Origin
Scottsdale, AZ
Night in Scottsdale on Saturday
Local time
9:20 PM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scottsdale, AZ to Anthem, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
38.3 mi
62 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scottsdale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Anthem, AZ
cottonbro studio
Trip Overview
Scottsdale, AZ to Anthem, AZ is 38.3 miles and takes about 47m via Pima Freeway and Black Canyon Freeway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Desert Southwest, connecting two points in Arizona. It's a straightforward trip primarily on major freeways, making it ideal for a quick transit or a simple day trip without much fuss. You'll find the journey efficient and direct, perfect if you're looking for a no-complication commute or a brief excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pima Freeway | 22 mi | 25m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 12.5 mi | 13m |
| East Chaparral Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North 41st Drive | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| West Anthem Way | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pima Freeway
— 22 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsdale, AZ and Anthem, AZ.
1
Start on this road
64 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Chaparral Road
3
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 23C-B
Toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
8
Merge onto I 17
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 229
Toward Anthem Way
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto West Anthem Way
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
West Anthem Way
11
Turn slight left
291 ft
·
16 sec
12
Turn left onto North 41st Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North 41st Drive
13
Turn left
78 ft
·
6 sec
14
Turn right
241 ft
·
17 sec
15
Arrive at destination
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 19.2 miles from Scottsdale, 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 0.7 and 37.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn left toward AZ 101 Loop North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
23 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
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 23C-B
Toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Phoenix, Flagsta...
7
23.5 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
7
37.2 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward Anthem Way
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 229
Toward Anthem Way
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.63 one way
$15.26 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $8.07 | $16.15 |
| premium | $5.59 | $8.43 | $16.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.46 | $16.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 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 | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.35 | $1.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.36 | $2.45 |
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
Anthem, AZ
Night in Anthem on Saturday
Local time
9:20 PM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
85°F
Cave Creek, AZ
19 mi in
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
33 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
47m 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 drive is heavily highway-focused, with 90% of the route utilizing major freeways. Expect a smooth and rapid journey for the most part, especially during the 22-mile stretch on the Pima Freeway. The Black Canyon Freeway continues this high-speed transit feel. While primarily a freeway experience, the inclusion of East Chaparral Road offers a slight variation as you approach your destination. The personality of the road is undeniably efficient, designed for quick travel between these neighboring Arizona locations.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22 mi on Pima Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pima Freeway and Black Canyon Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
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 11 decision points packed into just 38.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23 miles: 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.
On the drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Anthem, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Flagstaff along the way.
Flagstaff
23 mi in
|
~27m
About the Cities
Starting in Scottsdale, AZ
Full guide →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.
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 47m. Total distance: 38.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22 miles on Pima 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 Anthem, 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 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Anthem, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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