Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
54.4 mi
88 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apache Junction, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Goodyear, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
This straightforward 54.4-mile drive from Apache Junction to Goodyear, Arizona, can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 7 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 89% of the journey on major roads like the Superstition Freeway, Papago Freeway, and Maricopa Freeway. Expect your fuel costs to be around $11 for this relatively short excursion. Both your starting and ending points are within the Desert Southwest region, so you'll be traversing familiar arid landscapes throughout. This drive is ideal for those seeking efficient travel between two points in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Superstition Freeway | 22.6 mi | 26m |
| Papago Freeway | 20.5 mi | 23m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| South Ironwood Drive | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| North Litchfield Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| West Apache Trail | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| US 60 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Apache Junction, AZ and Goodyear, AZ.
Start on North Apache Trail
Continue on North Apache Trail
Continue on US 80 Hist
Turn left onto South Ironwood Drive
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 60
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60
Merge onto I 10; US 60
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Continue on I 10
Continue on I 10
Take the exit
Turn left onto North Litchfield Road
Continue on South Litchfield Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.2 miles from Apache Junction, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 52.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto South Ironwood Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward US 60 West: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Litchfield Road, Phoenix-Goodyear Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$10.84 one way
$21.67 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $11.47 | $22.94 |
| premium | $5.59 | $11.97 | $23.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.01 | $24.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.76 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.62 | $3.48 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Apache Junction on Tuesday
Local time
1:46 AM
MST
Current temp
65°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Goodyear on Tuesday
Local time
1:46 AM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a largely highway-focused experience on this route, with 89% of the drive utilizing major freeways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Superstition Freeway, Papago Freeway, and Maricopa Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.6 miles along the Superstition Freeway, offering a chance to maintain a steady pace. While the exact scenery isn't described, this type of drive generally involves navigating urban and suburban corridors within the Phoenix area. The road network is designed for efficient travel, meaning you're unlikely to encounter many technical or slow-moving sections.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Superstition Freeway and Papago Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near South Ironwood Drive.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.9 miles (South Ironwood Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 31.3 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Founded 1978
Founded 1946
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 54.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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