Origin
Sacaton, AZ
Late night in Sacaton on Tuesday
Local time
2:03 AM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sacaton, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
36.2 mi
58 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sacaton, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Scottsdale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 36.2-mile drive from Sacaton to Scottsdale, Arizona, is a quick trip that can easily be completed in about 52 minutes, making it ideal for a single day. You'll primarily be navigating via the Price Freeway and Junction I-10-Mesa Highway, with South Arizona Avenue also playing a role. With a highway share of 71%, expect a fairly direct and efficient journey through the Desert Southwest. The estimated fuel cost is around $7, which is quite reasonable for this distance. Given its short duration, this route is perfectly suited for a day trip without the need for overnight stays, offering a straightforward connection between two points in the same state.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Price Freeway | 9.3 mi | 10m |
| Junction I-10-Mesa Highway | 8.3 mi | 11m |
| South Arizona Avenue | 5.8 mi | 9m |
| Pima Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Santan Freeway | 2 mi | 2m |
| East Sacaton Road | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| Indian Route 7 | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| East Chaparral Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Price Freeway
— 9.3 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sacaton, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ.
1
Start on South Main Street
72 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto East Sacaton Road
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Sacaton Road
3
Continue on BIA 7
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Indian Route 7
4
Continue on BIA 7
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Sacaton Road
5
Continue on BIA 7
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Indian Route 7
6
Turn left onto AZ 87
8.3 mi
·
11 min
·
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
7
Continue on AZ 87; BIA 56
226 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Hunt Highway
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto AZ 87
5.8 mi
·
9 min
·
South Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
Use the left lane.
10
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Santan Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 50A
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto East Chaparral Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Chaparral Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left
64 ft
·
4 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.1 miles from Sacaton, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 11.7 and 35.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
11.7 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
AZ 87 / South Arizona Avenue
Turn right onto AZ 87 / South Arizona Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
17.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Turn left toward AZ 202 Loop West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
5
17.8 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
19.8 mi into trip
|
~32m 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 50A
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
7
35.1 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward Chaparral Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.21 one way
$14.42 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $7.63 | $15.26 |
| premium | $5.59 | $7.97 | $15.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.99 | $15.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 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 | 10.9 | 0 | $3.80 | $1.74 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.17 | $1.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
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
Scottsdale, AZ
Late night in Scottsdale on Tuesday
Local time
2:03 AM
MST
Current temp
83°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
2 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
52m 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 route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 71% of the journey taking place on major roadways. You'll experience stretches of consistent speed, including the longest uninterrupted segment of 9.3 miles on the Price Freeway. While the majority is highway, the inclusion of roads like South Arizona Avenue suggests a potential for brief transitions to more urban or arterial road conditions as you approach your destination. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes getting you there efficiently, rather than a winding, scenic exploration.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.3 mi on Price Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Price Freeway and Junction I-10-Mesa Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.7 miles in near AZ 87 / South Arizona Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 36.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.7 miles (AZ 87 / South Arizona Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 17.8 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Scottsdale, AZ
Full guide →Founded 1894
Scottsdale is a city in the state of Arizona. Scottsdale is home to many galleries, high quality resorts, and golf courses. It is also one of the wealthier parts of the Phoenix Metro Area.
Top landmarks
- • Taliesin West — Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and school, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
- • Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art — art museum
- • Little Red Schoolhouse — now used as the Scottsdale Historical Museum, NRHP-listed
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 52m. Total distance: 36.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.3 miles on Price Freeway. 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 Scottsdale, 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 11.7 miles (AZ 87 / South Arizona Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 17.8 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Scottsdale, 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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