Origin
Surprise, AZ
Late night in Surprise on Sunday
Local time
12:51 AM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Surprise, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
38.4 mi
62 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Surprise, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Scottsdale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 38.5-mile drive from Surprise, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ is a straightforward local journey that can easily be completed in about 44 minutes. With no highway driving involved, it's ideal as a single-day trip, offering a convenient way to travel between two points within the Desert Southwest region of Arizona. The estimated fuel cost for this short trip is around $8, making it an economical option. The overall feel is that of navigating local streets and roads, so expect a more relaxed pace compared to interstate travel. This route is perfect for those looking for a simple, direct connection without the complexities of longer road trips.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pima Freeway | 22.7 mi | 26m |
| Agua Fria Freeway | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| West Bell Road | 5 mi | 8m |
| East Chaparral Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North El Mirage Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Paradise Lane | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Nash Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pima Freeway
— 22.7 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Surprise, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ.
1
Start on North Nash Street
88 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Nash Street
2
Turn right onto West Paradise Lane
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Paradise Lane
3
At end of road, turn left onto North El Mirage Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North El Mirage Road
4
Turn right onto West Bell Road
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
West Bell Road
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
23 mi
·
26 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Chaparral Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
10
Turn left
64 ft
·
4 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.2 miles from Surprise, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 37.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North El Mirage Road
At end of road, turn left onto North El Mirage Road
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
West Bell Road
Turn right onto West Bell Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the ramp toward AZ 101 Loop North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
5
6.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
AZ 101 Loop / Agua Fria Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Agua Fria Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
37.4 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward Chaparral Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.65 one way
$15.30 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $8.10 | $16.19 |
| premium | $5.59 | $8.45 | $16.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.48 | $16.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.36 | $1.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.38 | $2.46 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Scottsdale, AZ
Late night in Scottsdale on Sunday
Local time
12:51 AM
MST
Current temp
88°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
50m 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?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be navigating city streets and arterial roads for the entire 44-minute duration. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not applicable here, as the constant turns and intersections define the driving experience. You'll be frequently adjusting your speed and direction as you make your way through various local thoroughfares like West Paradise Lane and West Bell Road. Expect a consistent pattern of turns and stops, requiring your full attention to traffic signals and local road conditions throughout the 38.5 miles.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.7 mi on Pima Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pima Freeway and Agua Fria Freeway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near North El Mirage Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 38.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.5 miles (North El Mirage Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (West Bell Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Surprise, AZ
Full guide →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.
Arriving in Scottsdale, AZ
Full guide →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.
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 50m. Total distance: 38.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.7 miles on Pima Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.5 miles (North El Mirage Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (West Bell Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Scottsdale, 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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