Origin
Scottsdale, AZ
Afternoon in Scottsdale on Sunday
Local time
1:24 PM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scottsdale, AZ to Rio Verde, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
27.9 mi
45 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
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.
Scottsdale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Rio Verde, AZ
Guillermo Berlin
Trip Overview
This quick 27.9-mile drive from Scottsdale to Rio Verde in Arizona is easily manageable as a day trip, taking about 52 minutes to complete. With an estimated fuel cost of just $6, it's an economical option for exploring the Desert Southwest. The route primarily utilizes East Shea Boulevard and East McDowell Mountain Road, with a brief stint on the Pima Freeway. Given its short distance and lack of designated stops, you'll have plenty of flexibility in your schedule. This drive offers a convenient way to transition between two similar Desert Southwest locations within the same state.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Shea Boulevard | 8.7 mi | 13m |
| East McDowell Mountain Road | 8.1 mi | 19m |
| Pima Freeway | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| North Fountain Hills Boulevard | 3.8 mi | 7m |
| East Chaparral Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Forest Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Four Peaks Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Medelice Lane | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East Shea Boulevard
— 8.7 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsdale, AZ and Rio Verde, 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
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Pima Freeway
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 41
Toward Shea Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
274 ft
·
6 sec
Toward Shea Boulevard, Fountain Hills
Use the right lane.
7
Turn straight onto East Shea Boulevard
8.7 mi
·
13 min
·
East Shea Boulevard
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto North Fountain Hills Boulevard
3.8 mi
·
7 min
·
North Fountain Hills Boulevard
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on East McDowell Mountain Road
8.1 mi
·
19 min
·
East McDowell Mountain Road
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on North Forest Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Forest Road
11
Turn left onto East Four Peaks Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Four Peaks Boulevard
12
Turn right onto North Medelice Lane
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
North Medelice Lane
13
Arrive at destination
North Medelice Lane
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 14.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Chaparral Road
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
Navigation decision point
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
7
5.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward Shea Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 41
Toward Shea Boulevard
8
6.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Shea Boulevard, Fountain Hills
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Shea Boulevard, Fountain Hills
4
14.9 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
North Fountain Hills Boulevard
Turn left onto North Fountain Hills Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.56 one way
$11.12 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $5.88 | $11.76 |
| premium | $5.59 | $6.14 | $12.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.16 | $12.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.93 | $1.34 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.44 | $1.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.91 | $1.79 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Rio Verde, AZ
Afternoon in Rio Verde on Sunday
Local time
1:24 PM
MST
Current temp
87°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
1 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 27.9-mile journey. Only 16% of the route involves highway driving, meaning you'll spend most of your time navigating city streets and local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.7 miles on East Shea Boulevard. As you progress, the character of the drive shifts from more urban to a more suburban and then potentially more rural feel as you approach Rio Verde. It's less about open highway cruising and more about mindful navigation through developed areas.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.7 mi on East Shea Boulevard.
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 early in the drive near East Chaparral Road.
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 8 decision points packed into just 27.9 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: near the start (East Chaparral Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
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 Rio Verde, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Fountain Hills along the way.
Fountain Hills
6.1 mi in
|
~8m
About the Cities
Starting 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: 27.9 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.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.7 miles on East Shea Boulevard. 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 Rio Verde, 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: near the start (East Chaparral Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rio Verde, 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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