Maricopa-Stanfield Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Chandler, AZ to Ajo, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 26m
Distance
120.9 mi
195 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 17m
★
6 AM
2h 27m
8 AM
2h 47m
10 AM
2h 34m
12 PM
2h 32m
3 PM
2h 35m
5 PM
2h 46m
8 PM
2h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chandler, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Ajo, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Chandler to Ajo is 120.9 miles and takes about 2h 26m via Gila Bend-Lukeville Highway, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, mostly on surface roads, offering a straightforward drive. With only one day recommended, it's an accessible route for a quick excursion. The drive is estimated to cost around $24 in fuel, making it an economical option. You'll primarily be on surface roads, so don't expect a high-speed highway experience for most of the trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.5 miles from Chandler, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Gila Bend-Lukeville Highway | 31.6 mi | 36m |
| Phoenix Bypass Route | 31.6 mi | 31m |
| North John Wayne Parkway | 14.8 mi | 18m |
| North Maricopa Road | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| North Ajo Gila Bend Highway | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| West Queen Creek Road | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 3.9 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Gila Bend-Lukeville Highway
— 31.6 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chandler, AZ and Ajo, AZ.
1
Start on East Chandler Boulevard
357 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Chandler Boulevard
2
Turn right onto North Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
North Washington Street
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto East Buffalo Street
393 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Buffalo Street
4
Turn left onto AZ 87
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
6
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Santan Freeway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 49
Toward Dobson Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto South Dobson Road
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South Dobson Road
Use the left / right lanes.
9
Turn right onto West Queen Creek Road
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
West Queen Creek Road
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on AZ 347
12 mi
·
13 min
·
North Maricopa Road
11
Continue on AZ 347
15 mi
·
18 min
·
North John Wayne Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 84
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
Use the right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 8 West: San Diego
14
Merge onto I 8
32 mi
·
31 min
·
Phoenix Bypass Route
15
Continue on I 8
3.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward AZ 85: Phoenix Ajo
17
Turn left onto AZ 85
32 mi
·
36 min
·
Gila Bend-Lukeville Highway
18
Continue on AZ 85
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
North Ajo Gila Bend Highway
19
Continue on AZ 85
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North 2nd Avenue
20
Continue on AZ 85
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Solana Avenue
21
Continue on AZ 85
479 ft
·
16 sec
·
North Pizal Lane
22
Continue on AZ 85
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Taladro Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
AZ 85
Trip Plan
Given this is a 2h 26m drive with a fuel cost around $24, it’s perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing for flexibility. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight, especially since most of the route involves surface roads. While there are no specific stops noted, planning a brief break around the halfway point could be beneficial. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services might be spaced out on the longer stretches of surface roads, particularly on the Gila Bend-Lukeville Highway.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 60.5 miles from Chandler, AZ, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 27 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.5 miles or 1h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ajo, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chandler, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chandler, AZ
This is one driving day of about 120.9 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Chandler, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Gila Bend-Lukeville Highway for about 31.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.5 miles from Chandler, 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.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1.8 mi from route
Ajo Regional Park
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, right off the route
0.1 mi from route
mile 120.9
Ajo, AZ
Hours: 8 am–5 pm
+15203876641
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 37.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Washington Street
Turn right onto North Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Buffalo Street
Turn right onto East Buffalo Street
Navigation decision point
7
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward Dobson Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49
Toward Dobson Road
5
5.3 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
West Queen Creek Road
Turn right onto West Queen Creek Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
37.7 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
AZ 84 / Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 84 / Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.08 one way
$48.17 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $25.49 | $50.98 |
| premium | $5.59 | $26.61 | $53.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.69 | $53.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.3 | 0 | $12.69 | $5.80 |
| Efficient EV | 30.2 | 0 | $10.58 | $4.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.4 | 0 | $16.93 | $7.74 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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.
Origin
Chandler, AZ
Night in Chandler on Saturday
Local time
9:21 PM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ajo, AZ
Night in Ajo on Saturday
Local time
9:21 PM
MST
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 26m 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 route features a 13% highway share, meaning most of your 120.9 miles will be on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 31.6 miles along the Gila Bend-Lukeville Highway. As you transition from the Phoenix Bypass Route, expect to be on surface roads for the majority of the drive. You'll notice more local traffic and intersections as you move away from any limited-access sections.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.6 mi on Gila Bend-Lukeville Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Washington Street.
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 120.9 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (North Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (East Buffalo Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Chandler, AZ
Full guide →Chandler is a city in Arizona, and a medium-sized suburb of Phoenix with over 240,000 residents. It is a delightful place to visit.
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 2h 26m. Total distance: 120.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.6 miles on Gila Bend-Lukeville Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Ajo, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (East Buffalo Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ajo, 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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