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Trip from Surprise, AZ to Summit, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 52m

Distance

150.7 mi

242 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 41m ★
6 AM
2h 52m
8 AM
3h 14m
10 AM
3h 0m
12 PM
2h 58m
3 PM
3h 1m
5 PM
3h 13m
8 PM
2h 46m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Surprise, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Surprise, AZ to Summit, AZ covers 150.7 miles and takes about 2h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Papago Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.6 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.02 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

75.3 miles from Surprise, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 150.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 52m drive with frequent turns across 150.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 54.6 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 0.3 miles in near West Santa Fe Drive.

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 13 significant decision points across 150.7 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 0.3 miles (West Santa Fe Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (West Greenway Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These 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.
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
141.8 mi into trip | ~2h 35m in

Take the exit toward 6th Avenue, 4th Avenue

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 261 Toward 6th Avenue, 4th Avenue

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway 54.6 mi 55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway 37.8 mi 38m
Papago Freeway 14.9 mi 17m
Maricopa Freeway 12.3 mi 14m
Agua Fria Freeway 8.9 mi 10m
North Freeway 6.1 mi 6m
South Nogales Highway 6.1 mi 10m
Grand Avenue 4.6 mi 7m
Longest stretch: Casa Grande-Tucson Highway — 54.6 mi, about 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Surprise, AZ and Summit, 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 1B Toward I 10 East: Phoenix Use 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

38 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on I 10

55 mi · 55 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on I 10

6.1 mi · 6 min · North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on I 10

0.3 mi · 20 sec · Tucson-Benson Highway
17

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Exit 261 Toward 6th Avenue, 4th Avenue Use the slight right lane.
18

Turn right

402 ft · 6 sec
Use the right lane.
19

Turn straight onto South 6th Avenue

1.5 mi · 3 min · South 6th Avenue
20

Continue on South Nogales Highway

6.1 mi · 10 min · South Nogales Highway
Use the left lane.
21

Turn left onto South Old Nogales Highway

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Old Nogales Highway
22

Turn left onto East Summit Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · East Summit Street
23

Arrive at destination

East Summit 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.3 miles from Surprise, AZ, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 33 miles or 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 75.3 miles or 1h 26m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Summit, 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 150.7 miles and 2h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Surprise, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 54.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 75.3 mi from Surprise, AZ · 1h 26m into the drive

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Chandler, AZ

75 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.

Popular next leg

Chandler, AZ to Summit, AZ

107 mi · 2h 5m

Pacing Suggestions

Phoenix, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Casa Grande, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 75.3 miles from Surprise, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Summit, AZ

The final approach into Summit, 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 Summit, AZ.

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

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...

10 mi from route ~26 min detour Free near mile 72.7
View on nps.gov
Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park

National Park

Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are pr...

13 mi from route ~32 min detour $25 near mile 145.5
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.02 one way

$60.04 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 53 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $31.77 $63.54
premium $5.59 $33.17 $66.34
diesel $5.61 $33.27 $66.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 52.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 45.2 0 $15.82 $7.23
Efficient EV 37.7 0 $13.19 $6.03
EV Truck/SUV 60.3 0 $21.10 $9.64

Gas CO2

53 kg

EV CO2

18 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Surprise, AZ

Morning in Surprise on Thursday

Local time

11:46 AM

MST

Current temp

88°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Summit, AZ

Morning in Summit on Thursday

Local time

11:46 AM

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

2h 52m 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 Summit, AZ covers 150.7 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Papago Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.3 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 $30.02 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 150.7 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 0.3 miles (West Santa Fe Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (West Greenway Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Surprise, AZ to Summit, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Saguaro National Park.

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