Desert Hills, AZ to Phoenix, AZ is 207.6 miles and takes about 3h 56m via Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a single-day trip that takes you across the heart of the Desert Southwest region of Arizona. Expect a drive with a higher proportion of local roads and turns, rather than a straightforward interstate journey. Given the relatively short duration and straightforward mileage, this route is ideal for those looking for a direct path without extensive highway time.
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
103.8 miles from Desert Hills, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m 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
19.2 mi
22m
Riverside Drive
7.1 mi
8m
Rio Vista Highway
4.4 mi
5m
North Central Boulevard
3.1 mi
3m
East Main Street
1 mi
2m
California Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
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 Phoenix, 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
19 mi·22 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 144AToward 7th AvenueUse the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward 7th Avenue South, Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix Campus, Downtown Cultural/Sport FacilitiesUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Turn straight onto North 7th Avenue
445 ft·16 sec·North 7th Avenue
22
Turn left onto West Roosevelt Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West Roosevelt Street
23
Turn right onto North 1st Avenue
29 ft·0 sec·North 1st Avenue
24
Keep slight right at fork onto North 1st Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North 1st Avenue
25
Turn left onto West Adams Street
0.1 mi·40 sec·West Adams Street
26
Turn right onto North 1st Street
408 ft·18 sec·North 1st Street
27
Turn right onto East Washington Street
453 ft·15 sec·East Washington Street
28
Arrive at destination
West Washington Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 4 hours, this route is easily completed in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight, especially since a significant portion of the drive is on local roads. While there's only one recommended stop, keep an eye on your fuel, as you'll be covering 207.6 miles with a fuel cost estimated at $45. Breaking up the longest stretch of 104.7 miles on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway might be a good idea to stretch your legs.
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 103.8 miles from Desert Hills, AZ, or about 2h 5m 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 46 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.8 miles or 2h 5m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Phoenix, 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 207.6 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 206 — 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.
5
81.8 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
205.7 mi into trip|~3h 51m in
Take the exit toward 7th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 144A
Toward 7th Avenue
9
206 mi into trip|~3h 51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 7th Avenue South, Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix Campus, Downtown Cultural/Sport Facilities
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward 7th Avenue South, Arizona State Universi...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.36 one way
$82.71 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$43.77
$87.54
premium
$5.59
$45.70
$91.39
diesel
$5.61
$45.84
$91.67
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: 72.6 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
62.3
0
$21.80
$9.96
Efficient EV
51.9
0
$18.17
$8.30
EV Truck/SUV
83
1
$29.06
$13.29
Gas CO2
73 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 15, 2026
Origin
Desert Hills, AZ
Evening
in Desert Hills on Saturday
Local time
7:48 PM
MST
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Phoenix, AZ
Evening
in Phoenix on Saturday
Local time
7:48 PM
MST
Current temp
93°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
7 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 56m 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?
This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 9% of the route on highways. You'll spend most of your time navigating local roads, including stretches of the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway, and Papago Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 104.7 miles on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. This suggests a journey that requires more active navigation and potentially slower speeds compared to a pure highway route.
Only 9% 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 17 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 207.6 miles you will encounter 17 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 81.8 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Phoenix is the capital of the state of Arizona, the most populous city in the American Southwest. Warm and sunny winter weather have ensured a thriving tourism industry, and the city has become the region's primary political, cultural, economic, and transportation center. Phoenix is extremely hot and dry in the summertime, so always have sunscreen with you! It had about 1,625,000 residents in 2021, and is the fifth largest city in the United States.
Top landmarks
•Arizona State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Arizona
•Phoenix Art Museum — art museum in Phoenix, Arizona
•St. Mary's Basilica — Roman Catholic church in Phoenix, Arizona
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 207.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (9%). 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.
Yes — we found about 21 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 81.8 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 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 Phoenix, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
