Origin
Wickenburg, AZ
Late night in Wickenburg on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
MST
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wickenburg, AZ to Phoenix, 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 20m
Distance
53.8 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wickenburg, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Phoenix, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Wickenburg to Phoenix, you are looking at a straightforward 66-mile journey through the heart of the Desert Southwest. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 10 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Your route will primarily take you along East Wickenburg Way, the Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway, and Grand Avenue. With an estimated fuel cost of just $13, this is an economical way to move between the two locations. Because the entire trip stays within the state of Arizona, you will experience a consistent regional atmosphere throughout the drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Avenue | 41 mi | 1h 2m |
| Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway | 8.7 mi | 10m |
| East Wickenburg Way | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Wickenburg–Phoenix Highway | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| West Van Buren Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North 1st Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Adams Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Washington Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Grand Avenue
— 41 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wickenburg, AZ and Phoenix, AZ.
1
Start on South Tegner Street
157 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Tegner Street
2
Turn right onto US 60
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
East Wickenburg Way
3
Enter roundabout onto US 60
3 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Wickenburg Way
4
Continue on US 60
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East Wickenburg Way
5
Continue on US 60
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
6
Continue on US 60
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on US 60
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Wickenburg–Phoenix Highway
8
Continue on US 60
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
31 mi
·
48 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on Grand Avenue
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left / right / straight lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 80 Hist
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Van Buren Street
12
Turn slight right onto North 1st Avenue
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
North 1st Avenue
13
Turn left onto West Adams Street
0.1 mi
·
40 sec
·
West Adams Street
14
Turn right onto North 1st Street
408 ft
·
18 sec
·
North 1st Street
15
Turn right onto East Washington Street
453 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Washington Street
16
Arrive at destination
West Washington Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.9 miles from Wickenburg, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 53.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 60 / East Wickenburg Way
Turn right onto US 60 / East Wickenburg Way
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 60 / East Wickenburg Way
Enter roundabout onto US 60 / East Wickenburg Way
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
18.2 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
US 60 / Grand Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60 / Grand Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
53.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
West Adams Street
Turn left onto West Adams Street
Navigation decision point
5
53.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
North 1st Street
Turn right onto North 1st Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.72 one way
$21.44 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $11.34 | $22.68 |
| premium | $5.59 | $11.84 | $23.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.88 | $23.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.65 | $2.58 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.71 | $2.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.53 | $3.44 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Phoenix, AZ
Late night in Phoenix on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
MST
Current temp
93°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
11 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
1h 20m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will find that this route avoids traditional highway driving entirely, as the highway share is 0 percent. Navigating the transition from the quieter stretches of East Wickenburg Way into the more developed corridors of Grand Avenue keeps the experience engaging. Since there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of road, you should be ready for frequent changes in traffic flow and turns. The road’s personality reflects its role as a primary connection between these two desert hubs, offering a practical, direct path.
Only 0% 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: 41 mi on Grand Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 60 / East Wickenburg Way.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 20m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 60 / East Wickenburg Way): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 60 / East Wickenburg Way): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 18.2 miles (US 60 / Grand Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Wickenburg, 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 Phoenix, AZ
Full guide →Founded 1868
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
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 20m. Total distance: 53.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41 miles on Grand Avenue. 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: near the start (US 60 / East Wickenburg Way): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 60 / East Wickenburg Way): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 18.2 miles (US 60 / Grand Avenue): 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 Phoenix, 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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