RUNGig driver playbook · AZ
Driving in Phoenix
Phoenix is a winter goldmine and a summer survival challenge. Oct–Apr the snowbirds quadruple demand; Jun–Aug you drive at sunrise or you don't drive.
Population
1.65M city · 5M metro
Uber avg/hr
$21–26/hr
DoorDash avg/hr
$18–22/hr
Best hours to drive in Phoenix
Oct–Apr 6pm–1am (snowbird season), summer 5am–10am only
Worst window: Summer 1pm–5pm — heat death zone
Phoenix surge hotspots
- Old Town Scottsdale (Sat night = guaranteed surge)
- Mill Ave / ASU Tempe
- Downtown Phoenix (CityScape + ballpark)
- Roosevelt Row (First Fridays)
- Spring training facilities (Feb–Mar)
Airport strategy
PHX Sky Harbor — short queue, fast turnover
Recurring surge events
Suns gamesCardinals gamesDiamondbacksSpring trainingPhoenix Open (Jan/Feb) — biggest cash week of the yearBarrett-Jackson auctions
Taxes for AZ drivers
AZ state income tax 2.5% flat — one of the lowest in the country. Combined with the federal mileage deduction, PHX drivers keep more take-home than almost any market.
Run the AZ tax calculator →Weather watch
Summers will kill your battery. Always have a backup phone charger and a windshield sunshade. Hydrate or die.
Drive in Phoenix? Get on the MyRunner waitlist.
MyRunner launches city by city. Drop your email and we'll text you the moment Phoenix goes live — plus send your first gear drop free.