Origin
Sun City West, AZ
Morning in Sun City West on Sunday
Local time
6:17 AM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sun City West, AZ to Maricopa, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
64.7 mi
104 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sun City West, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Maricopa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 64.7 miles across the Desert Southwest, this trip from Sun City West to Maricopa is a straightforward journey typically taking about 1 hour and 24 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You should budget approximately $13 for fuel to complete the trek. Navigating through the heart of the Arizona desert, you will transition between major urban corridors and secondary roads. It is a practical, efficient path that connects two distinct desert communities without unnecessary complexity. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a day of exploration, the trip offers a predictable pace that fits easily into a weekend schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Papago Freeway | 14.9 mi | 17m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| North Maricopa Road | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| Agua Fria Freeway | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| Grand Avenue | 5.5 mi | 9m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| North John Wayne Parkway | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| West Queen Creek Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Papago Freeway
— 14.9 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sun City West, AZ and Maricopa, AZ.
1
Start on West Marble Drive
257 ft
·
14 sec
·
West Marble Drive
2
Turn left onto North Camino Del Sol
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
North Camino Del Sol
3
Turn left onto North 133rd Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North 133rd Avenue
4
Turn left onto North R H Johnson Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North R H Johnson Boulevard
5
Turn right onto West Bell Road
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Bell Road
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto North Dysart Road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
North Dysart Road
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on North Dysart Road
336 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Dysart Road
8
Turn left onto US 60
5.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
10
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1B
Toward I 10 East: Phoenix
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 10
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
14
Continue on I 10
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 10; US 60
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 10
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 164
Toward AZ 347 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto AZ 347
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Queen Creek Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
20
Continue on AZ 347
12 mi
·
13 min
·
North Maricopa Road
21
Continue on AZ 347
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North John Wayne Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Arrive at destination
AZ 347
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.3 miles from Sun City West, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 48.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
West Bell Road
Turn right onto West Bell Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
North Dysart Road
Turn left onto North Dysart Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
17.8 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward I 10 East: Phoenix
6
32.8 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
I 10 / Papago Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
48.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward AZ 347 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 164
Toward AZ 347 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.89 one way
$25.78 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $13.64 | $27.28 |
| premium | $5.59 | $14.24 | $28.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.28 | $28.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.79 | $3.11 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.06 | $4.14 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Maricopa, AZ
Morning in Maricopa on Sunday
Local time
6:17 AM
MST
Current temp
57°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
31 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
1h 24m 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 mixed driving experience as you transition between high-speed freeways and local thoroughfares. You will spend roughly 59% of your time on highways, utilizing the Papago Freeway and the Maricopa Freeway before shifting onto North Maricopa Road. The longest uninterrupted section you will encounter is a 14.9-mile stretch along the Papago Freeway, which provides a steady rhythm before the route becomes more localized. As you move away from the metropolitan freeway grid, the character of the road shifts, requiring you to remain alert for changes in traffic flow. This blend of infrastructure types keeps the drive from feeling like a monotonous interstate slog while still maintaining a reasonable pace.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.9 mi on Papago Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 2.2 miles in near West Bell Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.7 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles (West Bell Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (North Dysart Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Sun City West, AZ
Full guide →Arriving in Maricopa, AZ
Full guide →Founded 2003
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 1h 24m. Total distance: 64.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.9 miles on Papago 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 Maricopa, 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 2.2 miles (West Bell Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (North Dysart Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Maricopa, 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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