Home/Phoenix homes for sale/Carefree Highway
Corridor · Phoenix, Cave Creek and Carefree, Arizona
Homes near Carefree Highway in Phoenix, Cave Creek and Carefree
Carefree Highway east of Central Ave to its end at Tom Darlington Dr in Carefree.
Carefree Highway at a glance
SR 74 runs 30.4 miles from US 60 near Morristown to I-17, and the Carefree Highway name continues east of I-17 as a local road to Tom Darlington Dr in Carefree. Gordon Lightfoot's 1974 song 'Carefree Highway' took its name from the road. In 2014 the Cave Creek Town Council approved a Carefree Highway Specific Area Plan rezoning parcels between 48th and 53rd Streets to Commercial Buffer. Maricopa County records show about 780 homes within about a quarter mile of Carefree Highway.
Drawn along the road or wash itself.
Where Carefree Highway is
The route on county street centerlines.
Carefree Highway east of Central Ave to its end at Tom Darlington Dr in Carefree. Draw as a labeled line. If a polygon is ever needed, use the Cave Creek Specific Area Plan parcels (one lot deep, 48th to 53rd St) rather than a buffer.
Drawn along the road or wash itself.
Search homes near Carefree Highway
Updated continuously from the MLS. Filter, save, and tour any home.
Homes near Carefree Highway
Within about a quarter mile, from county records.
Source: Maricopa County Assessor residential parcel records, pulled November 3, 2026. These are county figures for every home, not MLS statistics, and recorded sale prices come from deed records.
The story of Carefree Highway
How the area came to be.
SR 74 runs 30.4 miles from US 60 near Morristown to I-17, and the Carefree Highway name continues east of I-17 as a local road to Tom Darlington Dr in Carefree. Gordon Lightfoot's 1974 song 'Carefree Highway' took its name from the road. In 2014 the Cave Creek Town Council approved a Carefree Highway Specific Area Plan rezoning parcels between 48th and 53rd Streets to Commercial Buffer.
Homes around Carefree Highway
Eras, styles, lots and home types.
Not a residential area. Commercial centers sit at major intersections, with subdivisions and acreage behind.
- Home types
- Retail, office, self storage and services.
- School districts (county records)
- Deer Valley Unified School District (63%), Cave Creek Unified School District (37%)
Living in and around Carefree Highway
What is inside, what is close, and what to check.
Inside Carefree Highway: Grocery, big box and neighborhood retail at Cave Creek Rd and other intersections.
Nearby: Desert Hills, Cave Creek Regional Park, Tatum Ranch, Black Mountain, The Boulders.
Before you buy
Cave Creek's Specific Area Plan caps building height at 22 ft and sets large setbacks along its segment. Traffic noise for homes backing the road.
Related areas and communities
Keep exploring the Northeast Valley.
Carefree Highway questions, answered
Where is Carefree Highway?
It is the main east west road along the north edge of Phoenix, running from I-17 east to Tom Darlington Dr in Carefree.
Is it a neighborhood?
No. It is a commercial road; the neighborhoods are on either side.
Is it a state highway?
Only west of I-17, where it is SR 74. East of I-17 it is a local road.
What are the exact boundaries of Carefree Highway?
Carefree Highway east of Central Ave to its end at Tom Darlington Dr in Carefree. Draw as a labeled line. If a polygon is ever needed, use the Cave Creek Specific Area Plan parcels (one lot deep, 48th to 53rd St) rather than a buffer.
How many homes are near Carefree Highway?
Maricopa County Assessor records show about 780 homes within about a quarter mile of Carefree Highway, 100% of them single-family, with a median year built of 2003.
Which school districts serve Carefree Highway?
By county parcel records, homes near Carefree Highway are mostly in Deer Valley Unified School District and Cave Creek Unified School District. School assignment is address specific, so confirm with the district before you buy.
How does the home search on this page work?
The search shows homes listed in the MLS within about a quarter mile of Carefree Highway, using an outline drawn around it. Drawn along the road or wash itself. Listings update continuously. Housing figures on this page come from Maricopa County Assessor records pulled on November 3, 2026, not from the MLS.
Thinking about Carefree Highway?
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Tell us what you are looking for and we will send new listings that fit, along with the sales data behind each one. Our office is on Pima Road in north Scottsdale. White-glove service at every price point.
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Sources
- Maricopa County Assessor parcel records (residential parcels inside the search area), pulled November 3, 2026. Recorded sale figures use each parcel's most recent recorded sale since November 1, 2024, at $50,000 or more.
- Street centerlines on the map: Maricopa County GIS. Listings: ARMLS via Flexmls.
- Wikipedia, Arizona State Route 74, accessed November 3, 2026.
- Sonoran News (June 18, 2014), Cave Creek council approves Carefree Highway Specific Area Plan, accessed November 3, 2026.
- Town of Cave Creek 2021 General Plan, accessed November 3, 2026.
All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Listing information is provided by the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Area boundaries on this page are for orientation only and do not follow school, HOA or service boundaries, so confirm the city, zoning, HOA, water service and assigned schools for a specific address. Housing figures come from Maricopa County Assessor records and are not MLS statistics. This page is for general information only and is not financial, lending, legal, or tax advice. Arizona Luxury Partners | Real Estate Group at RE/MAX Fine Properties, 21020 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. Office 480.766.1515. Brokerage License LC629808000. Equal Housing Opportunity.
