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.
Main Roads
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
Longest stretch:
Agua Fria Freeway
— 11.4 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Peoria, AZ and Rio Verde, AZ.
1
Start on North 83rd Avenue
128 ft·6 sec·North 83rd Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·Grand Avenue
3
Turn right onto North 91st Avenue
0.2 mi·22 sec·North 91st Avenue
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·56 sec
5
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
11 mi·13 min·Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
7.5 mi·8 min·Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 31Toward Tatum BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward Tatum BoulevardUse the left lane.
9
Turn straight onto North Tatum Boulevard
1.8 mi·3 min·North Tatum Boulevard
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto East Pinnacle Peak Road
2.5 mi·3 min·East Pinnacle Peak Road
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto North Scottsdale Road
2.9 mi·4 min·North Scottsdale Road
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto East Dynamite Boulevard
4.9 mi·10 min·East Dynamite Boulevard
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on East Rio Verde Drive
1.0 mi·2 min·East Rio Verde Drive
14
Enter roundabout onto East Rio Verde Drive
95 ft·5 sec·East Rio Verde Drive
15
Continue on East Rio Verde Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·East Rio Verde Drive
16
Enter roundabout onto East Rio Verde Drive
73 ft·4 sec·East Rio Verde Drive
17
Continue on East Rio Verde Drive
8.4 mi·20 min·East Rio Verde Drive
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto North Forest Road
1.1 mi·2 min·North Forest Road
19
Turn right onto East Poco Rio Drive
0.2 mi·30 sec·East Poco Rio Drive
20
Turn left onto North Medelice Lane
0.2 mi·40 sec·North Medelice Lane
21
Arrive at destination
North Medelice Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
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.
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|North 91st Avenue
Turn right onto North 91st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
21.1 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit toward Tatum Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31
Toward Tatum Boulevard
8
21.4 mi into trip|~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Tatum Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward Tatum Boulevard
6
25.8 mi into trip|~34m in|North Scottsdale Road
Turn left onto North Scottsdale Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
28.8 mi into trip|~38m in|East Dynamite Boulevard
Turn right onto East Dynamite Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.19 one way
$18.38 round trip
$5.19/gal25.4 MPG avg16 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$9.78
$19.55
premium
$5.72
$10.13
$20.26
diesel
$5.35
$9.48
$18.96
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, 2026-06-01.
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of May 28, 2026
Origin
Peoria, AZ
Afternoon
in Peoria on Wednesday
Local time
2:53 PM
MST
Current temp
64°F
Clear
SW 0 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued May 27 at 8:15PM MST until May 28 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued May 27 at 8:15PM MST until May 28 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Destination
Rio Verde, AZ
Afternoon
in Rio Verde on Wednesday
Local time
2:53 PM
MST
Current temp
63°F
Clear
SSE 0 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued May 27 at 8:15PM MST until May 28 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued May 27 at 8:15PM MST until May 28 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 16m 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 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.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.4 mi on Agua Fria Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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.
Driving Effort7/10
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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,627 ft1,141 ft
Total Climb
1,487 ft
Total Descent
1,010 ft
Highest Point
2,627 ft
~35.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,487 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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.
Top landmarks
•Central School — school building in Peoria, Arizona
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.4 miles on Agua Fria 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 Rio Verde, 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 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rio Verde, AZ before heading back.
