This 69.3-mile drive from Gold Camp, AZ, to Maricopa, AZ, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 37 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Santan Freeway, Phoenix–Globe Highway, and North Maricopa Road, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, it’s an economical journey through the Desert Southwest. You won't need to break this drive up into multiple days, offering flexibility for your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.7 miles from Gold Camp, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Santan Freeway
18.1 mi
20m
Phoenix–Globe Highway
14.7 mi
18m
North Maricopa Road
11.8 mi
13m
Superstition Freeway
7.9 mi
9m
West Queen Creek Road
5.8 mi
8m
North Queen Valley Road
3 mi
7m
North John Wayne Parkway
2.2 mi
4m
South Dobson Road
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Santan Freeway
— 18.1 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gold Camp, AZ and Maricopa, AZ.
1
Start on West Kirk Drive
187 ft·11 sec·West Kirk Drive
2
Turn left onto North Sharon Drive
0.1 mi·28 sec·North Sharon Drive
3
Turn right onto East Lynn Way
0.1 mi·34 sec·East Lynn Way
4
Turn right onto East Diane Drive
0.2 mi·40 sec·East Diane Drive
5
Continue on North Jacque Drive
519 ft·19 sec·North Jacque Drive
6
At end of road, turn right onto East Queen Valley Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·East Queen Valley Drive
7
Turn right onto North Queen Anne Drive
0.9 mi·3 min·North Queen Anne Drive
8
Continue on North Queen Valley Road
3.0 mi·7 min·North Queen Valley Road
9
Turn right onto US 60
15 mi·18 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
7.9 mi·9 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 190AToward AZ 202 LoopUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward AZ 202 Loop SouthUse the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
18 mi·20 min·Santan Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 49Toward Dobson RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto South Dobson Road
1.9 mi·3 min·South Dobson Road
Use the left / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto West Queen Creek Road
5.8 mi·8 min·West Queen Creek Road
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on AZ 347
12 mi·13 min·North Maricopa Road
18
Continue on AZ 347
2.2 mi·4 min·North John Wayne Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Arrive at destination
AZ 347
Trip Plan
Given its manageable 1 hour and 37-minute duration, this 69.3-mile trip offers plenty of flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps in the morning to avoid the peak heat of the Desert Southwest. With no specific stops recommended, you can use the longest stretch of 18.1 miles on the Santan Freeway as a good point to gauge your progress. Keep the approximate $14 fuel cost in mind, and plan for a fuel stop before you leave Gold Camp to ensure a smooth journey to Maricopa.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 34.7 miles from Gold Camp, AZ, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.1 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 15 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.7 miles or 51m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maricopa, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gold Camp, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gold Camp, AZ
This is one driving day of about 69.3 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Gold Camp, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Santan Freeway for about 18.1 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 5 and 47.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5 mi into trip|~14m in|US 60 / Phoenix–Globe Highway
Turn right onto US 60 / Phoenix–Globe Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
27.6 mi into trip|~41m in
Take the exit toward AZ 202 Loop
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 190A
Toward AZ 202 Loop
7
28.2 mi into trip|~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward AZ 202 Loop South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward AZ 202 Loop South
5
29.2 mi into trip|~45m in|AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
47.3 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward Dobson Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49
Toward Dobson Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.81 one way
$27.61 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$14.61
$29.22
premium
$5.59
$15.25
$30.51
diesel
$5.61
$15.30
$30.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.8
0
$7.28
$3.33
Efficient EV
17.3
0
$6.06
$2.77
EV Truck/SUV
27.7
0
$9.70
$4.44
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Gold Camp, AZ
Night
in Gold Camp on Saturday
Local time
9:22 PM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Maricopa, AZ
Night
in Maricopa on Saturday
Local time
9:22 PM
MST
Current temp
57°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
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 37m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 7.2
Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed driving experience, with 41% of the route on highways. You'll encounter stretches like the 18.1-mile segment on the Santan Freeway, which provides a faster pace. The character of the drive shifts as you transition between these main roads, moving from potentially quicker highway sections to more localized routes as you approach your destination. Expect a blend of efficient travel and more community-oriented driving.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.1 mi on Santan Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5 miles in near US 60 / Phoenix–Globe Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
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 69.3 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: at 5 miles (US 60 / Phoenix–Globe Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 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 37m. Total distance: 69.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). 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 18.1 miles on Santan 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 Maricopa, 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 5 miles (US 60 / Phoenix–Globe Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Tonto 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 Maricopa, AZ before heading back.
