This 133.6-mile drive from Sells, AZ to Phoenix, AZ takes about 2 hours and 48 minutes and is easily manageable as a single-day trip. You'll navigate a mix of roads, including Indian Route 15 and the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, with about 45% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is $27. Passing through the Desert Southwest region, this drive offers a practical connection between these two Arizona locations, with one recommended stop. It's a straightforward trip for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently.
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
66.8 miles from Sells, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Indian Route 15
46.8 mi
1h 4m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
37.5 mi
37m
West Tucson-Ajo Highway
21.2 mi
24m
Maricopa Freeway
13.9 mi
16m
South Chuichu Road
5.4 mi
8m
Phoenix Bypass Route
3 mi
3m
South 7th Street
1.3 mi
2m
West Hanna Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Indian Route 15
— 46.8 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sells, AZ and Phoenix, AZ.
1
Start on this road
19 ft·0 sec·this road
2
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·34 sec·this road
3
Turn right
0.1 mi·34 sec
4
Turn left onto Main Road
0.2 mi·45 sec·Main Road
5
Continue on BIA 19
0.6 mi·1 min·San Miguel Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto AZ 86
21 mi·24 min·West Tucson-Ajo Highway
7
Turn right onto BIA 15
47 mi·1 hr 4 min·Indian Route 15
8
Continue on BIA 15
5.4 mi·8 min·South Chuichu Road
9
Turn right onto West Hanna Street
1.0 mi·1 min·West Hanna Street
10
Turn left onto South Trekell Road
0.4 mi·47 sec·South Trekell Road
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 8 East: Tucson
12
Merge onto I 8
3.0 mi·3 min·Phoenix Bypass Route
13
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 178BToward I 10 West: Phoenix
14
Merge onto I 10
37 mi·37 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 10
12 mi·13 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
1.9 mi·2 min·Maricopa Freeway
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: FlagstaffUse the slight right lane.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 195BToward 7th Street, Central AvenueUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight onto East Maricopa Freeway
134 ft·2 sec·East Maricopa Freeway
19
Turn right onto South 7th Street
1.3 mi·2 min·South 7th Street
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Washington Street
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
West Washington Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 3 hours, this route offers flexibility for when you depart. You can easily make it in one day without needing an overnight stay. Consider leaving in the morning to take advantage of daylight and allow for your single recommended stop. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 46.8-mile stretch on Indian Route 15, as services might be less frequent. Planning your fuel stops in advance will ensure a smooth journey.
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 66.8 miles from Sells, AZ, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.8 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 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.8 miles or 1h 28m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Phoenix, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sells, 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 Sells, AZ
This is one driving day of about 133.6 miles and 2h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Sells, 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 Indian Route 15 for about 46.8 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 133 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
6
79.2 mi into trip|~1h 46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 178B
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
8
129.6 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|US 60 / Maricopa Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60 / Maricopa Freeway toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
8
131.5 mi into trip|~2h 43m in
Take the exit toward 7th Street, Central Avenue
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 195B
Toward 7th Street, Central Avenue
6
133 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.61 one way
$53.23 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$28.17
$56.33
premium
$5.59
$29.41
$58.82
diesel
$5.61
$29.50
$58.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.1
0
$14.03
$6.41
Efficient EV
33.4
0
$11.69
$5.34
EV Truck/SUV
53.4
0
$18.70
$8.55
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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 16, 2026
Origin
Sells, AZ
Night
in Sells on Saturday
Local time
9:15 PM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Phoenix, AZ
Night
in Phoenix on Saturday
Local time
9:15 PM
MST
Current temp
93°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
5 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 48m 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.
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 87.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this drive is a mixed bag, offering a blend of highway speeds and more local road experiences. With 45% of the route utilizing highways, you'll find stretches where you can maintain good momentum. However, be prepared for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 46.8 miles on Indian Route 15, which might offer a different driving pace. This journey isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; expect the road's personality to shift as you transition between different types of thoroughfares.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.8 mi on Indian Route 15.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 133.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 79.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 129.6 miles (US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Phoenix is the capital of the state of Arizona, the most populous city in the American Southwest. Warm and sunny winter weather have ensured a thriving tourism industry, and the city has become the region's primary political, cultural, economic, and transportation center. Phoenix is extremely hot and dry in the summertime, so always have sunscreen with you! It had about 1,625,000 residents in 2021, and is the fifth largest city in the United States.
Top landmarks
•Arizona State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Arizona
•Phoenix Art Museum — art museum in Phoenix, Arizona
•St. Mary's Basilica — Roman Catholic church in Phoenix, Arizona
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 133.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.8 miles on Indian Route 15. 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 Phoenix, 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 79.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 129.6 miles (US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Phoenix, AZ before heading back.
