I recently spent a weekend in Phoenix with my best friends, and since I usually live in rural areas, I wanted to take advantage of all the high-tech conveniences that come with city life. One of the most exciting parts of the trip was trying out a Waymo self-driving car for the first time. Spoiler alert—it completely exceeded my expectations!
What Is Waymo?
Before diving into my experience, let’s talk about what makes Waymo such an innovative force in the future of transportation. Waymo is a self-driving technology company that started as a Google project in 2009. Its goal is simple but revolutionary: to make it safe and easy for people and goods to move around—no human driver required.
Rather than manufacturing cars, Waymo develops autonomous driving technology that combines advanced software, AI, and a complex network of sensors. The vehicles use lidar (light detection and ranging), radar, and high-resolution cameras to create a 360-degree view of the world around them. This technology allows them to interpret traffic signals, recognize pedestrians, and make real-time driving decisions safely.
Today, Waymo operates Waymo One, a commercial autonomous ride-hailing service in select U.S. cities such as Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Riders can hail a driverless car through the Waymo app—similar to ordering an Uber or Lyft, but without anyone behind the wheel.
My Waymo Self-Driving Ride in Phoenix
During my February 2025 trip to Phoenix, two friends and I decided to see what the buzz was about. We were staying in Scottsdale and wanted to check out a popular speakeasy cocktail bar called Pigtails downtown. So, we ordered a Waymo ride-hail instead of a traditional rideshare.
While it cost a bit more than an Uber or Lyft—around $65 for a 22-mile round trip—it felt well worth it for the experience. The process was smooth and intuitive: we downloaded the Waymo app, synced our payment information, and waited for our sleek Jaguar to arrive.
When the car pulled up, we noticed it was locked until we unlocked it through the app. Once inside, we were instructed us to fasten our seatbelts before the car started driving. The touchscreen display offered entertainment options, allowing us to choose music or connect via Bluetooth to play our own playlists—turning the ride into an impromptu dance party on wheels.
Our route took us across busy highways and interstates through the Phoenix metro area, and although we were a bit nervous at first, the car’s performance quickly impressed us. It merged, braked, and changed lanes with precision. At one point, we even found ourselves side-by-side with another Waymo, each patiently waiting for the other to merge first!
The overall impression? We felt safer in Waymo’s autonomous car than we often do with human drivers.
Final Thoughts
Beyond safety, the convenience of Waymo is another major plus. The ride was seamless from start to finish, with minimal wait times and perfectly chosen drop-off points. It’s easy to see how self-driving ride-hail services could transform urban transportation in the coming years.
If you find yourself in a city where Waymo One operates, I highly recommend booking a ride. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just curious about the future of driving, it’s an unforgettable experience that sparks plenty of conversation long after the ride ends.
