Surprise, AZ Road Trips

Surprise, AZ serves as a quiet starting point in the Desert Southwest, connecting drivers to 4 outbound routes across the area. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 204-mile quick runs to 291-mile cross-state drives. Routes from Surprise, AZ spread mainly east and north, covering a wide geographic range.

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Trip Routes

11

Longest Drive

348.9 mi

Chinle, AZ

Quickest Drive

3h 45m

Nogales, AZ

Plan Around Surprise, AZ

Popular Incoming Routes

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

Chinle, AZ to Surprise, AZ 348.9 mi · 6h 37m Cottonwood, AZ to Surprise, AZ 305.1 mi · 6h 18m Page, AZ to Surprise, AZ 273.8 mi · 5h 18m Eagar, AZ to Surprise, AZ 249.3 mi · 5h 10m

Continue From Surprise, AZ

Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.

Surprise, AZ to Kayenta, AZ 290.6 mi · 5h 30m Surprise, AZ to Saint Johns, AZ 286.5 mi · 5h 12m Surprise, AZ to Clifton, AZ 234.8 mi · 5h 6m Surprise, AZ to Nogales, AZ 204.1 mi · 3h 45m

Trips from Surprise, AZ

Surprise, AZ to Kayenta, AZ

290.6 mi 5h 30m

Surprise, AZ to Saint Johns, AZ

286.5 mi 5h 12m

Surprise, AZ to Clifton, AZ

234.8 mi 5h 6m

Surprise, AZ to Nogales, AZ

204.1 mi 3h 45m

Driving from Surprise, AZ

The typical drive from Surprise, AZ covers about 254 miles and takes around 4h 53m. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 291 miles (5h 30m), while the shortest is just 204 miles.

Popular Destinations

Top road trip destinations from Surprise, AZ are Kayenta, AZ (290.6 mi, 5h 30m), Saint Johns, AZ (286.5 mi, 5h 12m), Clifton, AZ (234.8 mi, 5h 6m), and Nogales, AZ (204.1 mi, 3h 45m). 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 254-mile trip from Surprise, AZ, budget about $50 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. Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 4 mapped routes leaving Surprise, AZ and 7 routes heading into Surprise, AZ, covering 11 total connections. Distances range from 204 to 291 miles.

The longest mapped route from Surprise, AZ covers 291 miles and takes approximately 5h 30m. Shorter options start at just 204 miles.

The average route from Surprise, AZ runs about 254 miles with a drive time of roughly 4h 53m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.

At current gas prices (about $4.95/gallon for regular), the average 254-mile trip from Surprise, AZ costs roughly $50 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.

The most popular road trip destinations from Surprise, AZ include Kayenta, AZ, Saint Johns, AZ, Clifton, AZ and Nogales, AZ. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.

Surprise, AZ by the Numbers

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

Population

149,519

Median Income

$93,371

Median Home Value

$396,000

Median Age

41.6

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

Surprise, AZ at a Glance

Founded

1937

Elevation

1,175 ft

Area

106 mi²

Notable People from Surprise, AZ

A sampling of people born in Surprise, AZ.

Q24702422

1901

Filipina-American author of speculative fiction

Traveler Guide to Surprise, AZ

Sun City is a suburb 20 miles (30km) northwest of downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It was built as a planned retirement community in Maricopa County in the 1960s. An adjacent retirement community Sun City West was built in the late 1970s; there is also a Sun City Grand. Directly northwest of the three "Sun City" suburbs is Surprise, Arizona.

1 Gold Rush Day’s, Wickenburg (take the US 60). Founded more than 75 years ago, this event celebrates Wickenburg’s heritage as a gold mining town.

Mercer's Restaurant, 9720 W Peoria Ave, Peoria, ☏ +1 623-972-0933. Pastries and pie; American breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Quality Inn & Suites Phoenix NW - Sun City, 11201 Grand Ave, ☏ +1 623 933-8211, toll-free: +1-800-253-2168, fax: +1 623 933-5062. Offers, free-wifi and breakfast but has paid parking. Is handicap-accessible and has a pool + air conditioning. $118 (Feb 2022). Best Western Plus Surprise-Phoenix Nw, 13337 W. Grand Ave, Surprise, ☏ +1 623-544-6874. $135 (Feb 2022). Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Surprise, 12477 W Bell Rd, Surprise, ☏ +1 623-850-3931. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Beautiful, clean, very well kept hotel, and helpful staff. $121 (Feb 2022). Comfort Inn & Suites Surprise Near Sun City West, 16741 N Greasewood St, Surprise, ☏ +1 480-561-2838. Beautiful and clean. Friendly staff. $149 (Feb 2022). Hampton Inn, 14783 W Grand Ave, Surprise, ☏ +1 623-537-9122. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Attractive, modern, clean. Big TV in the lobby. $234 (Feb 2022). Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Surprise (Holiday Inn Express), 16540 N Bullard, Surprise, ☏ +1 623-975-5540. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11:30AM. $199 (Feb 2022).

Sun City Visitors Center, 16824 N 99th Ave, ☏ +1 623-977-5000, toll-free: +1-800-437-8146, fax: +1 623-977-4224, [email protected]. M-Sa 9AM-4PM (winter), 9AM-12:30PM (summer).

Travel tips adapted from Sun City (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.