Origin
Marana, AZ
Night in Marana on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
MST
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marana, AZ to Scottsdale, 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 46m
Distance
97.4 mi
157 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 46m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 50m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 1m
8 PM
1h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marana, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Scottsdale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 97.4-mile drive from Marana, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 46 minutes. You'll navigate primarily via the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway and the Price Freeway, with a smaller portion on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, giving you a 19% highway experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $19. This route is a good option for a straightforward drive connecting two points within the Desert Southwest region, and its relatively short duration means you can focus on your destination. Given the drive's length and character, no overnight stays are necessary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.7 miles from Marana, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 38.1 mi | 38m |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 36.1 mi | 36m |
| Price Freeway | 10.5 mi | 12m |
| Pima Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Santan Freeway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| North Sandario Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| East Chaparral Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Moore Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
— 38.1 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marana, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ.
1
Start on North Steele Drive
214 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Steele Drive
2
Turn right onto West Swanson Street
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Swanson Street
3
Turn left onto North Whitney Lane
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Whitney Lane
4
Turn right onto West Moore Road
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
West Moore Road
5
Turn left onto North Sandario Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Sandario Road
6
Enter roundabout onto North Sandario Road
103 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Sandario Road
7
Continue on North Sandario Road
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
North Sandario Road
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
9
Merge onto I 10
36 mi
·
36 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 161A-B
Toward AZ 202 Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 161B
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Santan Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto Price Freeway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Price Freeway
Exit 50A
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn left onto East Chaparral Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Chaparral Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left
64 ft
·
4 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this roughly 1 hour and 46-minute drive, starting your journey in the morning is advisable to avoid potential afternoon traffic as you approach Scottsdale. Since there are no designated stops provided in the data, plan for flexibility; you can easily make quick stops for fuel or a break as needed. The estimated fuel cost is $19, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing Marana. A practical tip for this route is to pay close attention to signage when transitioning from the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway to local roads, as this is where the "turn-heavy" nature of the drive is most pronounced.
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 48.7 miles from Marana, AZ, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.1 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 21 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.7 miles or 52m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scottsdale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Marana, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Marana, AZ
This is one driving day of about 97.4 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Marana, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway for about 38.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.7 miles from Marana, 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 0 and 96.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Swanson Street
Turn right onto West Swanson Street
Navigation decision point
7
77 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m 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 161A-B
Toward AZ 202 Loop
8
77.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 202 Loop East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 161B
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
7
81 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
Price Freeway
Take the exit onto Price Freeway toward AZ 101 Loop North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 50A
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
7
96.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward Chaparral Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.40 one way
$38.81 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $20.53 | $41.07 |
| premium | $5.59 | $21.44 | $42.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.50 | $43.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.2 | 0 | $10.23 | $4.68 |
| Efficient EV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.52 | $3.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39 | 0 | $13.64 | $6.23 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Scottsdale, AZ
Night in Scottsdale on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
90°F
Guadalupe, AZ
49 mi in
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
39 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
1h 46m 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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 47
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive with a "turn-heavy local drive" profile, meaning you'll encounter more frequent turns and changes in road type than a typical interstate route. While 19% of the journey is on highways, the majority involves navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 38.1 miles on the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. This suggests a driving experience that requires consistent attention to navigation and changing speed limits as you move from more open highway sections to more built-up local areas.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.1 mi on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 early in the drive near West Swanson Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 97.4 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: near the start (West Swanson Street): Navigation decision point; at 77 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Scottsdale, AZ
Full guide →Scottsdale is a city in the state of Arizona. Scottsdale is home to many galleries, high quality resorts, and golf courses. It is also one of the wealthier parts of the Phoenix Metro Area.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 97.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.1 miles on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. 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 Scottsdale, 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: near the start (West Swanson Street): Navigation decision point; at 77 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins 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 Scottsdale, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Scottsdale, AZ
More trips to Scottsdale, AZ
Explore more options from Marana, AZ or browse trips ending in Scottsdale, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.