This 151.5-mile drive from Quartzsite, AZ to Chandler, AZ will take you about 2 hours and 44 minutes. Primarily using the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Papago Freeway, and US 60, about 24% of this route involves highway driving. Considered a single-day trip with a fuel cost estimated at $30, this journey stays within the Desert Southwest region. It's a straightforward drive, perfect for a quick transition between these two Arizona locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75.8 miles from Quartzsite, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
107.3 mi
1h 48m
Papago Freeway
24.2 mi
27m
US 60
7.6 mi
8m
Maricopa Freeway
4.8 mi
5m
North Arizona Avenue
4 mi
6m
South Country Club Drive
1.5 mi
2m
West Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 107.3 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Quartzsite, AZ and Chandler, AZ.
1
Start on Oldham Lane
41 ft·8 sec·Oldham Lane
2
Turn left onto I 10 BUS; US 95
0.7 mi·1 min·West Main Street
3
Turn left onto I 10 BUS; US 95
0.2 mi·22 sec·Quartzsite Boulevard
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
5
Merge onto I 10
107 mi·1 hr 48 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 10
20 mi·22 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·35 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
8
Continue on I 10
3.2 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.2 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 10; US 60
4.8 mi·5 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto US 60
7.6 mi·8 min·US 60
Exit 154Toward US 60 East: Mesa, GlobeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 179Toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, ChandlerUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn right onto AZ 87
1.5 mi·2 min·South Country Club Drive
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on AZ 87
4.0 mi·6 min·North Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto East Chandler Boulevard
149 ft·12 sec·East Chandler Boulevard
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
East Chandler Boulevard
Trip Plan
For this roughly 2-hour and 44-minute trip, leaving in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility. With only one recommended stop and a manageable 151.5 miles, you have the freedom to take breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before embarking, and consider the estimated $30 fuel cost. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to signage as you transition from the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway to the Papago Freeway and then onto US 60, as these changes can be frequent.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.8 miles from Quartzsite, AZ, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.3 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 33 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.8 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chandler, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Quartzsite, 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 Quartzsite, AZ
This is one driving day of about 151.5 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Quartzsite, 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 Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 107.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 145.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
132 mi into trip|~2h 17m 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.
8
138 mi into trip|~2h 24m 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
8
145.7 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Take the exit toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Chandler
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 179
Toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Chandler
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.18 one way
$60.36 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$31.94
$63.88
premium
$5.59
$33.35
$66.70
diesel
$5.61
$33.45
$66.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.4
0
$15.91
$7.27
Efficient EV
37.9
0
$13.26
$6.06
EV Truck/SUV
60.6
0
$21.21
$9.70
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Quartzsite, AZ
Late night
in Quartzsite on Sunday
Local time
12:47 AM
MST
Current temp
48°F
Clear
NW 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Chandler, AZ
Late night
in Chandler on Sunday
Local time
12:47 AM
MST
Current temp
89°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
41 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
2h 44m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 151.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for much of this 151.5-mile excursion. While there's a 24% highway share, the longest uninterrupted stretch is 107.3 miles on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. The route's character shifts between open highway segments and more localized road conditions as you approach your destination in Chandler. This means you'll be navigating a mix of speeds and road types, so staying attentive is key.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.3 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 151.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 132 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Quartzsite, AZ to Chandler, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Globe along the way.
Quartzsite is a former mining town in La Paz County, Arizona. In 2020, it hosted a permanent population of 2,400 people, but during the balmy winters from December to February the population explodes to well over 100,000 as RV campers descend in droves in recreational vehicles to camp on the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Lands surrounding the town. Quartzite is also well known for gem shows, which draw over a million visitors yearly.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 151.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 107.3 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. 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 Chandler, 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 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 132 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Chandler, AZ before heading back.
