Traveling from Maryvale to Three Points covers 132.5 miles of the Desert Southwest, typically taking about 2 hours and 38 minutes to complete. Because this journey is well within the range of a single day, you can comfortably tackle it in one go without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $26 for fuel to navigate the distance between these two Arizona points. Your path transitions through the desert landscape using the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, and North Sandario Road. It is a straightforward trip that serves as a practical connection across the region, allowing you to reach your destination efficiently.
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
66.2 miles from Maryvale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
37.8 mi
38m
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
36.3 mi
36m
North Sandario Road
19.9 mi
32m
Maricopa Freeway
12.3 mi
14m
Papago Freeway
9.3 mi
10m
West Ajo Highway
6.3 mi
7m
North Sanders Road
4 mi
6m
North 51st Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
— 37.8 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maryvale, AZ and Three Points, 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: TucsonUse 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
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
36 mi·36 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 236Toward Marana RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto North Sandario Road
340 ft·13 sec·North Sandario Road
14
Turn right onto West Marana Road
0.4 mi·51 sec·West Marana Road
15
Turn right onto Marana Main Street
470 ft·8 sec·Marana Main Street
16
Continue on West Marana Road
0.5 mi·58 sec·West Marana Road
17
Turn left onto North Sanders Road
4.0 mi·6 min·North Sanders Road
18
At end of road, turn left onto West Avra Valley Road
1.0 mi·1 min·West Avra Valley Road
19
Turn right onto North Sandario Road
1.5 mi·2 min·North Sandario Road
20
Enter roundabout onto North Sandario Road
76 ft·3 sec·North Sandario Road
21
Continue on North Sandario Road
18 mi·29 min·North Sandario Road
22
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 86
6.3 mi·7 min·West Ajo Highway
23
Arrive at destination
AZ 86
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable one-day trip, your scheduling is flexible, but planning for at least one dedicated stop will help break up the technical local segments. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the longer highway stretches to ensure you don't need to detour for gas when you reach the more remote local road portions. Because the route is turn-heavy, try to depart during daylight hours to maintain better visibility on the tighter, non-highway sections. If you find yourself needing a break after the 37.8-mile stretch on the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, that is the ideal time to pull over and reset. Prioritize a steady pace to handle the frequent turns safely and comfortably.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.2 miles from Maryvale, AZ, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.8 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 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.2 miles or 1h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Three Points, 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 132.5 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway for about 37.8 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 99.9 — 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.
7
99.9 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward Marana Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 236
Toward Marana Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.40 one way
$52.79 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$27.93
$55.87
premium
$5.59
$29.17
$58.33
diesel
$5.61
$29.25
$58.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.8
0
$13.91
$6.36
Efficient EV
33.1
0
$11.59
$5.30
EV Truck/SUV
53
0
$18.55
$8.48
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (65% 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 12, 2026
Origin
Maryvale, AZ
Evening
in Maryvale on Saturday
Local time
7:44 PM
MST
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 5 to 15 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 4:12AM PDT until April 12 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 1:30AM MST until April 12 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
Destination
Three Points, AZ
Evening
in Three Points on Saturday
Local time
7:44 PM
MST
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 10 to 28 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 4:12AM PDT until April 12 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 1:30AM MST until April 12 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 38m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive presents a turn-heavy local feel, so stay alert as you navigate the transition between different road types. Only about 16% of your total mileage is spent on major highways, meaning you will spend the majority of your time on local roads that require more active steering than a standard interstate cruise. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 37.8 miles along the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. As you move away from the main highway segments, expect the driving environment to shift into a more technical, winding experience. Prepare for a dynamic pace that keeps you engaged behind the wheel throughout the entire 132.5-mile journey.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.8 mi on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 around 3.2 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 132.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,543 ft1,060 ft
Total Climb
1,792 ft
Total Descent
370 ft
Highest Point
2,543 ft
~132.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,483 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 132.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.8 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 Three Points, 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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Three Points, AZ before heading back.
