Origin
Cave Creek, AZ
Late night in Cave Creek on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cave Creek, AZ to Glendale, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
30.6 mi
49 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cave Creek, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Glendale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to head from Cave Creek to Glendale, you are looking at a straightforward 30.6-mile journey that typically takes about 48 minutes. Because the trip is short and located entirely within the Desert Southwest region of Arizona, it is perfect for a quick day trip rather than an overnight excursion. Budgeting about $6 for fuel is a safe bet for this trek. You will navigate a mix of local roads and major thoroughfares, starting on East Cave Creek Road before transitioning to the Black Canyon Freeway and finishing on West Glendale Avenue. This route offers a practical connection between these two desert communities, making it an easy drive to manage in a single sitting.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Cave Creek Road | 12.3 mi | 21m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| West Glendale Avenue | 4 mi | 8m |
| Pima Freeway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Grand Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North 57th Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Black Canyon Highway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East Cave Creek Road
— 12.3 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cave Creek, AZ and Glendale, AZ.
1
Start on East Cave Creek Road
12 mi
·
21 min
·
East Cave Creek Road
Use the left lane.
2
Take the ramp
394 ft
·
7 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop West
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
this road
Toward AZ 101 Loop West
4
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 23C-B
Toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 17 South: Phoenix
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 17
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 205
Toward Glendale Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto North Black Canyon Highway
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Black Canyon Highway
10
Turn right onto West Glendale Avenue
4.0 mi
·
8 min
·
West Glendale Avenue
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto North 57th Drive
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
North 57th Drive
12
Turn right onto US 60
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Grand Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
US 60
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.3 miles from Cave Creek, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 12.3 and 26.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
12.3 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the ramp toward AZ 101 Loop West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward AZ 101 Loop West
8
16.3 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
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 23C-B
Toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Phoenix, Flagsta...
7
16.8 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 17 South: Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 17 South: Phoenix
7
25.9 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward Glendale Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 205
Toward Glendale Avenue
6
26.1 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
West Glendale Avenue
Turn right onto West Glendale Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.10 one way
$12.19 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $6.45 | $12.90 |
| premium | $5.59 | $6.74 | $13.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.76 | $13.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 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 | 9.2 | 0 | $3.21 | $1.47 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.68 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Glendale, AZ
Late night in Glendale on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
48m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed-road profile, balancing local navigation with faster highway travel. You will spend roughly 39% of your time on the highway, providing a nice contrast to the slower-paced segments. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 12.3-mile run along East Cave Creek Road, which sets the pace early on. As you move from the initial local stretches onto the Black Canyon Freeway, the rhythm of the drive shifts from steady road cruising to a more high-speed flow. Expect a functional, transitionary experience behind the wheel that gets you to your destination efficiently without unnecessary complexity.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.3 mi on East Cave Creek Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 12.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 30.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Cave Creek, AZ to Glendale, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Flagstaff along the way.
Flagstaff
16.3 mi in
|
~26m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 30.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.3 miles on East Cave Creek Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Glendale, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 12.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Glendale, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Glendale, AZ
More trips to Glendale, AZ
Explore more options from Cave Creek, AZ or browse trips ending in Glendale, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.