The drive from Surprise, AZ to Florence, AZ covers 89.7 miles and takes about 1h 50m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Papago Freeway, Maricopa Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 23.1 miles on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.87 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
44.8 miles from Surprise, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 89.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Surprise, AZ to Florence, AZ covers 89.7 miles and takes about 1h 50m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 23.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near West Greenway Road.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 89.7 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (West Greenway Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.5 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|West Greenway Road
Turn right onto West Greenway Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
14.5 mi into trip|~20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward I 10 East: Phoenix
6
29.5 mi into trip|~38m in|I 10 / Papago Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
66.1 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward AZ 187, AZ 387: Casa Grande, Coolidge
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 185
Toward AZ 187, AZ 387: Casa Grande, Coolidge
6
66.4 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward AZ 187 North, AZ 387 North: Coolidge, Florence, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AZ 187 North, AZ 387 North: Coolidge, Fl...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Surprise, AZ and Florence, AZ, road signs point toward Coolidge and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
Coolidge
66.1 mi in|~1h 17m
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
66.4 mi in|~1h 18m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
23.1 mi
23m
Papago Freeway
14.9 mi
17m
Maricopa Freeway
12.3 mi
14m
Agua Fria Freeway
8.9 mi
10m
Florence-Coolidge Highway
8.1 mi
11m
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
7 mi
8m
AZ 387
6.9 mi
9m
Grand Avenue
4.6 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
— 23.1 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Surprise, AZ and Florence, AZ.
1
Start on North Nash Street
0.3 mi·53 sec·North Nash Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto West Santa Fe Drive
0.3 mi·36 sec·West Santa Fe Drive
3
Turn right onto West Greenway Road
217 ft·7 sec·West Greenway Road
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto US 60
4.6 mi·7 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
6
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
8.9 mi·10 min·Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 10 East: PhoenixUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 10
10 mi·12 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·35 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
10
Continue on I 10
3.2 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.2 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 10; US 60
12 mi·14 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 10
23 mi·23 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 185Toward AZ 187, AZ 387: Casa Grande, CoolidgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
298 ft·14 sec
Toward AZ 187 North, AZ 387 North: Coolidge, Florence, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
16
Turn left onto AZ 387
0.4 mi·38 sec·Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway
17
Turn right onto AZ 387
6.9 mi·9 min·AZ 387
18
Turn right onto AZ 87
7.0 mi·8 min·Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
19
Continue on AZ 287
8.1 mi·11 min·Florence-Coolidge Highway
20
Enter roundabout onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
187 ft·3 sec·South Main Street
21
Continue on AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
22
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
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 44.8 miles from Surprise, AZ, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.1 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 20 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.8 miles or 55m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florence, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Surprise, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Surprise, AZ
This is one driving day of about 89.7 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Surprise, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway for about 23.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.8 mi from Surprise, AZ
· 55m into the drive
The midpoint is around 44.8 miles from Surprise, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Florence, AZ
The final approach into Florence, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.87 one way
$35.74 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$18.91
$37.82
premium
$5.59
$19.74
$39.49
diesel
$5.61
$19.80
$39.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.9
0
$9.42
$4.31
Efficient EV
22.4
0
$7.85
$3.59
EV Truck/SUV
35.9
0
$12.56
$5.74
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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 15, 2026
Origin
Surprise, AZ
Evening
in Surprise on Thursday
Local time
6:14 PM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Florence, AZ
Evening
in Florence on Thursday
Local time
6:14 PM
MST
Current temp
89°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
1 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 50m 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 Surprise, AZ to Florence, AZ covers 89.7 miles and takes about 1h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Papago Freeway, Maricopa Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.8 miles from Surprise, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.87 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 89.7 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (West Greenway Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.5 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Surprise, AZ and Florence, AZ, road signs point toward Coolidge and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
