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Glendale, AZ Road Trips

Glendale, AZ serves as a quiet starting point in the Desert Southwest, connecting drivers to 5 outbound routes across the area. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 100-mile quick runs to 183-mile cross-state drives. Routes from Glendale, AZ spread mainly east and south, covering a wide geographic range.

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Trip Routes

6

Longest Drive

365.2 mi

Colorado City, AZ

Quickest Drive

2h 7m

Tonto Basin, AZ

Plan Around Glendale, AZ

Popular Incoming Routes

Useful if Glendale, AZ is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.

Trips from Glendale, AZ

Driving from Glendale, AZ

Expect an average of 150 miles and about 3h 1m behind the wheel when leaving Glendale, AZ. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 183 miles (4h 3m), while the shortest is just 100 miles.

Popular Destinations

The most popular drives from Glendale, AZ include Swift Trail Junction, AZ (183.3 mi, 4h 3m), Mescal, AZ (164 mi, 3h), Arivaca Junction, AZ (158.7 mi, 2h 55m), Sells, AZ (143.6 mi, 3h 1m), and Tonto Basin, AZ (99.5 mi, 2h 7m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.

Planning & Costs

Regular gas in AZ currently averages around $4.95 per gallon. For the typical 150-mile trip from Glendale, AZ, budget about $29 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.

Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg. With an average drive under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility — leave whenever it suits you.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 5 mapped routes leaving Glendale, AZ and 1 routes heading into Glendale, AZ, covering 6 total connections. Distances range from 100 to 183 miles.

The longest mapped route from Glendale, AZ covers 183 miles and takes approximately 4h 3m. Shorter options start at just 100 miles.

The average route from Glendale, AZ runs about 150 miles with a drive time of roughly 3h 1m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.

At current gas prices (about $4.95/gallon for regular), the average 150-mile trip from Glendale, AZ costs roughly $29 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.

The most popular road trip destinations from Glendale, AZ include Swift Trail Junction, AZ, Mescal, AZ, Arivaca Junction, AZ and Sells, AZ. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.

Glendale, AZ by the Numbers

Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Population

250,193

Median Income

$70,139

Median Home Value

$347,000

Median Age

34.5

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.

Glendale, AZ at a Glance

Founded

1887

Elevation

1,152 ft

Area

59 mi²

Sister Cities

Memmingen

Notable People from Glendale, AZ

A sampling of people born in Glendale, AZ.

Brady Ellison

Brady Ellison

1988

American archer

Marty Robbins

Marty Robbins

1925–1982

American country singer (1925–1982)

Bradley Pierce

Bradley Pierce

1982

American actor

Brandon McDonald

Brandon McDonald

1980

American Guamanian soccer player

Craig Mabbitt

Craig Mabbitt

1987

American singer

Arianna Romero

Arianna Romero

1992

American soccer player

Travis Peterson

Travis Peterson

1985

basketball player

Daniel Mcdonnell

Daniel Mcdonnell

1988

American volleyball player

Angel Goodrich

Angel Goodrich

1990

American basketball player

Landmarks & Historic Sites

Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Glendale, AZ.

Catlin Court Historic District

Catlin Court Historic District

historic district in Glendale, Arizona, USA

National Register of Historic Places listed place
Floralcroft Historic District

Floralcroft Historic District

historic district in Glendale. Arizona

National Register of Historic Places listed place
Glendale beet sugar factory

Glendale beet sugar factory

National Register of Historic Places listed place

City data from Wikidata (Q51682), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.

Traveler Guide to Glendale, AZ

Glendale is one of the largest suburbs in the metropolitan Phoenix area, and is rapidly growing as a media/entertainment center in the Valley of the Sun. It was home to over 250,000 people in 2019.

1 Historic Downtown, 5800 W. Glenn Dr. (59th/Glendale), ☏ +1 623 930-4500. Known as one of the best locations for antiques. Has many historical and cultural facilities and events.

1 Westgate Entertainment District (formerly Westgate City Center) (101 & Glendale), ☏ +1 480-387-5678. Billed as the "Times Square of the desert", home to the Cardinals (NFL) and Coyotes (NHL) as well as bars, restaurants, shops and cinema. (updated Jun 2020) 2 Arizona Cardinals, 1 Cardinals Dr, ☏ +1 623 433-7100. Check out one of the newer NFL stadiums in the country, State Farm Stadium, named by Business Week as one of the 10 “most impressive” sports facilities on the globe due to the combination of its retractable roof and roll-in natural grass field. They are the oldest NFL team still in existence (after relocating twice) and after a long bout of mediocrity have gotten rather good. (updated Nov 2015) 3 Arizona Coyotes, 9400 Maryland Ave, ☏ +1 623 772-3800. NHL Hockey team. 2011-12 Pacific Division Champions. Plays in Gila River Arena. 4 Cerreta Candy Factory, 5345 W. Glendale Ave. 30 minute guided tours. M-F, 10AM and 1PM. Very fun place for all ages and all the chocolate you can eat. 5 Sahuaro Ranch Park, 9802 N 59th Ave, ☏ +1 623 930-4200. 6AM-10PM. A 17 acres (6.9 hectares) historic park. 13 original buildings; rose garden, barnyard & historic orchards. Tours available in Sept. and Oct. Public area includes sports fields, dog park, playgrounds, seasonal events. (updated Nov 2020) 6 Foothills SK8 Court Plaza, 57th Avenue and Union Hills. Free public skate and vert ramp for skaters of all ages and skills. 7 Thunderbird Conservation Park, 59th Avenue between Deer Valley & Pinnacle Vista Rd.. A free public 1,185 acres (480 hectares) park.

1 Haus Murphy, 5739 W. Glendale Ave, ☏ +1 623-939-2480. W-Th 4PM-9PM, F-Sa Noon-9PM, Su Noon-8PM. Traditional food from Germany with a Bier Garden outside. Live entertainment 2 Bitz-ee Mamas, 7023 N, 58th Ave, ☏ +1 623-931-0562. A popular destination for breakfast and lunch with a large variety of menu items. 3 Lenny's Burgers, 2545 W. Glendale Ave, ☏ +1 602-347-1188. Su-Th 10AM-10PM, F-Sa 10AM-11PM. Traditional burger joint without a drive-thru window. 4 A Touch of European Café, 7146 N. 57th Dr., Ste. C, ☏ +1 623-847-7119. Tu-Th 11AM-3PM, F-Sa 11AM-8PM. A quaint café serving mostly Polish-style food. 5 Pizza Old Roma, 5740 W. Glendale Ave, ☏ +1 623 934-7896. Thin crust Sicilian-style pizza, other menu items include subs and lasagna.

1 WestGate, 6770 N. Sunrise Blvd. Glendale's premier shopping and entertainment center. Sports arenas, lots of shopping and restaurants with night life bars coming alive after sundown. Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Saddle Ranch, Kabuki, The Shout House, Hells Half acre, and more. Essentially the only west side hot spot.

1 Comfort Suites, 9824 W Camelback Rd, ☏ +1 623 271-9005, fax: +1 623 271-9808. The area surrounding this hotel is a sports enthusiast's dream with the University of Phoenix Stadium, Jobing.com Arena, Peoria Sports Complex and the Phoenix International Raceway nearby. 2 Best Western North Phoenix Hotel, 9455 N. Black Canyon Highway, ☏ +1 602 395-0900, fax: +1 602 395-1900. A hotel with full amenities for business travelers and vacationers. 3 Motel 6 Glendale, 7116 N 59th Ave, ☏ +1 623 939-9431, fax: +1 623 937-3137. Free WiFi, personal voice mail, heated pool, free continental breakfast. Conference/meeting space for up to 60 attendees. 4 Hampton Inn & Suites Phoenix Glendale/Westgate, 6630 N. 95th Ave, ☏ +1 623 271-7771. Great location within the Westgate City Center, home of the Arizona Cardinals and Phoenix Coyotes. Enjoy an On The House Hot Breakfast, free hi-speed Internet, business center, outdoor pool & whirlpool, fitness center and the 100% Hampton Guarantee.

As a suburb of Phoenix, Glendale does not have its own major airport. Airplane owners may find it convenient to fly into 1 Glendale Municipal Airport (in the western portion of the city), but most people may find it prudent to fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the major airport for both the Phoenix area and the state of Arizona. Glendale has the benefit of numerous freeways that travel through the Phoenix metro area. The southern portion of the city is easily accessible from Interstate 10, exiting between 43rd Avenue and the Loop 101 and traveling north on the arterial streets. The eastern portion is accessible from Interstate 17, exiting between Camelback Road and the Loop 101. Northern Glendale is accessible from the Loop 101, which is the only freeway in the Regional Freeway System to cross through the city. The Loop 101 travels north from Interstate 10 and turns east at the northern boundary of Glendale, where it intersects Interstate 17. Northern Glendale can be accessed by exiting the Loop 101 between 51st Avenue and Bell Road. West Glendale, home to Gila River Arena (NHL) and State Farm Stadium (NFL), is accessible by exiting Loop 101 between Northern Avenue and Camelback Road. The arena and stadium are easily accessible from exiting at Glendale Avenue and heading east. Valley Metro Light Rail from Washington/Central Ave in Phoenix to Glendale/19th, then Valley Metro Bus 70 to Glendale. $4 for a 1-day pass (Nov 2020).

The types of crime most common in the Phoenix area usually do not affect visitors or tourist locations. However, some sections of Glendale, especially the southern tier of the city bordering the Maryvale area of Phoenix, are somewhat dicey and should be avoided at night.

Travel tips adapted from Glendale (Arizona) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.

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