Origin
Buckeye, AZ
Late night in Buckeye on Sunday
Local time
3:22 AM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buckeye, AZ to Arizona City, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 49m
Distance
93.9 mi
151 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 41m
★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buckeye, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Arizona City, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking on the drive from Buckeye, AZ, to Arizona City, AZ, covers 93.9 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 49 minutes. This trip is easily manageable as a day trip, requiring just one day of travel. You'll primarily navigate the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Papago Freeway, and Maricopa Freeway, with 39% of the drive being on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $19, and with no designated stops, you have the flexibility to plan your own breaks. Both your origin and destination are within the Desert Southwest region, offering a consistent landscape throughout your drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.9 miles from Buckeye, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 37.8 mi | 38m |
| Papago Freeway | 24.2 mi | 27m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 9.6 mi | 10m |
| South Miller Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| North Sunland Gin Road | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| North 1st Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
— 37.8 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buckeye, AZ and Arizona City, AZ.
1
Start on US 80 Hist
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
East Monroe Avenue
2
Turn right onto North 1st Street
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
North 1st Street
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on South Miller Road
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
South Miller Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 114
Toward I 10 East: Phoenix
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 10
9.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 10
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
8
Continue on I 10
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 10; US 60
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 200
Toward Sunland Gin Road, Arizona City
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn right onto North Sunland Gin Road
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
North Sunland Gin Road
Use the right lane.
14
Arrive at destination
South Sunland Gin Road
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 93.9-mile trip, leaving anytime that suits your schedule is feasible, but an early start can help you avoid potential midday heat. Since there are no mandatory stops, you can decide when and where to take breaks, making the 1 hour and 49-minute duration quite flexible. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the estimated cost is $19, but it's always wise to top up before you leave Buckeye. The longest stretch without a break is 37.8 miles on the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, so plan a brief stop before or after that segment if needed.
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 46.9 miles from Buckeye, AZ, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.8 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 21 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.9 miles or 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arizona City, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Buckeye, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Buckeye, AZ
This is one driving day of about 93.9 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Buckeye, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway for about 37.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 46.9 miles from Buckeye, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 90.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 1st Street
Turn right onto North 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
4.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 East: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 114
Toward I 10 East: Phoenix
6
38.5 mi into trip
|
~47m 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
89.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward Sunland Gin Road, Arizona City
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 200
Toward Sunland Gin Road, Arizona City
6
90.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
|
North Sunland Gin Road
Turn right onto North Sunland Gin Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.71 one way
$37.41 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $19.80 | $39.59 |
| premium | $5.59 | $20.67 | $41.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.73 | $41.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.2 | 0 | $9.86 | $4.51 |
| Efficient EV | 23.5 | 0 | $8.22 | $3.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.6 | 0 | $13.15 | $6.01 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (67% 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
Arizona City, AZ
Late night in Arizona City on Sunday
Local time
3:22 AM
MST
Current temp
53°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
35 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 49m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
11 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 80.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed driving experience, blending highway speeds with other road types. With 39% of the route on highways, you'll encounter some faster-paced sections, particularly on the longest uninterrupted stretch of 37.8 miles along the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. The road profile suggests a varied journey rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. As you progress, expect shifts in the road's character, moving between more urban-influenced freeways and potentially more open stretches as you head south.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.8 mi on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near North 1st Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 93.9 miles you will encounter 7 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 0.4 miles (North 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 38.5 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Buckeye, AZ
Full guide →Founded 1888
Top landmarks
- • Buckeye Union High School — Buckeye, Arizona, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 93.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.8 miles on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 38.5 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Arizona City, AZ before heading back.
How this page is built
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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