Connecting Desert Hills to Glendale, this 206-mile journey across the Desert Southwest takes approximately 3 hours and 57 minutes of driving time. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget roughly $41 for fuel to complete the trip comfortably. Navigating this path involves transitioning across the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, the Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway, and the Papago Freeway. Whether you are moving between these desert communities for business or recreation, this itinerary offers a straightforward, manageable transit across the region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
103 miles from Desert Hills, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
104.7 mi
1h 45m
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
63.1 mi
1h 16m
Papago Freeway
8.1 mi
9m
Riverside Drive
7.1 mi
8m
West Glendale Avenue
4.9 mi
10m
Agua Fria Freeway
4.5 mi
5m
Rio Vista Highway
4.4 mi
5m
North Central Boulevard
3.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 104.7 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Desert Hills, AZ and Glendale, AZ.
1
Start on Bayshore Road
235 ft·10 sec·Bayshore Road
2
Continue on Mountain View Drive
0.1 mi·25 sec·Mountain View Drive
3
At end of road, turn right onto Thrasher Drive
0.1 mi·25 sec·Thrasher Drive
4
At end of road, turn right onto London Bridge Road
0.7 mi·1 min·London Bridge Road
5
Turn left onto Chenoweth Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Chenoweth Road
6
Turn right onto AZ 95
26 mi·33 min·Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on AZ 95
7.1 mi·8 min·Riverside Drive
8
Turn straight onto AZ 95
6.6 mi·7 min·Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
9
Continue on AZ 95
4.4 mi·5 min·Rio Vista Highway
10
Turn left onto AZ 95
0.9 mi·1 min·California Avenue
11
Continue on AZ 95
11 mi·13 min·Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
12
Continue on AZ 95
20 mi·22 min·Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
13
Continue on AZ 95
3.1 mi·3 min·North Central Boulevard
14
Turn left onto I 10 BUS
1.0 mi·2 min·East Main Street
15
Turn right onto I 10 Bus
0.2 mi·22 sec·Riggles Road
16
Take the ramp onto I 10 Business
0.5 mi·1 min·I 10 Business
17
Merge onto I 10
105 mi·1 hr 45 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 10
8.1 mi·9 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 133BUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
4.5 mi·5 min·Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·31 sec
Exit 7BToward Glendale AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork
362 ft·7 sec
Toward Glendale Avenue East, Glendale Sports FacilitiesUse the left / right lanes.
23
Turn straight onto West Glendale Avenue
4.9 mi·10 min·West Glendale Avenue
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto North 58th Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·North 58th Avenue
25
Continue on West Lamar Road
368 ft·14 sec·West Lamar Road
26
Turn right onto North 57th Drive
313 ft·14 sec·North 57th Drive
27
Turn right onto US 60
0.2 mi·24 sec·Grand Avenue
28
Arrive at destination
US 60
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-four-hour drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, though leaving early helps avoid the peak heat typical of the Desert Southwest. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs, as the turn-heavy nature of the local roads can be more taxing than a straight highway shot. Keep a close eye on your navigation when transitioning between the Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway and the Papago Freeway to ensure you stay on track. Given the $41 fuel estimate, filling up before you leave Desert Hills will save you from hunting for stations during the more remote, turn-heavy sections of the trip.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 103 miles from Desert Hills, AZ, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.7 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 45 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Glendale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Desert Hills, 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 Desert Hills, AZ
This is one driving day of about 206 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Desert Hills, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 104.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 200.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Thrasher Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Thrasher Drive
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|AZ 95 / Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Turn right onto AZ 95 / Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
194.6 mi into trip|~3h 38m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 133B
7
200.2 mi into trip|~3h 45m in
Take the exit toward Glendale Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 7B
Toward Glendale Avenue
8
200.5 mi into trip|~3h 45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Glendale Avenue East, Glendale Sports Facilities
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward Glendale Avenue East, Glendale Sports Fa...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.04 one way
$82.08 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$43.43
$86.86
premium
$5.59
$45.34
$90.69
diesel
$5.61
$45.48
$90.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.8
0
$21.63
$9.89
Efficient EV
51.5
0
$18.03
$8.24
EV Truck/SUV
82.4
1
$28.84
$13.18
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Desert Hills, AZ
Late night
in Desert Hills on Tuesday
Local time
1:54 AM
MST
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Glendale, AZ
Late night
in Glendale on Tuesday
Local time
1:54 AM
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 57m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied driving experience that shifts from high-speed transit to more technical navigating. With only 6% of the route consisting of highway driving, you will spend much of your time on local roads that demand your full attention. The longest stretch of the trip covers 104.7 miles along the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, providing the most consistent pace of the journey. As you progress, the transition between highway stretches and turn-heavy local roads keeps the drive engaging. Prepare for a road personality that prioritizes local connectivity over a monotonous interstate grind.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.7 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Thrasher Drive.
Driving Effort5/10
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 206 miles you will encounter 16 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 (Thrasher Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.6 miles (AZ 95 / Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 194.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Glendale is one of the largest suburbs in the metropolitan Phoenix area, and is rapidly growing as a media/entertainment center in the Valley of the Sun. It was home to over 250,000 people in 2019.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 57m. Total distance: 206 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 104.7 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Thrasher Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.6 miles (AZ 95 / Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 194.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Glendale, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
