Origin
Maryvale, AZ
Evening in Maryvale on Saturday
Local time
7:47 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maryvale, AZ to Show Low, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 50m
Distance
184.4 mi
297 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 38m
★
6 AM
3h 51m
8 AM
4h 17m
10 AM
4h 0m
12 PM
3h 57m
3 PM
4h 1m
5 PM
4h 15m
8 PM
3h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maryvale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Show Low, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking on the 184.4-mile journey from Maryvale, AZ, to Show Low, AZ, is a manageable 3-hour and 50-minute drive, making it an excellent candidate for a single-day trip. You'll primarily navigate along the Globe-Show Low Highway and US 60, with about 25% of the route being on highways. This drive through the Desert Southwest region is estimated to cost around $37 in fuel. With only one recommended stop, this route offers a straightforward transition between two points within Arizona.
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
92.2 miles from Maryvale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Globe-Show Low Highway | 83.5 mi | 1h 35m |
| Phoenix–Globe Highway | 43 mi | 55m |
| US 60 | 31.9 mi | 39m |
| Papago Freeway | 9.3 mi | 10m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| West Deuce of Clubs | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| North 51st Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| North Broad Street | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Globe-Show Low Highway
— 83.5 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maryvale, AZ and Show Low, AZ.
1
Start on North 55th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North 55th Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Indian School Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Indian School Road
3
Turn right onto North 51st Avenue
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
North 51st Avenue
4
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 10
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
7
Continue on I 10
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 10; US 60
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 60
28 mi
·
32 min
·
US 60
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
43 mi
·
55 min
·
Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Live Oak Street
13
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
US 60
14
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
15
Turn left onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broad Street
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Oak Street
17
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Hill Street
18
Turn left onto US 60
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Ash Street
19
Turn left onto US 60; AZ 77
83 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
Globe-Show Low Highway
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on US 60; AZ 77
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West Deuce of Clubs
21
Arrive at destination
US 60; AZ 77; AZ 260
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 50-minute duration, starting your drive from Maryvale in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of room to adjust your schedule as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the longest stretch of 83.5 miles on the Globe-Show Low Highway, ensuring you're prepared for any stretches between services. The estimated fuel cost of $37 is a good baseline for budgeting this approximately 184-mile trip.
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 92.2 miles from Maryvale, AZ, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.5 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 41 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.2 miles or 1h 57m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Show Low, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Maryvale, 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 Maryvale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 184.4 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Maryvale, 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 Globe-Show Low Highway for about 83.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
92 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 92.2 miles from Maryvale, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Globe-Show Low Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.5 miles.
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 125 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 18.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Turn left toward I 10 East: Tucson
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
5
3.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 10 / Papago Freeway
Merge onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
12.2 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I 10 / Papago Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
13.5 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 10; US 60 / Maricopa Freeway
Merge onto I 10; US 60 / Maricopa Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
18.3 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
US 60
Take the exit onto US 60 toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.73 one way
$73.47 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $38.88 | $77.75 |
| premium | $5.59 | $40.59 | $81.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.71 | $81.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.3 | 0 | $19.36 | $8.85 |
| Efficient EV | 46.1 | 0 | $16.13 | $7.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73.8 | 0 | $25.82 | $11.80 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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
Show Low, AZ
Evening in Show Low on Saturday
Local time
7:47 PM
MST
Current temp
68°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
25 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
3h 50m 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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 57.2
View on nps.gov
Tonto National Monument
National Monument
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
$10
near mile 82.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting a route that prioritizes navigating through communities and potentially winding roads rather than long, straight stretches. While 25% of the drive utilizes highways, the longest uninterrupted segment is 83.5 miles on the Globe-Show Low Highway. Expect a dynamic driving experience where the road may change character frequently, requiring your attention to be on the road and your surroundings as you transition between different types of thoroughfares. This isn't a monotonous cruise; it's a more engaged local road experience.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.5 mi on Globe-Show Low Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
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 around 3.2 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 184.4 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: at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Maryvale, AZ to Show Low, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Globe along the way.
Globe
18.3 mi in
|
~24m
|
via US 60
About the Cities
Arriving in Show Low, AZ
Full guide →Show Low is a town in Eastern 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 3h 50m. Total distance: 184.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.5 miles on Globe-Show Low Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Show Low, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Show Low, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
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.
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