Origin
Maryvale, AZ
Night in Maryvale on Saturday
Local time
9:24 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maryvale, AZ to Sun Lakes, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
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 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maryvale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Sun Lakes, AZ
Kris Møklebust
Trip Overview
If you are planning a transit from Maryvale to Sun Lakes, expect a straightforward 34.7-mile journey through the heart of the Desert Southwest. This highway-focused drive typically takes about 46 minutes to complete, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $7, the route is both efficient and budget-friendly. You will primarily utilize the Papago Freeway, Maricopa Freeway, and the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway to navigate between these two Arizona locations. Since the entire trip is relatively short, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay, allowing you the flexibility to complete the transit in a single morning or afternoon session.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maricopa Freeway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| Papago Freeway | 9.3 mi | 10m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| West Riggs Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| North 51st Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West Indian School Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North 55th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Maricopa Freeway
— 12.3 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maryvale, AZ and Sun Lakes, 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
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 167
Toward Riggs Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto West Riggs Road
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
West Riggs Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto South Dobson Road
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
South Dobson Road
14
Turn left onto East Palomino Place
182 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Palomino Place
15
Turn right onto South Pinewood Drive
323 ft
·
11 sec
·
South Pinewood Drive
16
Continue on East Foster Avenue
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
East Foster Avenue
17
Turn right onto South Glenburn Drive
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Glenburn Drive
18
Turn right onto East Bud Court
144 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Bud Court
19
Arrive at destination
East Bud Court
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 Maryvale, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 31.3 — 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.
7
30.9 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward Riggs Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 167
Toward Riggs Road
6
31.3 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
West Riggs Road
Turn left onto West Riggs Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight 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
Sun Lakes, AZ
Night in Sun Lakes on Saturday
Local time
9:24 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a commute dominated by major thoroughfares, as roughly 62% of your travel time will be spent on the highway. The character of the drive is defined by high-speed transit, with the longest uninterrupted stretch occurring over 12.3 miles on the Maricopa Freeway. You should prepare for an interstate-focused experience rather than a winding, scenic backroad cruise. Navigating these arterial roads requires maintaining a steady pace as you transition between the Papago and Maricopa systems. While the road personality is functional and efficient, the shift toward the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway signals the final phase of your arrival in Sun Lakes.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.3 mi on Maricopa Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maricopa Freeway and Papago Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 34.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 34.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.3 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 Sun Lakes, 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 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. 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 Sun Lakes, 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.
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