Origin
Cave Creek, AZ
Afternoon in Cave Creek on Sunday
Local time
2:50 PM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cave Creek, AZ to Maryvale, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
32.4 mi
52 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 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cave Creek, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Maryvale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Cave Creek to Maryvale, you are looking at a straightforward 32.4-mile trip through the heart of the Desert Southwest. Expect to spend about 50 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, it is an affordable transit that requires no overnight stops. Your route will primarily utilize East Cave Creek Road, the Black Canyon Freeway, and West Camelback Road. Whether you are heading out for business or visiting family, the trip is efficient and simple enough to complete in a single morning or afternoon.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Cave Creek Road | 12.3 mi | 21m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 10.2 mi | 11m |
| West Camelback Road | 3.7 mi | 7m |
| Pima Freeway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| North 55th Avenue | 0.5 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 Maryvale, 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
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 203
Toward Camelback Road
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto North Black Canyon Highway
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
North Black Canyon Highway
10
Turn right onto West Camelback Road
3.7 mi
·
7 min
·
West Camelback Road
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto North 55th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North 55th Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
North 55th Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.2 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 12.3 and 27.9 — 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
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
27.9 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward Camelback Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 203
Toward Camelback Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.45 one way
$12.91 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $6.83 | $13.66 |
| premium | $5.59 | $7.13 | $14.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.15 | $14.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 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 | 9.7 | 0 | $3.40 | $1.56 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.07 |
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
Maryvale, AZ
Afternoon in Maryvale on Sunday
Local time
2:50 PM
MST
Current temp
89°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
4 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
50m 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 32.4-mile journey offers a mixed driving profile that transitions from local roads to major arterials. You will spend roughly 43% of your time on the highway, balancing high-speed transit with typical urban road navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 12.3 miles along East Cave Creek Road before you transition toward the freeway. As you move from the desert surroundings into the more developed areas of Maryvale, the rhythm of the drive shifts from open stretches to the steady pace of the Black Canyon Freeway. It is a functional drive that requires your full attention as traffic density changes.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 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 9 decision points packed into just 32.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
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 16.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Maryvale, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Flagstaff along the way.
Flagstaff
16.3 mi in
|
~26m
About the Cities
Starting in Cave Creek, AZ
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Cave Creek Service Station — historic fuel station in Arizona, USA
Arriving in Maryvale, AZ
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 32.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 Maryvale, 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 16.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Maryvale, 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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