Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
20.2 mi
33 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Phoenix, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Surprise, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Phoenix to Surprise covers a brief 26.9-mile distance, making this a straightforward trek within the Desert Southwest. You can expect the journey to take approximately 35 minutes under normal traffic conditions. Because this is a quick trip, you do not need to worry about overnight accommodations; it is perfectly suited for a single day of travel. With a fuel budget of just $5, it is an incredibly economical route to manage. Since both cities are located within the same region, you will experience a consistent environment throughout the entire drive. This is a practical, no-nonsense path if you are looking to move between these two Arizona hubs quickly.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Avenue | 19 mi | 33m |
| West Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Nash Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Santa Fe Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North 7th Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Greenway Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Phoenix, AZ and Surprise, AZ.
Start on West Washington Street
Turn right onto North 7th Avenue
Turn slight left onto Grand Avenue
Turn right onto West Greenway Road
Turn left onto Santa Fe Drive
Turn right onto North Nash Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 20 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Depart onto West Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto North 7th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto West Greenway Road
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Santa Fe Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto North Nash Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$4.02 one way
$8.05 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $4.26 | $8.52 |
| premium | $5.59 | $4.45 | $8.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.46 | $8.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.12 | $0.97 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.77 | $0.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.29 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Late night in Phoenix on Tuesday
Local time
5:21 AM
MST
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Surprise on Tuesday
Local time
5:21 AM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route contains zero highway miles. Your navigation will rely on a mix of North 7th Avenue, Grand Avenue, and West Greenway Road to reach your destination. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on North 7th Avenue, you should prepare for frequent turns and constant adjustments rather than long, uninterrupted periods of driving. This personality makes the route feel more like a navigation through local corridors than a major highway haul. Stay alert at intersections, as the nature of these local roads requires your full attention throughout the duration of the trip.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Washington Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 36m drive. You will face about 6 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 (West Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (North 7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 19.7 miles (West Greenway Road): Lane positioning matters here.
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
Sun City is a suburb 20 miles (30km) northwest of downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It was built as a planned retirement community in Maricopa County in the 1960s. An adjacent retirement community Sun City West was built in the late 1970s; there is also a Sun City Grand. Directly northwest of the three "Sun City" suburbs is Surprise, Arizona.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 20.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Phoenix, AZ or browse trips ending in Surprise, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.
