Origin
Cave Creek, AZ
Night in Cave Creek on Saturday
Local time
9:22 PM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cave Creek, AZ to Goodyear, 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 3m
Distance
45.7 mi
74 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cave Creek, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Goodyear, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 45.7 miles across the Desert Southwest, this trip from Cave Creek to Goodyear is a straightforward commute that typically takes about 1 hour and 3 minutes. Because of the relatively short distance, you can easily complete this journey as a simple one-day excursion without needing to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting around $9 for fuel should comfortably cover your transit between these two Arizona hubs. The route utilizes a mix of local roads and major freeways to transition between the northern and western reaches of the Phoenix metropolitan area. It is a highly practical drive, perfect for those looking for an efficient connection rather than a scenic tour.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Agua Fria Freeway | 21.5 mi | 24m |
| East Cave Creek Road | 12.3 mi | 21m |
| Papago Freeway | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Pima Freeway | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| North Litchfield Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| South Litchfield Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Agua Fria Freeway
— 21.5 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cave Creek, AZ and Goodyear, 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
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
22 mi
·
24 min
·
Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1A
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 10
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Papago Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 128
Toward Litchfield Road, Phoenix-Goodyear Airport
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto North Litchfield Road
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Litchfield Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on South Litchfield Road
337 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Litchfield Road
11
Arrive at destination
South Litchfield Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.9 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 12.3 and 44 — 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
5
12.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
38.6 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
8
43.7 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward Litchfield Road, Phoenix-Goodyear Airport
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 128
Toward Litchfield Road, Phoenix-Goodyear Airpor...
4
44 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
North Litchfield Road
Turn left onto North Litchfield Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.10 one way
$18.21 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $9.63 | $19.27 |
| premium | $5.59 | $10.06 | $20.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.09 | $20.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.80 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.40 | $2.92 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Goodyear, AZ
Night in Goodyear on Saturday
Local time
9:22 PM
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
1h 3m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as roughly 66% of your drive involves navigating high-speed arterial roads. You will transition from East Cave Creek Road onto the Agua Fria Freeway, which serves as the backbone of the trip, featuring a longest uninterrupted stretch of 21.5 miles. Eventually, the route merges onto the Papago Freeway to complete the final leg of the journey. While you start on local surface streets, the character of the drive quickly shifts into a more industrial and fast-paced interstate grind. Be prepared for consistent traffic flow as you transition between these major urban thoroughfares.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.5 mi on Agua Fria Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Agua Fria Freeway and East Cave Creek Road. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 45.7 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 12.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 45.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.5 miles on Agua Fria Freeway. 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 Goodyear, 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 12.8 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.6 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 Goodyear, 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.
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