Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 32m
Distance
130.1 mi
209 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buckeye, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Avra Valley, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Buckeye, AZ to Avra Valley, AZ is 130.1 miles and takes about 2h 32m via Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Desert Southwest, traversing Arizona for its entirety. Expect a route that involves frequent turns, characteristic of local drives, rather than a long stretch of uninterrupted highway. With a recommended single day for completion, it's a manageable journey for most travelers.
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
65 miles from Buckeye, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 37.8 mi | 38m |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 32.1 mi | 32m |
| Papago Freeway | 24.2 mi | 27m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 9.6 mi | 10m |
| South Trico Road | 5 mi | 11m |
| South Miller Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| East Pinal Air Park Road | 1.9 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Buckeye, AZ and Avra Valley, AZ.
Start on US 80 Hist
Turn right onto North 1st Street
Continue on South Miller Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10
Continue on I 10
Continue on I 10
Continue on I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Merge onto I 10; US 60
Continue on I 10
Continue on I 10
Take the exit
Turn straight onto East Pinal Air Park Road
Turn left onto South Trico Road
Turn right onto West Sandy Street
Turn right onto North Luther Road
Arrive at destination
Given the 2h 32m duration, this route is easily completed in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Plan to refuel before you leave Buckeye, as the longest stretch between significant turns is under 40 miles, and you’ll want to be prepared for the local road sections. The total fuel cost is estimated at $26, so keep that in mind for your budget. Pay attention to signage as you navigate the numerous turns, especially as you transition between the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway and other local roads.
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.
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 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65 miles or 1h 16m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Avra Valley, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Buckeye, 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 Buckeye, AZ
This is one driving day of about 130.1 miles and 2h 32m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 65 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 121.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto North 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 10 East: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Pinal Air Park Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$25.92 one way
$51.84 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $27.43 | $54.86 |
| premium | $5.59 | $28.64 | $57.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.72 | $57.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39 | 0 | $13.66 | $6.24 |
| Efficient EV | 32.5 | 0 | $11.38 | $5.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52 | 0 | $18.21 | $8.33 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Buckeye on Saturday
Local time
9:24 PM
MST
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
Destination
Night in Avra Valley on Saturday
Local time
9:24 PM
MST
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This journey is best described as a turn-heavy local drive, with only 28% of the route on highways. You'll navigate a significant portion via the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway and the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, interspersed with segments of the Papago Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 37.8 miles on the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, meaning you'll be adjusting your speed and direction fairly often. Prepare for a dynamic driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local road network.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 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.
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 130.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 5.4 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Interesting stops within a short detour of your drive.
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
Tempe, AZ
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Su 06:00-20:00
Visit websiteCafe
Early in the drive, short detour
Tempe, AZ
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Early in the drive, short detour
Tempe, AZ
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Early in the drive, short detour
Tempe, AZ
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Th 08:00-17:30, Fr 08:00-15:00
Visit websiteFast_food
Early in the drive, short detour
Tempe, AZ
Cuisine: sandwich
Fast_food
Early in the drive, short detour
Phoenix, AZ
Cuisine: sandwich
Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-22:00; Su 09:00-21:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Early in the drive, short detour
Tempe, AZ
Cuisine: cornish
Hours: Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-25:00; Su...
Visit websiteFast_food
Early in the drive, short detour
Phoenix, AZ
Cuisine: pizza
Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-01:00; Su...
Visit websiteFast_food
Early in the drive, short detour
Tempe, AZ
Cuisine: sandwich
Hours: 08:00-21:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Early in the drive, short detour
Tempe, AZ
Visit websitePark
Early in the drive, right off the route
Park
Early in the drive, short detour
Park
Later in the drive, short detour
Park
Early in the drive, short detour
Attraction
Early in the drive, short detour
Park
Early in the drive, short detour
Museum
Early in the drive, short detour
Tempe, AZ
Hours: Tu,We,Fr,Sa 11:00-17:00, Th 11:00-20:00
Visit websiteArchaeological_site
Around the midpoint, short detour
Artwork
Later in the drive, short detour
Artwork
Later in the drive, short detour
Monument
Later in the drive, short detour
Artwork
Later in the drive, ~9 min detour
Eloy, AZ
Motel
Later in the drive, short detour
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 130.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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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