Origin
Phoenix, AZ
Night in Phoenix on Saturday
Local time
11:04 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Phoenix, AZ to Queen Creek, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
38.1 mi
61 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Phoenix, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Queen Creek, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Phoenix to Queen Creek covers a compact 38.1 miles through the heart of the Desert Southwest. Expect the journey to take approximately 51 minutes, making it a straightforward day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate via local surface streets including South 1st Avenue, West Madison Street, and South 1st Street rather than relying on major interstates. With a modest fuel budget of just $7, this is an incredibly cost-effective excursion. Since both cities are located within the same region, you will experience a consistent desert landscape throughout the entire transit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 60 | 18.7 mi | 21m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| South Ellsworth Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Santan Freeway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| South Ellsworth Loop Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| South 7th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| East Lincoln Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Gateway Freeway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 18.7 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Phoenix, AZ and Queen Creek, AZ.
1
Start on West Washington Street
322 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Washington Street
2
Turn left onto South 1st Avenue
436 ft
·
9 sec
·
South 1st Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Keep slight left at fork onto South 1st Avenue
350 ft
·
14 sec
·
South 1st Avenue
4
Turn left onto West Madison Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
West Madison Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto South 1st Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
South 1st Street
6
Turn left onto East Lincoln Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Lincoln Street
7
Turn right onto South 7th Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South 7th Street
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto East Maricopa Freeway
290 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Maricopa Freeway
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 17 South, US 60 East
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 17; US 60
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto US 60
19 mi
·
21 min
·
US 60
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 190B
Toward AZ Loop 202 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Santan Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Exit 34A
Toward AZ 24 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on AZ 24
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
Gateway Freeway
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1
Toward Ellsworth Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto South Ellsworth Road
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
South Ellsworth Road
18
Continue on South Ellsworth Loop Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Ellsworth Loop Road
19
Turn left onto East Ocotillo Road
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Ocotillo Road
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
East Ocotillo Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19 miles from Phoenix, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 31 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South 1st Avenue
Turn left onto South 1st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 17 South, US 60 East
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 17 South, US 60 East
8
8.8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
US 60
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe
7
27.4 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward AZ Loop 202 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 190B
Toward AZ Loop 202 South
7
31 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward AZ 24 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 34A
Toward AZ 24 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.59 one way
$15.18 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $8.03 | $16.07 |
| premium | $5.59 | $8.39 | $16.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.41 | $16.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.33 | $2.44 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Queen Creek, AZ
Night in Queen Creek on Saturday
Local time
11:04 PM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
34 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
51m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This 38.1-mile transit is a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike long-haul interstate routes, this trip features a 0% highway share, meaning you will navigate city infrastructure from start to finish. You won't find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, as the longest segment on South 1st Avenue is negligible. Prepare for a series of frequent turns and urban transitions rather than a high-speed cruise. It is a practical, functional drive that keeps you engaged with the local road network for the duration of the 51-minute transit.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.7 mi on US 60.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and Maricopa Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South 1st Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 38.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 miles (US 60): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Phoenix, AZ and Queen Creek, AZ, road signs point toward Globe and Az Loop 202 South.
Globe
8.8 mi in
|
~13m
|
via US 60
Az Loop 202 South
27.4 mi in
|
~34m
About the Cities
Starting in Phoenix, AZ
Full guide →Founded 1868
Phoenix is the capital of the state of Arizona, the most populous city in the American Southwest. Warm and sunny winter weather have ensured a thriving tourism industry, and the city has become the region's primary political, cultural, economic, and transportation center. Phoenix is extremely hot and dry in the summertime, so always have sunscreen with you! It had about 1,625,000 residents in 2021, and is the fifth largest city in the United States.
Top landmarks
- • Arizona State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Arizona
- • Phoenix Art Museum — art museum in Phoenix, Arizona
- • St. Mary's Basilica — Roman Catholic church in Phoenix, Arizona
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 38.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.7 miles on US 60. 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 Queen Creek, 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 0.1 miles (South 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 miles (US 60): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins 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 Queen Creek, AZ before heading back.
How this page is built
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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