Origin
Sun Valley, AZ
Afternoon in Sun Valley on Thursday
Local time
1:43 PM
MST
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sun Valley, AZ
Josh Sorenson
Peoria, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
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 .
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.
Expect a 2h 14m drive with frequent turns across 105.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward AZ 202 Loop West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
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
Turn right onto North 19th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Sun Valley, AZ and Peoria, AZ.
Start on AZ 260
Turn left onto AZ 87
Continue on AZ 87
Take the exit
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
Take the exit
Merge onto I 10
Continue on I 10
Continue on I 10
Take the exit
Turn right onto North 19th Avenue
Turn slight left onto Grand Avenue
Turn left onto West Jefferson Street
Continue on West Jefferson Street
Turn right onto North 82nd Avenue
Turn right onto North 83rd Avenue
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
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
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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 checkTop up before South Beeline Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.1 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$20.98 one way
$41.95 round trip
| 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Sun Valley on Thursday
Local time
1:43 PM
MST
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Peoria on Thursday
Local time
1:43 PM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Partly Sunny
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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