Camp Verde, AZ to Phoenix, AZ is 91.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 41 minutes via Arizona Veterans Highway and Black Canyon Freeway, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from one part of the Desert Southwest to another, traversing a region known for its arid beauty. The majority of this trip is on well-maintained highways, making it a straightforward journey. Considering its relatively short distance and duration, it’s an ideal option for a single-day excursion, offering a convenient connection between these two Arizona locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.7 miles from Camp Verde, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Arizona Veterans Highway
39.4 mi
39m
Black Canyon Freeway
35.3 mi
38m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5.8 mi
5m
North Black Canyon Highway
3.2 mi
3m
South Access Road
1.8 mi
2m
West General Crook Trail
1.3 mi
2m
North 1st Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Papago Freeway
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Arizona Veterans Highway
— 39.4 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Camp Verde, AZ and Phoenix, AZ.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·South Main Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 260
1.3 mi·2 min·West General Crook Trail
3
Turn left onto South Access Road
1.8 mi·2 min·South Access Road
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 17 South
5
Merge onto I 17
39 mi·39 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
6
Continue on I 17
5.8 mi·5 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 17
10 mi·10 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on I 17
3.2 mi·3 min·North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on I 17
25 mi·28 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 200AToward I 10 East, I 10 West: Central Phoenix, Los AngelesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 East: Central Phoenix, TucsonUse the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 10
0.6 mi·41 sec·Papago Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 144AToward 7th AvenueUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward 7th Avenue South, Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix Campus, Downtown Cultural/Sport FacilitiesUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Turn straight onto North 7th Avenue
445 ft·16 sec·North 7th Avenue
16
Turn left onto West Roosevelt Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West Roosevelt Street
17
Turn right onto North 1st Avenue
29 ft·0 sec·North 1st Avenue
18
Keep slight right at fork onto North 1st Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North 1st Avenue
19
Turn left onto West Adams Street
0.1 mi·40 sec·West Adams Street
20
Turn right onto North 1st Street
408 ft·18 sec·North 1st Street
21
Turn right onto East Washington Street
453 ft·15 sec·East Washington Street
22
Arrive at destination
West Washington Street
Trip Plan
Given its short duration of under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with this route. Aim to depart in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you get closer to Phoenix. While there are no designated stops mentioned, it's always wise to take a brief break, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a clear exit point is nearly 40 miles on the Arizona Veterans Highway, so topping up before you leave Camp Verde is a good idea.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45.7 miles from Camp Verde, AZ, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 20 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.7 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Phoenix, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Camp Verde, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Camp Verde, AZ
This is one driving day of about 91.3 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Camp Verde, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Arizona Veterans Highway for about 39.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 87.9 and 91.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
87.9 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 200A
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Central Phoenix, L...
8
88 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
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
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 10 East: Central Phoenix, Tucson
7
89.5 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward 7th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 144A
Toward 7th Avenue
9
89.7 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
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
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward 7th Avenue South, Arizona State Universi...
5
91.2 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|North 1st Street
Turn right onto North 1st Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.19 one way
$36.38 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$19.25
$38.50
premium
$5.59
$20.10
$40.19
diesel
$5.61
$20.16
$40.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.4
0
$9.59
$4.38
Efficient EV
22.8
0
$7.99
$3.65
EV Truck/SUV
36.5
0
$12.78
$5.84
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Camp Verde, AZ
Night
in Camp Verde on Saturday
Local time
10:59 PM
MST
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Phoenix, AZ
Night
in Phoenix on Saturday
Local time
10:59 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
13 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 41m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
National Monument
Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff...
Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs that well up from the ancient sedimentary ro...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a mixed drive, with about 39% of the route on major highways like the Black Canyon Freeway. You'll experience stretches of open road, including a longest uninterrupted segment of 39.4 miles along the Arizona Veterans Highway. The drive offers a blend of faster highway speeds and potentially more varied road conditions as you transition between the Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway and other main arteries. Expect a dynamic driving experience, shifting from open stretches to more urban approaches as you near Phoenix.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.4 mi on Arizona Veterans Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 87.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.3 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 87.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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
•Arizona State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Arizona
•Phoenix Art Museum — art museum in Phoenix, Arizona
•St. Mary's Basilica — Roman Catholic church in Phoenix, Arizona
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 91.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.4 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Phoenix, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 87.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Montezuma Castle National Monument and Tuzigoot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Phoenix, AZ before heading back.
