Origin
Deer Valley, AZ
Night in Deer Valley on Saturday
Local time
9:24 PM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Deer Valley, AZ to Rio Verde, 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 4m
Distance
33.7 mi
54 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Deer Valley, AZ
Line Knipst
Rio Verde, AZ
Guillermo Berlin
Trip Overview
This straightforward 33.7-mile drive from Deer Valley, AZ to Rio Verde, AZ takes about 1 hour and 4 minutes to complete. It's a perfect one-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You'll primarily navigate using East Rio Verde Drive and Pima Freeway, with a portion on East Dynamite Boulevard. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $7. This route stays within the Desert Southwest region, offering a consistent feel throughout your short excursion. It's an easy drive that doesn't demand extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Rio Verde Drive | 9.8 mi | 23m |
| Pima Freeway | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| East Dynamite Boulevard | 4.9 mi | 10m |
| North Scottsdale Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| East Pinnacle Peak Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| North Tatum Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| West Beardsley Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Forest Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
East Rio Verde Drive
— 9.8 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Deer Valley, AZ and Rio Verde, AZ.
1
Start on North 35th Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North 35th Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Beardsley Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Beardsley Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop East
4
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 31
Toward Tatum Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward Tatum Boulevard
Use the left lane.
7
Turn straight onto North Tatum Boulevard
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
North Tatum Boulevard
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto East Pinnacle Peak Road
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East Pinnacle Peak Road
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto North Scottsdale Road
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
North Scottsdale Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto East Dynamite Boulevard
4.9 mi
·
10 min
·
East Dynamite Boulevard
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on East Rio Verde Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Rio Verde Drive
12
Enter roundabout onto East Rio Verde Drive
95 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Rio Verde Drive
13
Continue on East Rio Verde Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Rio Verde Drive
14
Enter roundabout onto East Rio Verde Drive
73 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Rio Verde Drive
15
Continue on East Rio Verde Drive
8.4 mi
·
20 min
·
East Rio Verde Drive
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto North Forest Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Forest Road
17
Turn right onto East Poco Rio Drive
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Poco Rio Drive
18
Turn left onto North Medelice Lane
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Medelice Lane
19
Arrive at destination
North Medelice Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.9 miles from Deer Valley, 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 1.1 and 17.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
West Beardsley Road
Turn left onto West Beardsley Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
9.8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward Tatum Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31
Toward Tatum Boulevard
8
10.1 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Tatum Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward Tatum Boulevard
6
14.6 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
North Scottsdale Road
Turn left onto North Scottsdale Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
17.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
East Dynamite Boulevard
Turn right onto East Dynamite Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.71 one way
$13.43 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $7.10 | $14.21 |
| premium | $5.59 | $7.42 | $14.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.44 | $14.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
| Efficient EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.95 | $1.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.72 | $2.16 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Rio Verde, AZ
Night in Rio Verde on Saturday
Local time
9:24 PM
MST
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
85°F
Cave Creek, AZ
17 mi in
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
2 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
1h 4m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this trip. With only 21% of the route on highways, you'll experience more of a neighborhood feel than an interstate cruise. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9.8 miles on East Rio Verde Drive. This means you'll be adjusting speed and direction frequently, making it a more engaging drive than a long, straight highway. The road's personality shifts from freeway to local streets, keeping your attention.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.8 mi on East Rio Verde Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 1.1 miles in near West Beardsley Road.
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 33.7 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 1.1 miles (West Beardsley Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 33.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.8 miles on East Rio Verde Drive. 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 Rio Verde, 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 1.1 miles (West Beardsley Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rio Verde, 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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