Origin
Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ
Evening in Pinetop-Lakeside on Saturday
Local time
7:53 PM
MST
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ to Surprise, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 28m
Distance
210.3 mi
339 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 15m
★
6 AM
4h 28m
8 AM
4h 55m
10 AM
4h 38m
12 PM
4h 35m
3 PM
4h 39m
5 PM
4h 54m
8 PM
4h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Surprise, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 210.3-mile drive from Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ to Surprise, AZ will take approximately 4 hours and 28 minutes of driving time. Designed for a single day trip, the route traverses the Desert Southwest region entirely within Arizona. With an estimated fuel cost of $42, this journey is budget-friendly. The main roads you'll follow include the Globe-Show Low Highway, Phoenix–Globe Highway, and the Superstition Freeway, offering a varied driving experience. Expect one recommended stop along the way. This trip offers a straightforward transition between two points in the same state, making it a manageable excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
105.2 miles from Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Globe-Show Low Highway | 83.5 mi | 1h 35m |
| Phoenix–Globe Highway | 42.9 mi | 55m |
| Superstition Freeway | 27.1 mi | 31m |
| Papago Freeway | 15 mi | 17m |
| Agua Fria Freeway | 8.8 mi | 10m |
| West White Mountain Boulevard | 5.7 mi | 10m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Grand Avenue | 4.7 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
Globe-Show Low Highway
— 83.5 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ and Surprise, AZ.
1
Start on West Summer Haven Lane
478 ft
·
26 sec
·
West Summer Haven Lane
2
Continue on West Summer Haven Lane
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
West Summer Haven Lane
3
Turn left onto AZ 260
5.7 mi
·
10 min
·
West White Mountain Boulevard
4
Continue on AZ 260
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South White Mountain Road
5
Turn left onto East Woolford
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Woolford
6
Continue on South Central Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Central Avenue
7
Turn left onto West Whipple Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Whipple Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 60; AZ 77; AZ 260
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Deuce of Clubs
9
Continue on US 60; AZ 77
83 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
Globe-Show Low Highway
10
Turn right onto US 60
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Ash Street
11
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Hill Street
12
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Oak Street
13
Turn right onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
North Broad Street
14
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
15
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
US 60
16
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West Live Oak Street
17
Continue on US 60
43 mi
·
55 min
·
Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
27 mi
·
31 min
·
Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
·
US 60
Toward I 10 North
20
Merge onto I 10; US 60
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
24
Continue on I 10
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 133B
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 11
Toward US 60
Use the slight right lane.
28
Turn left onto US 60
4.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
29
Turn right onto West Greenway Road
212 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Greenway Road
Use the right lane.
30
Turn left onto Santa Fe Drive
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Santa Fe Drive
Use the left lane.
31
Turn right onto North Nash Street
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Nash Street
32
Arrive at destination
North Nash Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 28-minute duration, starting your journey from Pinetop-Lakeside in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, flexibility is key; plan your breaks based on your personal needs rather than a rigid schedule. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 83.5-mile stretch on the Globe-Show Low Highway, as services might be less frequent. The $42 fuel cost is an estimate, so factor in potential price fluctuations. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means paying close attention to GPS or signage to avoid missing any crucial turns.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 105.2 miles from Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 46 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.2 miles or 2h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Surprise, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ
This is one driving day of about 210.3 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Globe-Show Low Highway for about 83.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 105.2 miles from Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Globe-Show Low Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.5 miles.
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 185 decision points cluster between mile 179.5 and 209.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
179.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 48m in
|
I 10 / Papago Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
181.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 50m in
|
I 10 / Papago Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
195.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 6m in
Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 133B
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
7
204.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 17m in
Take the exit toward US 60
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward US 60
7
209.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 26m in
|
Santa Fe Drive
Turn left onto Santa Fe Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.89 one way
$83.79 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
74 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $44.34 | $88.67 |
| premium | $5.59 | $46.29 | $92.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $46.43 | $92.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.1 | 0 | $22.08 | $10.09 |
| Efficient EV | 52.6 | 0 | $18.40 | $8.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.1 | 1 | $29.44 | $13.46 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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
Surprise, AZ
Evening in Surprise on Saturday
Local time
7:53 PM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
49 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 28m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 29% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a mix of road types, transitioning from more local roads to faster stretches. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 83.5 miles on the Globe-Show Low Highway. Be prepared for frequent changes in road conditions and potential for more frequent turns compared to a pure interstate experience. This profile suggests a drive that requires attention to navigation and may feel more like exploring the landscape than a high-speed transit.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.5 mi on Globe-Show Low Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 179.5 miles in near I 10 / Papago Freeway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 210.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 179.5 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 181.4 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 195.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Surprise, AZ
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 28m. Total distance: 210.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.5 miles on Globe-Show Low Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Surprise, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 179.5 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 181.4 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 195.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Surprise, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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