Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
40.2 mi
65 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scottsdale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Sun City West, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Scottsdale to Sun City West is 40.2 miles and takes about 54 minutes via Pima Freeway and Agua Fria Freeway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward connection between two well-established communities. You'll primarily be on major freeways, making this a quick and efficient option for getting from point A to point B. Consider this route for its simplicity and speed, especially if you're looking for a direct link without many detours.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pima Freeway | 22.8 mi | 26m |
| Agua Fria Freeway | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| West Bell Road | 5.5 mi | 10m |
| North R H Johnson Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| East Chaparral Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North 133rd Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Camino Del Sol | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Marble Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsdale, AZ and Sun City West, AZ.
Start on this road
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
Turn left
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto West Bell Road
Turn right onto North R H Johnson Boulevard
Turn right onto North 133rd Avenue
Turn right onto North Camino Del Sol
Turn right onto West Marble Drive
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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.
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 20.1 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 38 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left toward AZ 101 Loop North
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Bell Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward Bell Road, Surprise Stadium
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto North R H Johnson Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$7.79 one way
$15.58 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.20 | $8.23 | $16.47 |
| premium | $5.44 | $8.61 | $17.21 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $8.86 | $17.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.22 | $1.93 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.52 | $1.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.63 | $2.57 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Scottsdale on Saturday
Local time
5:47 PM
MST
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Clear
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued September 1 at 7:07PM MST until September 1 at 10:00PM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ
Destination
Evening in Sun City West on Saturday
Local time
5:47 PM
MST
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Clear
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued September 1 at 7:07PM MST until September 1 at 10:00PM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive is mostly highway, with 77% of the 40.2 miles on freeways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 22.8 miles on the Pima Freeway before transitioning to surface streets. Expect dense exits and merges as you navigate these major arteries. The transition to West Bell Road signals your arrival into the more local road network.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pima Freeway and Agua Fria 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.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 40.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
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 32.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
421 ft
Total Descent
447 ft
Highest Point
1,621 ft
~11.5 mi in
Elevation Range
447 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Sun City West, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Surprise Stadium along the way.
Surprise Stadium
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 40.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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