Arizona 347 travels from Interstate 10 south to Arizona 84. The road is a quick
route to the town of Maricopa, through the Gila River and
Ak-Chin Indian Nations, and is also a shortcut to San Diego
and Interstate 8 for East Valley residents.
Arizona 347 was added to the state highway system in 1988.
However, like most roads added to the system in the 1980s,
the road itself is much older, dating back to the 1930s. The
road was reconstructed as part of the conversion to state
highway into a four lane expressway.
Arizona 347 was planned to be called the John Wayne Expressway
at one point, but that name was dropped due to controversy.
The route number is derived from the original Federal Aid
Secondary route number - FAS 347.
Perspective from Northbound Arizona 347
Distance sign to Maricopa. Maricopa is the only town
along Arizona 347. Photo taken August 19, 2007.
Arizona 347 enters the Ak-Chin Indian Community here.
The Ak-Chin community is located south of Maricopa, and
contains Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino. Photo taken August 19,
2007.
Distance sign to the Ak-Chin governmental center. Photo
taken August 19, 2007.
Distance sign to Maricopa. The signal ahead serves the
Harrahs Ak-Chin Casino. Photo taken August 19, 2007.
Arizona 347 enters the city of Maricopa here. Maricopa
is Arizona's newest city, incorporated in 2003, but the
town dates back to 1880 and the Southern Pacific Railroad.
Photo taken August 19, 2007.
Advance signage for Arizona 238, 1/2 mile. Photo taken
August 19, 2007.
Arizona 238 departs here from Arizona 347. Use Arizona
238 to reach Gila Bend and Interstate 8. Photo taken August
19, 2007.
North of Arizona 238, we see this reassurance marker,
with a sea of newly constructed houses behind it. Photo
taken August 19, 2007.
Distance sign to Interstate 10. Photo taken August 19,
2007.
Arizona 347 meets Maricopa Road here. Maricopa Road
is the original road to Phoenix, but now serves local
interests inside the Gila River Indian Reservation and
the Wild Horse Pass casino. Photo taken August 19, 2007.
Advance signage for Interstate 10, 1/2 mile. Photo taken
August 19, 2007.
Arizona 347 ends at Interstate 10. The road continues
east as Queen Creek Road, a high speed road maintained
by Maricopa County, eventually entering the extended Metropolitan
Phoenix grid system. Photo taken August 19, 2007.
Perspective from Southbound Arizona 347
Just after departing from Interstate 10, this distance
sign can be seen showing mileage to Maricopa. Maricopa
is the only town along Arizona 347. Photo taken July 15,
2007.
Arizona 347 meets Maricopa Road here. Maricopa Road
is the original road to Maricopa, but now serves local
interests inside the Gila River Indian Reservation. Photo
taken July 15, 2007.
Just after Maricopa Road, we find this Arizona 347 reassurance
marker. Photo taken July 15, 2007.
Arizona 347 leaves Maricopa County here to enter Pinal
County. Ironically enough, the town of Maricopa isn't
even located in Maricopa County! Photo taken July 15,
2007.
Arizona 347 enters the city of Maricopa here. Maricopa
is Arizona's newest city, incorporated in 2003, but the
town dates back to 1880 and the Southern Pacific Railroad.
Photo taken July 15, 2007.
Arizona 347 meets Rancho Eldorado Parkway and Cobblestone
Farms Road here. Rancho Eldorado is the first major subdivision
built in Maricopa. Photo taken July 15, 2007.
Advance signage for Arizona 238, 1/2 mile. Photo taken
July 15, 2007.
Turn right to reach Cobblestone Farms. Photo taken July
15, 2007.
Use Arizona 347 to reach downtown Maricopa, or turn
on Arizona 238 to reach Mobile. Photo taken July 15, 2007.
Arizona 238 departs here from Arizona 347. This intersection
has changed drastically in the last four years - see the
Arizona 238 page for a photo
of how it looked prior to development. Photo taken July
15, 2007.
