Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
45 mi
72 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Peoria, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Rio Verde, AZ
Guillermo Berlin
This straightforward 45-mile drive from Peoria, AZ to Rio Verde, AZ will take you about 1 hour and 16 minutes. It's an easy one-day trip, so you won't need to worry about booking overnight stays. The route primarily utilizes the Agua Fria Freeway and Pima Freeway before transitioning to East Rio Verde Drive. With a projected fuel cost of around $9, this is an economical option for a short excursion within the Desert Southwest region. Expect a mixed driving experience, making it a convenient and manageable journey.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Agua Fria Freeway | 11.4 mi | 13m |
| East Rio Verde Drive | 9.8 mi | 23m |
| Pima Freeway | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| East Dynamite Boulevard | 4.9 mi | 10m |
| North Scottsdale Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| East Pinnacle Peak Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| North Tatum Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Grand Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Peoria, AZ and Rio Verde, AZ.
Start on North 83rd Avenue
Turn left onto US 60
Turn right onto North 91st Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn straight onto North Tatum Boulevard
Turn right onto East Pinnacle Peak Road
Turn left onto North Scottsdale Road
Turn right onto East Dynamite Boulevard
Continue on East Rio Verde Drive
Enter roundabout onto East Rio Verde Drive
Continue on East Rio Verde Drive
Enter roundabout onto East Rio Verde Drive
Continue on East Rio Verde Drive
Turn right onto North Forest Road
Turn right onto East Poco Rio Drive
Turn left onto North Medelice Lane
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 22.5 miles from Peoria, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 28.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto North 91st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Tatum Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward Tatum Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto North Scottsdale Road
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto East Dynamite Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$8.96 one way
$17.93 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $9.49 | $18.97 |
| premium | $5.59 | $9.91 | $19.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.94 | $19.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.94 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.30 | $2.88 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Peoria on Saturday
Local time
9:22 PM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
Destination
Night in Rio Verde on Saturday
Local time
9:22 PM
MST
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
85°F
Cave Creek, AZ
23 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive offers a varied experience, with 42% of it being on highways. You'll encounter stretches of open road, including an uninterrupted 11.4-mile segment on the Agua Fria Freeway, allowing for steady progress. The profile is described as a 'mixed drive,' suggesting a blend of faster freeway travel and potentially more local or slower-paced sections as you approach your destination. The transition between major freeways and East Rio Verde Drive will likely change the feel of the road, so be prepared for a slight shift in pace.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near North 91st Avenue.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45 miles you will encounter 14 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 1.4 miles (North 91st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Peoria is a city inside of Phoenix, Arizona. Many visitors come to the area during the spring to see their favorite professional baseball team during Spring Training in the Cactus League.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 45 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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