Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 18m
Distance
100 mi
161 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chandler, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
San Carlos, AZ
Andrea Hinojosa
Chandler to San Carlos is 100 miles and takes about 2h 18m via Phoenix–Globe Highway, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward, single-day excursion. While it's a relatively short trip, it involves a fair number of turns, making it more of a local exploration than a high-speed transit. Plan for about $20 in fuel costs for this 100-mile journey, which should comfortably fit into a single day of travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50 miles from Chandler, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix–Globe Highway | 43 mi | 55m |
| Globe-Lordsburg Highway | 17.9 mi | 22m |
| Santan Freeway | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| Superstition Freeway | 8 mi | 9m |
| US 60 | 4 mi | 7m |
| Indian Route 170 | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| East Chandler Boulevard | 3 mi | 5m |
| East Williams Field Road | 3 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between Chandler, AZ and San Carlos, AZ.
Start on East Chandler Boulevard
Continue on East Williams Field Road
Turn left
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
Take the exit
Merge onto US 60
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Turn left onto North Broad Street
Turn left onto East Oak Street
Turn right onto South Hill Street
Turn left onto US 60
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70; AZ 77
Turn left onto BIA 170
At end of road, turn left onto BIA 170
Keep slight left at fork onto Aravaipa Road
Arrive at destination
Given the 100-mile distance and 2h 18m estimated drive time, this trip is easily achievable in a single day. Leaving Chandler in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to complete the drive and explore your destination. With only 25% of the route on highways, pay close attention to navigation, especially as you transition onto local roads. The longest stretch without a turn is 43 miles, so be mindful of fuel levels before heading out, though the estimated $20 fuel cost suggests this shouldn't be a major concern for most vehicles.
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.
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 22 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50 miles or 1h 6m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Carlos, AZ than in the middle of the route.
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 100 miles and 2h 18m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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.
A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 50 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.9 and 75.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left toward AZ 202 Loop East
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 60 East: Globe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto North Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$19.92 one way
$39.84 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $21.08 | $42.17 |
| premium | $5.59 | $22.01 | $44.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.08 | $44.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30 | 0 | $10.50 | $4.80 |
| Efficient EV | 25 | 0 | $8.75 | $4.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40 | 0 | $14.00 | $6.40 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Chandler on Sunday
Local time
8:12 AM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Morning in San Carlos on Sunday
Local time
8:12 AM
MST
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
87°F
Superior, AZ
50 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' indicating you'll be navigating more than just straight highway. With only 25% of the route on highways, expect a good portion of your 2-hour-and-18-minute travel time to involve local roads and frequent directional changes. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 43 miles along the Phoenix–Globe Highway, so be prepared for a dynamic driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. This profile suggests a route that winds through communities and varied terrain.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.9 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 100 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Founded 1912
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.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 18m. Total distance: 100 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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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