley, AZ, AZ

Sun Valley, AZ

Josh Sorenson

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Peoria, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Sun Valley, AZ to Peoria, AZ covers 105.3 miles and takes about 2h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Beeline Highway, Red Mountain Freeway, Grand Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.1 miles on South Beeline Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.98 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.

Midpoint

52.6 miles from Sun Valley, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 105.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 14m drive with frequent turns across 105.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Beeline Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 73.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 77.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 105.3 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 77.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 77.6 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 89.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
77.2 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in

Take the exit toward AZ 202 Loop West

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward AZ 202 Loop West
5
77.6 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in | AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway

Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
89.6 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in

Take the exit toward I 10 West

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 10 West
8
93.4 mi into trip | ~1h 53m in

Take the exit toward 19th Avenue, Grand Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 143C Toward 19th Avenue, Grand Avenue
6
93.8 mi into trip | ~1h 53m in | North 19th Avenue

Turn right onto North 19th Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / right lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Beeline Highway 73.1 mi 1h 26m
Red Mountain Freeway 12 mi 13m
Grand Avenue 11.1 mi 19m
Payson-Show Low Highway 3.7 mi 6m
Papago Freeway 2.3 mi 2m
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel 0.5 mi <1m
North Country Club Drive 0.5 mi <1m
North 19th Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: South Beeline Highway — 73.1 mi, about 1h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sun Valley, AZ and Peoria, AZ.

1

Start on AZ 260

3.7 mi · 6 min · Payson-Show Low Highway
2

Turn left onto AZ 87

73 mi · 1 hr 26 min · South Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
3

Continue on AZ 87

0.5 mi · 47 sec · North Country Club Drive
4

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
5

Merge onto AZ 202 Loop

12 mi · 13 min · Red Mountain Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min
Toward I 10 West Use the slight left lane.
7

Merge onto I 10

1.3 mi · 1 min · Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8

Continue on I 10

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
9

Continue on I 10

0.9 mi · 1 min · Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec
Exit 143C Toward 19th Avenue, Grand Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Turn right onto North 19th Avenue

0.3 mi · 35 sec · North 19th Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
12

Turn slight left onto Grand Avenue

11 mi · 19 min · Grand Avenue
Use the left / slight left lanes.
13

Turn left onto West Jefferson Street

51 ft · 1 sec · West Jefferson Street
Use the left lane.
14

Continue on West Jefferson Street

66 ft · 2 sec · West Jefferson Street
15

Turn right onto North 82nd Avenue

0.1 mi · 35 sec · North 82nd Avenue
16

Turn right onto North 83rd Avenue

77 ft · 2 sec · North 83rd Avenue
17

Arrive at destination

North 83rd Avenue

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.6 miles from Sun Valley, AZ, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.1 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 23 miles or 29m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 52.6 miles or 1h 4m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 44m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Peoria, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Sun Valley, 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 Valley, AZ

This is one driving day of about 105.3 miles and 2h 14m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Sun Valley, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Beeline Highway for about 73.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 52.6 mi from Sun Valley, AZ · 1h 4m into the drive

city in Pinal and Maricopa counties in Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Apache Junction, AZ

53 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

Tonto Basin, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Apache Junction, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 52.6 miles from Sun Valley, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before South Beeline Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.1 miles.

Arriving in Peoria, AZ

The final approach into Peoria, 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 Peoria, 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

$20.98 one way

$41.95 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 37 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $22.20 $44.40
premium $5.59 $23.18 $46.36
diesel $5.61 $23.25 $46.50

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 36.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 31.6 0 $11.06 $5.05
Efficient EV 26.3 0 $9.21 $4.21
EV Truck/SUV 42.1 0 $14.74 $6.74

Gas CO2

37 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (68% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Sun Valley, AZ

Afternoon in Sun Valley on Thursday

Local time

1:43 PM

MST

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Peoria, AZ

Afternoon in Peoria on Thursday

Local time

1:43 PM

MST

Current temp

88°F

Partly Sunny

SSE 0 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 3:13AM PDT until April 17 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 3:13AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV

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

47 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

2h 14m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Sun Valley, AZ to Peoria, AZ covers 105.3 miles and takes about 2h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Beeline Highway, Red Mountain Freeway, Grand Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.6 miles from Sun Valley, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.98 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 demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 105.3 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 77.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 77.6 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 89.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Sun Valley, AZ to Peoria, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Peoria, AZ to Sun Valley, AZ

Plan the drive back the other way.

105.3 mi 2h 13m

Explore more options from Sun Valley, AZ or browse trips ending in Peoria, AZ.

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