Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
30.4 mi
49 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
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
El Mirage, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a quick commute within the Desert Southwest, the 30.4-mile trip from Buckeye to El Mirage is a straightforward option. You can expect a driving time of approximately 43 minutes, making this an easy one-day excursion. With a fuel cost of just $6, it is a budget-friendly route that requires no overnight stays. You will navigate a mix of major thoroughfares, including the Bob Stump Memorial Parkway, the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, and West Waddell Road. This drive is practical for anyone needing to connect between these two Arizona communities without unnecessary hassle.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Stump Memorial Parkway | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 8.3 mi | 8m |
| West Waddell Road | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| South Miller Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| West Thunderbird Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| North 1st Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Monroe Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North El Mirage Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Buckeye, AZ and El Mirage, AZ.
Start on US 80 Hist
Turn right onto North 1st Street
Continue on South Miller Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10
Take the exit
Merge onto AZ 303 Loop
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto West Waddell Road
Continue on West Thunderbird Road
Turn left onto North El Mirage Road
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 24.8 — 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 toward AZ 303 Loop North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Waddell Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward Waddell Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$6.06 one way
$12.11 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $6.41 | $12.82 |
| premium | $5.59 | $6.69 | $13.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.71 | $13.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.19 | $1.46 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.66 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.26 | $1.95 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
9:37 PM
MST
Current temp
55°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Night in El Mirage on Saturday
Local time
9:37 PM
MST
Current temp
89°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 trip features a balanced mix of driving environments, characterized by a 30% highway share. You will spend the most consistent time on the Bob Stump Memorial Parkway, which offers the longest uninterrupted stretch of the journey at 9.1 miles. As you transition between these roads, the experience shifts from higher-speed highway travel to local surface streets. The route is functional and direct, providing a steady pace rather than technical terrain. Expect a predictable drive that moves you efficiently through the region.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near North 1st Street.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 30.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
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 13.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 43m. Total distance: 30.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
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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