How Far Is Verrado From Phoenix, Scottsdale and Sky Harbor Airport?

If you're thinking about buying a second home in Verrado, there's a question that usually comes up pretty quickly:

Is Verrado too far from everything?

Pull up a map of the Phoenix area and Verrado definitely looks like it's out there.

It's on the western edge of the Phoenix metro area, tucked up against the White Tank Mountains in Buckeye.

And if you're used to hearing about Scottsdale, Paradise Valley or central Phoenix when people talk about Arizona, you might wonder whether living in Verrado means spending half your life in the car.

The short answer?

It depends on what you want your Arizona life to look like.

Because one of the reasons I love Verrado is also the thing that gives some buyers pause.

It's removed from the middle of the Phoenix metro area.

Let's talk about what that actually means.

Where Is Verrado, Arizona?

Verrado is located in Buckeye, Arizona, west of Phoenix.

The community is easily accessed from Interstate 10 at the Verrado Way exit.

That matters more than you might think.

You aren't winding through miles of back roads every time you want to go somewhere. You can leave Verrado, get onto I-10 and head east toward Goodyear, Phoenix and the airport.

Loop 303 is also just a few miles east and provides another important connection to other parts of the West Valley.

So yes, Verrado is west.

But it's also well connected to the major roads you'll probably use most often.

How Far Is Verrado From Downtown Phoenix?

Downtown Phoenix is roughly 25 miles east of Verrado.

Under lighter traffic conditions, you're generally looking at somewhere around 30 to 40 minutes.

Traffic, of course, can change that significantly.

And that's something I think buyers need to be realistic about.

If your job requires you to commute into downtown Phoenix five days a week during rush hour, your opinion of Verrado's location may be very different from someone buying a second home and heading downtown occasionally for dinner, a game or an event.

That's why mileage alone doesn't really answer the question.

The better question is:

How often will you actually need to make that drive?

How Far Is Verrado From Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport?

This is one of the distances I care about most for second-home buyers.

If you're splitting your time between Washington and Arizona, airport access matters.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is roughly 35 miles from the Verrado area.

Drive time can vary considerably depending on the time of day and traffic, so I would never promise someone that the airport is exactly X minutes away.

But here's how I think about it as a second-home owner:

It's close enough to make a two-state lifestyle practical.

You can fly into Phoenix, get your car and head west on I-10 toward Verrado.

And when it's time to head back to Washington, you're not facing a multi-hour drive just to reach a major airport.

For us, that matters.

How Far Is Verrado From Scottsdale?

Now let's talk about Scottsdale.

Because this is where I think expectations matter.

Scottsdale is not right around the corner from Verrado.

Depending on exactly where you're going, traffic and the time of day, you should generally think of Scottsdale as roughly an hour away.

Could it be faster?

Sure.

Could it take considerably longer during heavy traffic?

Absolutely.

If your dream Arizona lifestyle is having dinner in Old Town Scottsdale four nights a week, I'd want you to think seriously about whether Verrado is the right location for you.

But if Scottsdale is somewhere you want to visit occasionally for shopping, dinner, golf or a day out?

That's a completely different story.

You can go enjoy Scottsdale.

Then you can come home to Verrado.

And honestly, that distinction is one of the reasons some people choose the West Valley in the first place.

Do You Need Scottsdale If You Live in Verrado?

This is where the conversation has changed.

Years ago, living farther west meant accepting fewer nearby choices for restaurants, shopping and entertainment.

That's becoming less true as the West Valley grows.

Goodyear and the surrounding West Valley have continued to add restaurants, shopping, entertainment and services.

And Verrado itself continues to grow. We have many more restaurants and shopping than we did just two years ago and I’m excited about it.

So when buyers ask me:

"But won't we have to drive to Scottsdale for everything?"

My answer is no.

You might want to go to Scottsdale.

You don't necessarily need to go to Scottsdale for everyday life.

Those are two very different things.

What About Restaurants and Shopping?

This is another question I hear from people considering a second home.

They don't want to buy a beautiful house and then discover that getting groceries requires packing snacks for the drive.

That's not Verrado.

You have everyday services and dining much closer to home, and the West Valley continues to develop around the community.

That means your normal Arizona week doesn't have to involve driving across the entire Phoenix metro area.

Think about the things you're most likely to do regularly:

Get groceries.

Meet friends for lunch.

Go golfing.

Grab coffee.

Go for a walk.

Have dinner.

Hit the gym.

Sit by the pool.

For many Verrado homeowners, those things happen within or near the community.

That's a completely different lifestyle from commuting across Phoenix every day.

How Far Is Verrado From Goodyear?

Goodyear is much closer and is one of the places you'll probably find yourself visiting far more often than Scottsdale.

Depending on where you're headed in Goodyear, you're generally talking about a relatively short West Valley drive rather than crossing the entire Phoenix metro.

Goodyear gives you access to additional restaurants, shopping, medical services and entertainment.

And that's something I think Washington buyers sometimes miss when they're researching Arizona online.

They recognize Phoenix.

They recognize Scottsdale.

But they may not realize how much exists in the West Valley itself.

You aren't necessarily driving into central Phoenix every time you need something. Not at all.

I take my golf cart for almost everything from getting groceries at Basha’s to my doctor’s appointments at Sunrise Market.

Is Verrado Too Far From Everything?

This is where I'm going to give you the answer nobody likes:

It depends.

If you need to commute to Scottsdale every weekday?

Verrado may feel far.

If you want to be five minutes from Old Town Scottsdale nightlife?

Verrado probably isn't your community.

If you want to walk out your door and immediately feel like you're in the center of a major city?

Again, probably not Verrado.

But that's also not why most people fall in love with it.

Verrado offers something different.

What You're Getting in Exchange for the Distance

When we were looking at Arizona communities, we weren't simply asking:

"Which house is closest to Phoenix?"

We were asking:

"Where do we actually want to live?"

Those are very different questions.

Verrado gives you a community feel.

Parks.

Walking paths.

Golf.

Mountain views.

Main Street.

Community events.

Places where you can run into people you know.

And a feeling that you're coming home to somewhere rather than simply living somewhere inside a huge metropolitan area.

For some buyers, that's worth being farther west.

For others, it won't be.

And that's okay.

Here's How I Think About the Distance as a Second-Home Owner

Your daily routine matters more than a map.

Imagine a typical January Tuesday.

Are you getting up at 6:30 a.m. to commute into downtown Phoenix?

Or are you drinking coffee outside because it's sunny?

Are you driving to Scottsdale for a business meeting?

Or are you playing golf?

Are you crossing the Valley every afternoon?

Or are you walking through the neighborhood, meeting someone for lunch and spending the afternoon by the pool?

That's why a community can feel "far away" to one person and perfectly located to another.

Your lifestyle determines the answer.

This Is Especially Important for Washington Second-Home Buyers

If you're buying a second home rather than relocating full-time, your priorities may be very different from someone moving to Arizona for a job.

You may care more about:

Airport access.

Golf.

Sunshine.

Outdoor living.

Restaurants.

Community.

Easy everyday errands.

A house that's manageable while you're away.

And having enough nearby that you don't feel like you're constantly getting in the car.

That's the lens I'd use when deciding whether Verrado feels too far west.

Don't Choose Your Arizona Community From Google Maps

This might be one of my biggest pieces of advice.

A map can tell you that Point A is 35 miles from Point B.

It cannot tell you what Tuesday morning feels like.

That's why I think you need to experience Verrado before deciding.

Drive Main Street.

Have lunch.

Tour the neighborhoods.

Drive to Goodyear.

Get on I-10.

See how long it actually takes you to reach the places you care about.

And then ask yourself:

Can I picture my life here?

Because that's the question we're really trying to answer.

Verrado Isn't Trying to Be Scottsdale

And I think that's important.

If what you really want is Scottsdale, let's look at Scottsdale.

But if you're attracted to Verrado because you want a community with golf, trails, parks, mountain views and a neighborhood feel, don't automatically eliminate it because it's farther west.

Come experience it first.

You might discover that being a little removed from everything is exactly what makes it feel like somewhere you want to come home to.

Thinking About Buying a Second Home in Verrado?

If you're coming from Washington and considering Verrado for your Arizona second home, I'd love to help you figure out whether the location fits the life you're trying to create.

Start with my Complete Guide to Buying a Second Home in Verrado From Washington.

You can also read What Is It Really Like to Live in Verrado? for a deeper look at everyday life in the community.

And if you're ready to come see it for yourself, read How to Plan a Verrado House-Hunting Trip From Washington.

I'm Tammy Cannon, a real estate agent licensed in Washington and Arizona, and I help Washington buyers explore second-home opportunities in Verrado.

Because choosing your Arizona home isn't just about finding the right floor plan.

It's about finding the place where you want to spend your Tuesdays.

Let's connect on Instagram for more on living in Arizona @thetammycannon