Origin
Surprise, AZ
Evening in Surprise on Sunday
Local time
7:42 PM
MST
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Surprise, AZ to Phoenix, AZ
Drive Time
37m
Distance
20.4 mi
33 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Surprise, AZ
Kostiantyn Zavhorodnii
Phoenix, AZ
Carter Marchant
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Surprise to Phoenix, you are looking at a quick 27.9-mile transit across the Desert Southwest. This local drive typically takes about 36 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Because the route relies entirely on local roads like West Santa Fe Drive, West Greenway Road, and Grand Avenue, you won't encounter any highway driving. Budgeting around $5 for fuel should be plenty for this short commute. It is a straightforward path through the desert landscape that offers maximum flexibility for your schedule.
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
10.2 miles from Surprise, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. Since the highway share is 0%, your focus will be on navigating city streets and surface roads throughout the entire 27.9-mile journey. You will not find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, as the longest segment of the trip is 0 miles on West Santa Fe Drive. The experience behind the wheel is centered on frequent adjustments and local traffic patterns. This is a practical, utilitarian route that keeps you off the major freeways.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 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 19 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 0.3 miles in near West Santa Fe Drive.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 37m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (West Santa Fe Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (West Greenway Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (US 60 / Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Santa Fe Drive
At end of road, turn left onto West Santa Fe Drive
Navigation decision point
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.
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 60 / Grand Avenue
Turn left onto US 60 / Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
20.1 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
West Adams Street
Turn left onto West Adams Street
Navigation decision point
5
20.3 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
North 1st Street
Turn right onto North 1st Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Avenue | 19 mi | 33m |
| West Van Buren Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Nash Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Santa Fe Drive | 0.3 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 |
Longest stretch:
Grand Avenue
— 19 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Surprise, AZ and Phoenix, 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
16 mi
·
27 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on Grand Avenue
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left / right / straight lanes.
6
Turn left onto US 80 Hist
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Van Buren Street
7
Turn slight right onto North 1st Avenue
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
North 1st Avenue
8
Turn left onto West Adams Street
0.1 mi
·
40 sec
·
West Adams Street
9
Turn right onto North 1st Street
408 ft
·
18 sec
·
North 1st Street
10
Turn right onto East Washington Street
453 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Washington Street
11
Arrive at destination
West Washington Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a short 36-minute trip, you have total flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. You will not need to plan for any stops along the way, as the distance is short enough to drive in one go. Keep your $5 fuel budget in mind, as local driving can occasionally be less efficient than cruising on a highway. Since you are navigating exclusively via West Santa Fe Drive, West Greenway Road, and Grand Avenue, ensure your GPS is set to local navigation mode to account for the frequent turns. Enjoy the ease of a drive that gets you from Surprise to Phoenix in under an hour.
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 10.2 miles from Surprise, AZ, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19 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 20.4 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.2 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 30m
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 Surprise, 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 Surprise, AZ
This is one driving day of about 20.4 miles and 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Surprise, 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 19 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.2 mi from Surprise, AZ · 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 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 20.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.2 miles from Surprise, 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
$4.06 one way
$8.12 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $4.29 | $8.57 |
| premium | $5.59 | $4.49 | $8.97 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.53 | $9.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.86 | $1.31 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
7:42 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
5 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
37m 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 Phoenix, AZ covers 20.4 miles and takes about 37m 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 Nash Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.2 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 $4.06 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 37m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (West Santa Fe Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (West Greenway Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (US 60 / Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Surprise, AZ to Phoenix, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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