Surprise, AZ to Parker, AZ is 157.4 miles and takes about 2h 54m via Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward drive. You'll encounter mostly surface roads, making it a good option for those who prefer a more relaxed pace. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a convenient choice for a quick getaway from the Phoenix area.
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
78.7 miles from Surprise, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
103.6 mi
1h 44m
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
30.9 mi
35m
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
10.5 mi
12m
West Greenway Road
5.1 mi
9m
North Central Boulevard
3.1 mi
3m
East Main Street
1 mi
2m
California Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
I 10 Business
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 103.6 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Surprise, AZ and Parker, AZ.
1
Start on North Nash Street
0.3 mi·53 sec·North Nash Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto West Santa Fe Drive
0.3 mi·36 sec·West Santa Fe Drive
3
Turn right onto West Greenway Road
217 ft·7 sec·West Greenway Road
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right onto West Greenway Road
5.1 mi·9 min·West Greenway Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward AZ 303 Loop SouthUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto AZ 303 Loop
10 mi·12 min·Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
7
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 104BToward I 10 West: Los AngelesUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 10
104 mi·1 hr 44 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I 10 Business
0.4 mi·41 sec·I 10 Business
Toward US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma
10
Turn right onto I 10 Bus
0.1 mi·16 sec·Riggles Road
11
Turn left onto I 10 Bus
1.0 mi·2 min·East Main Street
12
Turn right onto AZ 95
3.1 mi·3 min·North Central Boulevard
13
Continue on AZ 95
20 mi·22 min·Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto AZ 95
11 mi·13 min·Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
15
Continue on AZ 95
0.8 mi·1 min·California Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
AZ 95
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour 54-minute drive time, leaving Surprise, AZ in the morning allows ample time to reach Parker, AZ without feeling rushed. You'll want to keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as there's only one recommended stop, and the longest stretch between potential services is over 100 miles. The fuel cost is estimated at $31, so budget accordingly before you depart. Because this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart later if needed, but a morning start is ideal for a relaxed arrival.
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 78.7 miles from Surprise, AZ, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.6 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 35 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.7 miles or 1h 27m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Parker, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Surprise, 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 Surprise, AZ
This is one driving day of about 157.4 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Surprise, 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 Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 103.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 17.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|West Santa Fe Drive
At end of road, turn left onto West Santa Fe Drive
Navigation decision point
7
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|West Greenway Road
Turn right onto West Greenway Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
5.6 mi into trip|~11m in
Turn left toward AZ 303 Loop South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward AZ 303 Loop South
7
16.5 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 104B
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
5
17.5 mi into trip|~25m in|I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.51 one way
$61.01 round trip
$4.92/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.20
$32.24
$64.47
premium
$5.44
$33.69
$67.38
diesel
$5.60
$34.70
$69.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.2
0
$16.53
$7.56
Efficient EV
39.4
0
$13.77
$6.30
EV Truck/SUV
63
0
$22.04
$10.07
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% 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 Sep 4, 2026
Origin
Surprise, AZ
Evening
in Surprise on Friday
Local time
8:33 PM
MST
Current temp
80°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 5 to 10 mph31% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued September 3 at 6:29PM MST until September 3 at 9:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued September 3 at 6:16PM MST until September 3 at 7:30PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
Destination
Parker, AZ
Evening
in Parker on Friday
Local time
8:33 PM
MST
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 2 to 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued September 3 at 6:29PM MST until September 3 at 9:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued September 3 at 6:16PM MST until September 3 at 7:30PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
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
3 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
2h 54m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 7% of your time on highways, with the remaining 93% on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 103.6 miles along Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. Expect a generally rural cruising experience, as the route is predominantly on surface roads for the majority of the distance.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.6 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near West Santa Fe Drive.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 157.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.3 miles (West Santa Fe Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (West Greenway Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,633 ft422 ft
Total Climb
794 ft
Total Descent
1,545 ft
Highest Point
1,633 ft
~112.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,211 ft
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 Surprise, AZ to Parker, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Yuma along the way.
Sun City is a suburb 20 miles (30km) northwest of downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It was built as a planned retirement community in Maricopa County in the 1960s. An adjacent retirement community Sun City West was built in the late 1970s; there is also a Sun City Grand. Directly northwest of the three "Sun City" suburbs is Surprise, Arizona.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 157.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (7%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.6 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (West Santa Fe Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (West Greenway Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Parker, AZ before heading back.
