Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
33.2 mi
53 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
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
San Carlos, AZ
Andrea Hinojosa
Peoria, AZ to San Carlos, AZ is 33.2 miles and takes about 48 minutes via Grand Avenue, Maricopa Freeway, and US 60, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Desert Southwest, offering a straightforward drive that's ideal for a quick transit. You'll experience a mixed driving profile, so expect some variety as you head east. The drive is manageable for a single day, making it a convenient option for local travel or connecting between points in Arizona.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Avenue | 9.3 mi | 16m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 8.8 mi | 10m |
| US 60 | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| South Alma School Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| West Elliot Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Hartford Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Black Canyon Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Peoria, AZ and San Carlos, AZ.
Start on North 83rd Avenue
Turn right onto US 60
Take the exit onto US 60
Turn left onto US 60
Turn right onto US 60
Take the exit
Merge onto I 17; US 60
Continue on I 17; US 60
Take the exit onto US 60
Take the exit
Turn right onto South Alma School Road
Turn left onto West Elliot Road
Turn right onto North Hartford Street
Turn right
Turn right
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 16.6 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 0 and 29.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto US 60 / Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 60 / West Thomas Road
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway
Navigation decision point
Take the exit onto US 60 toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Alma School Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$6.78 one way
$13.56 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.52 | $7.21 | $14.43 |
| premium | $5.72 | $7.48 | $14.95 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $6.99 | $13.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10 | 0 | $3.49 | $1.59 |
| Efficient EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.91 | $1.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.65 | $2.12 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Peoria on Wednesday
Local time
2:55 PM
MST
Current temp
104°F
Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in San Carlos on Wednesday
Local time
2:55 PM
MST
Current temp
104°F
Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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 route offers a mixed drive, with 59% of it on highways. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 9.3 miles on Grand Avenue before transitioning to freeway and then US 60. The road's character shifts from urban surface streets to faster-paced freeway and highway segments. Expect to navigate through various traffic conditions as you make your way across the landscape.
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 early in the drive near US 60 / Grand Avenue.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 33.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 60 / Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles (US 60 / West Thomas Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles (US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
228 ft
Total Descent
162 ft
Highest Point
1,207 ft
~23.7 mi in
Elevation Range
150 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Peoria, AZ to San Carlos, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Globe along the way.
Globe
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 33.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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