How far is Fountain Hills, AZ from San Tan Valley, AZ?

The driving distance from Fountain Hills, AZ to San Tan Valley, AZ is about 47.8 miles (77 km), with a travel time of about 00h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 31.1 miles (50 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 58m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MST.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
47.82 mi
00h 59m
Flight
31.04 mi
49.96 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fountain Hills.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
31.04 mi
Kilometers
49.96 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
47.82 mi
Kilometers
76.96 km
Drive Time
00h 59m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Tan Valley
Sun, Apr 19, 5:53 AM MST
Return by in Fountain Hills
Sun, Apr 19, 6:52 AM MST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fountain Hills
2026-04-19T04:54
Arrive San Tan Valley
Sun, Apr 19, 5:53 AM MST
Route Timing
00h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:59 AM to 10:59 AM MST

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:32 PM MST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fountain Hills
9:30 PM MST
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Apache Junction
AZ

A town in Pinal County, Arizona.

From Fountain Hills
23.4 mi
00h 29m
To San Tan Valley
24.4 mi
00h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
93°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM MST
Wind
10 mph SE
Destination
94°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM MST
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Fountain Hills and San Tan Valley.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fountain Hills and San Tan Valley.

  1. 1

    Start on North Hamilton Drive

    839 ft · 31 sec · North Hamilton Drive

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto North Saguaro Boulevard

    3.3 mi · 6 min · North Saguaro Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Shea Boulevard

    3146 ft · 1 min · East Shea Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Beeline Highway

    6.7 mi · 8 min · Beeline Highway

  5. 5

    Turn left onto North Gilbert Road

    2.6 mi · 4 min · North Gilbert Road

  6. 6

    Turn left onto East McDowell Road

    1975 ft · 57 sec · East McDowell Road

  7. 7

    Turn left onto AZ 202 Loop East

    2251 ft · 57 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Red Mountain Freeway

    13.2 mi · 15 min · Red Mountain Freeway

  9. 9

    Continue on Santan Freeway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · Santan Freeway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward AZ 24 East

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  11. 11

    Continue on Gateway Freeway

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Gateway Freeway

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    1799 ft · 24 sec

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    2232 ft · 44 sec

  14. 14

    Continue on Gateway Freeway

    3127 ft · 59 sec · Gateway Freeway

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    2198 ft · 44 sec

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    1892 ft · 38 sec

  17. 17

    Continue on Gateway Freeway

    1677 ft · 32 sec · Gateway Freeway

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    1702 ft · 34 sec

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    2018 ft · 40 sec

  20. 20

    Continue on Gateway Expressway

    2100 ft · 40 sec · Gateway Expressway

  21. 21

    Continue on Gateway Expressway

    1997 ft · 41 sec · Gateway Expressway

  22. 22

    Turn right onto North Ironwood Road

    3.4 mi · 6 min · North Ironwood Road

  23. 23

    Continue on North Gantzel Road

    2 mi · 3 min · North Gantzel Road

  24. 24

    Turn left onto East Combs Road

    2 mi · 4 min · East Combs Road

  25. 25

    Turn right onto North Schnepf Road

    2 mi · 5 min · North Schnepf Road

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Skyline Drive

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fountain Hills and San Tan Valley.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
26 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
54.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Red Mountain Freeway
13.2 mi · 28%
Beeline Highway
6.73 mi · 14%
Gateway Freeway
4.72 mi · 10%
North Ironwood Road
3.38 mi · 7%
North Saguaro Boulevard
3.29 mi · 7%
Santan Freeway
3.28 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Red Mountain Freeway

Merge slight left onto Red Mountain Freeway

13.2 mi · 00h 15m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 59m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.7 mi
31.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Apache Junction
00h 29m from Fountain Hills
Leave By
4:32 PM MST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Fountain Hills and Mostly Sunny near San Tan Valley.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fountain Hills to San Tan Valley?

The road trip is about 47.8 miles (77 km) and usually takes 00h 59m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Apache Junction is a useful midpoint, sitting about 23.4 miles from Fountain Hills and 24.4 miles from San Tan Valley.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 31.1 miles (50 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.7 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:32 PM MST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.37 one way or $16.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Fountain Hills and Mostly Sunny near San Tan Valley.

Stop Ideas Near Apache Junction

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Apache Junction, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Apache Junction.

BUS

Phoenix (Airport), Arizona

43 mi away
3400 East Sky Harbor Blvd.
BUS

Phoenix (Greyhound), Arizona

45 mi away
2115 East Buckeye Road
BUS

Phoenix (Metro Center Transit Station), Arizona

54 mi away
9617 North Metro Parkway West
RAIL

Maricopa

61 mi away
19427 N. John Wayne Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fountain Hills and San Tan Valley. Straight-line distance: 31.04 mi (49.96 km).

Fountain Hills

#1 Fountain Hills

Town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Population25,960
Coordinates33.6117100, -111.7173600
Altitude489
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 San Tan Valley

This Arizonan community is situated in the Sonoran Desert, surrounded by the San Tan Mountains Regional Park.

Population0
Coordinates33.1911000, -111.5280000
Altitude462
CountryUnited States
Start: North Hamilton Drive (-111.716931, 33.611704)
End: East Skyline Drive (-111.527989, 33.19109)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 77 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.69 gal
6.39 L · about $8.37
Round trip
$16.73
3.38 gal · 12.78 L
Estimated CO2
15 kg one way
Round trip: 30 kg / 66 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $8.37 $16.73
Mid-grade $5.34 $9.02 $18.04
Premium $5.57 $9.41 $18.81
Diesel $6.37 $10.76 $21.52

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Arizona · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Fountain Hills and San Tan Valley. The current time is 04:54:02.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.