Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
46.1 mi
74 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Black Canyon City, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Phoenix, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
This straightforward 46.1-mile drive from Black Canyon City to Phoenix, Arizona, can easily be completed in about 55 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 78% of it utilizing major freeways like the Black Canyon Freeway. With an estimated fuel cost of just $9, this is an economical option for a quick journey. You'll be traveling within the Desert Southwest region throughout, so expect consistent arid landscapes. This short distance means you won't need an overnight stop; you can focus on your destination in Phoenix.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Black Canyon Freeway | 35.3 mi | 38m |
| North Black Canyon Highway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| South Old Black Canyon Highway | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| North 1st Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Papago Freeway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| West Roosevelt Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Adams Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Black Canyon City, AZ and Phoenix, AZ.
Start on East Palm Lane
Turn left onto South Old Black Canyon Highway
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 17
Continue on I 17
Continue on I 17
Continue on I 17
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 10
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto North 7th Avenue
Turn left onto West Roosevelt Street
Turn right onto North 1st Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto North 1st Avenue
Turn left onto West Adams Street
Turn right onto North 1st Street
Turn right onto East Washington Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 23 miles from Black Canyon City, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 42.6 and 45.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Central Phoenix, Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Central Phoenix, Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward 7th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward 7th Avenue South, Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix Campus, Downtown Cultural/Sport Facilities
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto North 1st Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$9.18 one way
$18.37 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $9.72 | $19.44 |
| premium | $5.59 | $10.15 | $20.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.18 | $20.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.45 | $2.95 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Black Canyon City on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
MST
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
Destination
Night in Phoenix on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this drive, with 78% of the 46.1 miles on fast-paced roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 35.3 miles along the Black Canyon Freeway. This section offers a consistent driving rhythm, largely on the Black Canyon Freeway and its related highways like North Black Canyon Highway and South Old Black Canyon Highway. The road's character remains consistent, providing a direct and efficient path south.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Black Canyon Freeway and North Black Canyon Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 42.6 miles in.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 46.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 42.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Black Canyon City, AZ and Phoenix, AZ, road signs point toward Los Angeles and Tucson.
Los Angeles
Tucson
Founded 1868
Phoenix is the capital of the state of Arizona, the most populous city in the American Southwest. Warm and sunny winter weather have ensured a thriving tourism industry, and the city has become the region's primary political, cultural, economic, and transportation center. Phoenix is extremely hot and dry in the summertime, so always have sunscreen with you! It had about 1,625,000 residents in 2021, and is the fifth largest city in the United States.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 46.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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