Spanning 76.8 miles across the Desert Southwest, this trip from Miami to Scottsdale typically takes about 1 hour and 37 minutes. You will primarily navigate the Phoenix–Globe Highway, the Superstition Freeway, and the Pima Freeway. Because of the relatively short distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $15 for fuel should cover your travel costs between these two Arizona hubs. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a change of scenery, the transition from the high desert to the Scottsdale area is straightforward and efficient.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.4 miles from Miami, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Phoenix–Globe Highway
42.9 mi
55m
Superstition Freeway
21.9 mi
25m
Pima Freeway
4.9 mi
5m
Price Freeway
2.6 mi
3m
West Live Oak Street
1.7 mi
3m
East Chaparral Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Phoenix–Globe Highway
— 42.9 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Miami, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ.
1
Start on this road
85 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn right
153 ft·12 sec
3
Turn left onto US 60
1.7 mi·3 min·West Live Oak Street
4
Continue on US 60
43 mi·55 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
22 mi·25 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
1.6 mi·2 min
Exit 176BToward AZ 101 Loop NorthUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
2.6 mi·3 min·Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
4.9 mi·5 min·Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 46Toward Chaparral RoadUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto East Chaparral Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Chaparral Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left
64 ft·4 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Flexibility is your biggest advantage on this short 1.5-hour trip, allowing you to easily work around peak traffic times in the Phoenix metro area. Since the entire drive is under 80 miles, you won't need to plan for formal rest stops, though checking your fuel levels before departing Miami is a smart move given the $15 estimated cost. Try to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the Superstition Freeway, which can add time to your commute. Keep a close watch on the transition points between the Phoenix–Globe Highway and the freeways to ensure you stay on track. Enjoy the ease of this quick Arizona transit by keeping your itinerary simple and fluid.
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 38.4 miles from Miami, AZ, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.9 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.4 miles or 50m 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 22m
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 Miami, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Miami, AZ
This is one driving day of about 76.8 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Miami, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Phoenix–Globe Highway for about 42.9 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 75.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 60 / West Live Oak Street
Turn left onto US 60 / West Live Oak Street
Navigation decision point
7
66.5 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 176B
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
5
68.2 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|AZ 101 Loop / Price Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Price Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
75.7 mi into trip|~1h 35m 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
$15.30 one way
$30.60 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$16.19
$32.38
premium
$5.59
$16.91
$33.81
diesel
$5.61
$16.96
$33.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23
0
$8.06
$3.69
Efficient EV
19.2
0
$6.72
$3.07
EV Truck/SUV
30.7
0
$10.75
$4.92
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Miami, AZ
Late night
in Miami on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
MST
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scottsdale, AZ
Late night
in Scottsdale on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Clear
NNE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
55°F
Superior, AZ
38 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
1 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 37m 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.
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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 31.8
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience that shifts from rural highway stretches to more urban freeway segments. Roughly 38% of your journey is spent on major highways, offering a balance between open road and city traffic. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 42.9 miles on the Phoenix–Globe Highway, which provides the bulk of the initial transit. As you transition from the quiet terrain of Miami onto the Superstition and Pima Freeways, the pace of the drive naturally quickens. Being behind the wheel requires attention to these changing road types as you transition into the Scottsdale metropolitan region.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.9 mi on Phoenix–Globe Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 37m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 60 / West Live Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 66.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Miami is a major city in the southeastern United States and the second most populous city in Florida. The Greater Miami metropolitan area is the largest in the state with an estimated population just under 6.1 million (2021), which makes it the 9th most populous metro area in the United States.
Although tourists generally consider Miami Beach to be part of Miami, it is its own municipality. Miami Beach sits on a barrier island east of Miami and Biscayne Bay. It is home to lots of beach resorts, and is one of the most popular spring break party destinations in the world. This article only covers the city of Miami, not Miami Beach.
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.
Top landmarks
•Taliesin West — Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and school, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
•Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art — art museum
•Little Red Schoolhouse — now used as the Scottsdale Historical Museum, NRHP-listed
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.9 miles on Phoenix–Globe Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 60 / West Live Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 66.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Scottsdale, AZ before heading back.
