Origin
Sun Valley, AZ
Afternoon in Sun Valley on Thursday
Local time
1:54 PM
MST
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sun Valley, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 42m
Distance
82.8 mi
133 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 35m
★
6 AM
1h 43m
8 AM
1h 58m
10 AM
1h 48m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 49m
5 PM
1h 57m
8 PM
1h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sun Valley, AZ
Josh Sorenson
Scottsdale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sun Valley, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ covers 82.8 miles and takes about 1h 42m 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, Payson-Show Low Highway, East McDowell Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 72.8 miles on South Beeline Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.49 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
41.4 miles from Sun Valley, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 82.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (3%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 42m drive with frequent turns across 82.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
South Beeline Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 72.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in near AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Sun Valley, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ is easy. At 1h 42m with 3% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles (AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 76.5 miles (East McDowell Road): Navigation decision point; at 79 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
3.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway
Turn left onto AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
3
76.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
East McDowell Road
Turn right onto East McDowell Road
Navigation decision point
5
79 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
Take the ramp toward AZ 101 Loop North
Navigation decision point
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
7
81.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward Chaparral Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
4
82.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
East Chaparral Road
Turn left onto East Chaparral Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Beeline Highway | 72.8 mi | 1h 26m |
| Payson-Show Low Highway | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| East McDowell Road | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Pima Freeway | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| East Chaparral Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
South Beeline Highway
— 72.8 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sun Valley, AZ and Scottsdale, 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
Turn right onto East McDowell Road
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
East McDowell Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
5
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Pima Freeway
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn left onto East Chaparral Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Chaparral Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left
64 ft
·
4 sec
9
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.4 miles from Sun Valley, AZ, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.8 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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.4 miles or 51m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scottsdale, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sun Valley, AZ
This is one driving day of about 82.8 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 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 72.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.4 mi from Sun Valley, AZ · 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.4 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 72.8 miles.
Arriving in Scottsdale, AZ
The final approach into Scottsdale, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.49 one way
$32.99 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $17.46 | $34.91 |
| premium | $5.59 | $18.23 | $36.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.28 | $36.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.69 | $3.97 |
| Efficient EV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.24 | $3.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.1 | 0 | $11.59 | $5.30 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Scottsdale, AZ
Afternoon in Scottsdale on Thursday
Local time
1:54 PM
MST
Current temp
92°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
51 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
1h 42m 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 Valley, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ covers 82.8 miles and takes about 1h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Beeline Highway, Payson-Show Low Highway, East McDowell Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.4 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 $16.49 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.
The drive from Sun Valley, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ is easy. At 1h 42m with 3% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles (AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 76.5 miles (East McDowell Road): Navigation decision point; at 79 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Sun Valley, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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