Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
62.6 mi
101 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
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
Cave Creek, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Buckeye to Cave Creek covers 62.6 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 23 minutes. Because this trip is a manageable distance, it works perfectly as a one-day excursion across the Desert Southwest. You can expect to spend roughly $12 on fuel for the journey, making it a very budget-friendly transit. The route transitions you through the region using a mix of major thoroughfares, including the Agua Fria Freeway and the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. Since the drive is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay, allowing you to easily complete the loop in a single day.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Agua Fria Freeway | 21.3 mi | 24m |
| North Cave Creek Road | 12.3 mi | 21m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 9.6 mi | 10m |
| Papago Freeway | 8.1 mi | 9m |
| Pima Freeway | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| South Miller Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| North 1st Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Monroe Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Buckeye, AZ and Cave Creek, 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
Take the exit
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn slight left onto North Cave Creek Road
Continue on East Cave Creek Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 31.3 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 50.2 — 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
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Cave Creek Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward Cave Creek Road, National Memorial Cemetery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$12.47 one way
$24.94 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $13.20 | $26.40 |
| premium | $5.59 | $13.78 | $27.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.82 | $27.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.57 | $3.00 |
| Efficient EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.48 | $2.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25 | 0 | $8.76 | $4.01 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Night in Buckeye on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
MST
Current temp
52°F
Clear
Destination
Night in Cave Creek on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
MST
Current temp
85°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.
This drive offers a mixed-road experience that keeps you attentive behind the wheel. About 54% of your journey is spent on highways, providing a balance between high-speed cruising and local navigation. You will tackle a significant 21.3-mile stretch on the Agua Fria Freeway, which acts as the longest uninterrupted portion of the trip. As you transition from the freeway onto North Cave Creek Road, the driving environment shifts from rapid interstate travel to more localized conditions. Expect a varied pace as the road personality evolves from wide, multi-lane transit to the specific local roads required to reach your destination.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near North 1st Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 23m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 23.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Buckeye, AZ to Cave Creek, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward National Memorial Cemetery along the way.
National Memorial Cemetery
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 62.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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