Origin
Cordes Lakes, AZ
Late night in Cordes Lakes on Sunday
Local time
3:12 AM
MST
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cordes Lakes, AZ to Scottsdale, 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 25m
Distance
74.1 mi
119 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cordes Lakes, AZ
Emilio Sánchez Hernández
Scottsdale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking on a journey from Cordes Lakes to Scottsdale, AZ, you'll cover 74.1 miles in approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes. This drive, primarily utilizing the Pima Freeway, Black Canyon Freeway, and Arizona Veterans Highway, is well-suited as a single-day trip, with an estimated fuel cost of $15. The route traverses the Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward travel experience. With no designated stops in the data, you'll have the flexibility to manage your own breaks. This trip presents a convenient option for a relatively short, direct drive between two points within Arizona.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pima Freeway | 21.8 mi | 25m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 20.7 mi | 22m |
| Arizona Veterans Highway | 17.1 mi | 17m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 5.8 mi | 5m |
| North Black Canyon Highway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| East Stagecoach Trail | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| East Chaparral Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Black Mountain Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Pima Freeway
— 21.8 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cordes Lakes, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ.
1
Start on East Ash Creek Road
137 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Ash Creek Road
2
Turn right onto South Black Mountain Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Black Mountain Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto East Stagecoach Trail
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Stagecoach Trail
4
Turn left onto Arcosanti Road
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Arcosanti Road
5
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
6
Merge onto I 17
17 mi
·
17 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
7
Continue on I 17
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 17
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on I 17
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 17
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 214C
Toward AZ 101 Loop West, AZ 101 Loop East
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward AZ 101 Loop East
Use the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Chaparral Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
16
Turn left
64 ft
·
4 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37 miles from Cordes Lakes, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 49.7 and 73.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
49.7 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop West, AZ 101 Loop East
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 214C
Toward AZ 101 Loop West, AZ 101 Loop East
7
50.1 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Keep slight left at fork toward AZ 101 Loop East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward AZ 101 Loop East
5
51.2 mi into trip
|
~58m 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.
7
73 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward Chaparral Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
5
73.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
East Chaparral Road
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.76 one way
$29.52 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $15.62 | $31.24 |
| premium | $5.59 | $16.31 | $32.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.36 | $32.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$15
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.78 | $3.56 |
| Efficient EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.48 | $2.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.6 | 0 | $10.37 | $4.74 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Scottsdale, AZ
Late night in Scottsdale on Sunday
Local time
3:12 AM
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
8 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 25m 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 offers a mixed experience, with 57% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 21.8 miles on the Pima Freeway, suggesting periods of sustained highway travel. The profile is described as a 'Mixed drive,' indicating a blend of faster-paced freeway sections and potentially some varied road conditions as you approach your destination. Expect a dynamic drive that keeps you engaged without being overly demanding, transitioning from open highway to more urban approaches.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.8 mi on Pima Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 49.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 49.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.2 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Scottsdale, AZ
Full guide →Founded 1894
Scottsdale is a city in the state of Arizona. Scottsdale is home to many galleries, high quality resorts, and golf courses. It is also one of the wealthier parts of the Phoenix Metro Area.
Top landmarks
- • Taliesin West — Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and school, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
- • Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art — art museum
- • Little Red Schoolhouse — now used as the Scottsdale Historical Museum, NRHP-listed
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 25m. Total distance: 74.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.8 miles on Pima 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 Scottsdale, 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 49.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.2 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Montezuma Castle 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 Scottsdale, 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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