Origin
Chandler, AZ
Late night in Chandler on Sunday
Local time
1:02 AM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chandler, AZ to El Mirage, 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
48.3 mi
78 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chandler, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
El Mirage, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 48.3 miles across the Desert Southwest, this trip from Chandler to El Mirage is a straightforward transit that typically takes about 1 hour and 3 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, it functions perfectly as a quick day trip rather than a multi-day excursion. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major freeways, making this a highly efficient connection between two Arizona cities. With an estimated fuel cost of only $10, it is an economical route for commuters or weekend travelers alike. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Desert Southwest, you can expect a consistent climate and landscape throughout your journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Papago Freeway | 15 mi | 17m |
| Agua Fria Freeway | 8.8 mi | 10m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Price Freeway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Superstition Freeway | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| Grand Avenue | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| West Chandler Boulevard | 3 mi | 5m |
| West Thunderbird Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Papago Freeway
— 15 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chandler, AZ and El Mirage, AZ.
1
Start on East Chandler Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
41 sec
·
East Chandler Boulevard
2
Continue on East Chandler Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Chandler Boulevard
3
Continue on West Chandler Boulevard
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West Chandler Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto South Price Road
321 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Price Road
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
6
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 55A; 55B
Toward US 60 West, US 60 East: Phoenix, Globe
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 55A
Toward US 60 West: Phoenix
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 60
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
·
US 60
Toward I 10 North
11
Merge onto I 10; US 60
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
15
Continue on I 10
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 133B
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 11
Toward US 60
Use the slight right lane.
19
Turn left onto US 60
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto West Thunderbird Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Thunderbird Road
21
Turn right onto North El Mirage Road
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
North El Mirage Road
22
Arrive at destination
North El Mirage Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.2 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 43.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
South Price Road
Turn right onto South Price Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
8.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward US 60 West, US 60 East: Phoenix, Globe
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 55A; 55B
Toward US 60 West, US 60 East: Phoenix, Globe
8
8.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 60 West: Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 55A
Toward US 60 West: Phoenix
7
34 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 133B
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
7
43.7 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward US 60
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward US 60
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.62 one way
$19.24 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $10.18 | $20.37 |
| premium | $5.59 | $10.63 | $21.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.66 | $21.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.76 | $3.09 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
El Mirage, AZ
Late night in El Mirage on Sunday
Local time
1:02 AM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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?
This drive is heavily focused on highway travel, with 78% of your journey spent on the interstate system. You will navigate a sequence of major thoroughfares, including the Maricopa, Papago, and Agua Fria Freeways. Expect a fast-paced environment where the most significant uninterrupted leg is a 15-mile stretch along the Papago Freeway. The road's personality is defined by consistent, high-speed movement rather than technical turns or winding backroads. Being behind the wheel here requires steady focus on merging and maintaining flow within the regional freeway network.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15 mi on Papago Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Papago Freeway and Agua Fria Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near South Price Road.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 3.3 miles (South Price Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 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 Chandler, AZ to El Mirage, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Globe along the way.
Globe
8.5 mi in
|
~12m
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 1h 3m. Total distance: 48.3 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 (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15 miles on Papago 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 El Mirage, 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 3.3 miles (South Price Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at El Mirage, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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