Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 46m
Distance
93.4 mi
150 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Flowing Wells, AZ
Brent Singleton
Maricopa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Flowing Wells, AZ to Maricopa, AZ is 93.4 miles and takes about 1h 46m via Casa Grande-Tucson Highway and South John Wayne Parkway, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Desert Southwest, offering a straightforward drive across Arizona. With no planned stops and a relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a direct transit. The majority of the drive is on surface roads, so expect a more local feel rather than interstate speeds. It's a practical connection between two points in the region, suitable for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.7 miles from Flowing Wells, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 52.1 mi | 52m |
| Phoenix Bypass Route | 16.8 mi | 16m |
| South John Wayne Parkway | 13.1 mi | 15m |
| Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Stanfield Road | 3.4 mi | 8m |
| West Ruthrauff Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North John Wayne Parkway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Arizona Drive | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Flowing Wells, AZ and Maricopa, AZ.
Start on this road
Turn right
Turn right onto West Ruthrauff Road
Continue on West Ruthrauff Road
Turn right onto North Casa Grande Highway
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Take the exit
Continue on I 8
Take the exit
Turn right onto BIA 42
Turn left onto AZ 84
Continue on AZ 84
Continue on AZ 84
Turn right onto AZ 347
Continue on AZ 347
Arrive at destination
Given the 1h 46m duration, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day, leaving ample flexibility for departure time. Consider starting your drive after morning rush hour if you're heading towards more urban areas on the latter part of the route. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, it’s wise to ensure your tank is full before you depart, as there are no designated stops. The drive is entirely within Arizona, so you'll be in a familiar environment. Keep an eye out for the shift from the longer highway segment to the network of surface roads as you approach your destination.
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 21 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.7 miles or 49m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maricopa, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Flowing Wells, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Flowing Wells, AZ
This is one driving day of about 93.4 miles and 1h 46m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 46.7 miles from Flowing Wells, 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 0 and 79.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto West Ruthrauff Road
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 10 West
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 8 West: San Diego
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn right onto AZ 347 / South John Wayne Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$18.10 one way
$36.21 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.20 | $19.13 | $38.26 |
| premium | $5.44 | $19.99 | $39.99 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $20.59 | $41.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28 | 0 | $9.81 | $4.48 |
| Efficient EV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.17 | $3.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.4 | 0 | $13.08 | $5.98 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Flowing Wells on Saturday
Local time
12:49 AM
MST
Current temp
74°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Maricopa on Saturday
Local time
12:49 AM
MST
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Clear
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 route has a 15% highway share, meaning most of your driving will be on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 52.1 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. After that segment, you'll transition to other surface roads like the Phoenix Bypass Route and South John Wayne Parkway. Expect a driving experience characterized by more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you navigate through populated areas and rural landscapes.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Ruthrauff Road.
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 93.4 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (West Ruthrauff Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
61 ft
Total Descent
1,151 ft
Highest Point
2,273 ft
Elevation Range
1,091 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Flowing Wells, AZ to Maricopa, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Stanfield along the way.
Stanfield
Founded 2003
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 93.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (15%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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