Origin
Maricopa, AZ
Night in Maricopa on Saturday
Local time
10:59 PM
MST
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maricopa, AZ to Phoenix, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
34.7 mi
56 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maricopa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Phoenix, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 34.7 miles through the Desert Southwest, this direct connection between Maricopa and Phoenix is a straightforward commute that takes approximately 41 minutes. Because of the short distance, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget about $7 for fuel to cover the trip. Navigating this route involves primarily local roads rather than major interstate travel, making it a functional link between these two Arizona hubs. Whether you are heading into the city for business or returning home, the journey is quick and keeps you within the same desert region.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maricopa Freeway | 13.9 mi | 16m |
| Maricopa Road | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| North John Wayne Parkway | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| West Queen Creek Road | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| South 7th Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| East Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Maricopa Freeway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Maricopa Freeway
— 13.9 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maricopa, AZ and Phoenix, AZ.
1
Start on AZ 347
124 ft
·
3 sec
·
North John Wayne Parkway
2
Continue on AZ 347
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North John Wayne Parkway
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on AZ 347
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Maricopa Road
4
Continue on AZ 347
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Queen Creek Road
5
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 10
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
7
Continue on I 10
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 195B
Toward 7th Street, Central Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn straight onto East Maricopa Freeway
134 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Maricopa Freeway
11
Turn right onto South 7th Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South 7th Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Washington Street
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
West Washington Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.3 miles from Maricopa, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 15.9 and 34.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
15.9 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Turn left toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
8
30.7 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
US 60 / Maricopa Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60 / Maricopa Freeway toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
8
32.6 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward 7th Street, Central Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 195B
Toward 7th Street, Central Avenue
4
32.8 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
South 7th Street
Turn right onto South 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
34.1 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.91 one way
$13.83 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $7.32 | $14.63 |
| premium | $5.59 | $7.64 | $15.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.66 | $15.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.64 | $1.67 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.86 | $2.22 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Phoenix, AZ
Night in Phoenix on Saturday
Local time
10:59 PM
MST
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
W 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
88°F
Guadalupe, AZ
17 mi in
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
22 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
45m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate experience on this journey. You will navigate via North John Wayne Parkway, Maricopa Road, and West Queen Creek Road, which means the route maintains a 0% highway share throughout the 34.7-mile stretch. Because the path relies entirely on local corridors, your speed will likely remain consistent with regional traffic patterns rather than open-road cruising. The character of the drive is practical and utilitarian, requiring your attention through various turns as you transition between these desert communities.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.9 mi on Maricopa 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 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 15.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 34.7 miles you will encounter 6 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 15.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles (US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Phoenix, AZ
Full guide →Founded 1868
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
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 45m. Total distance: 34.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.9 miles on Maricopa 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 Phoenix, 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 15.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles (US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Phoenix, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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