Origin
Camp Verde, AZ
Late night in Camp Verde on Sunday
Local time
12:49 AM
MST
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Camp Verde, AZ to Surprise, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 40m
Distance
87.9 mi
141 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 33m
★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 56m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 47m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Camp Verde, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Surprise, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Camp Verde, AZ to Surprise, AZ is 87.9 miles and takes about 1h 40m via Arizona Veterans Highway and Black Canyon Freeway, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This single-day trip stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward drive. It's a practical option if you're looking for a relatively short journey connecting two points in the state. Consider this route for its efficiency and ease of navigation.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.9 miles from Camp Verde, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Veterans Highway | 39.4 mi | 39m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 13.9 mi | 14m |
| Bob Stump Memorial Parkway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 5.8 mi | 5m |
| North El Mirage Road | 5.1 mi | 9m |
| North Black Canyon Highway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| South Access Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| West General Crook Trail | 1.3 mi | 2m |
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 Surprise, 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
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 221
Toward AZ 303 Loop South
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto AZ 303 Loop
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
AZ 303 Loop
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
45 sec
13
Continue on this road
411 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
15
Merge onto AZ 303 Loop
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
16
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
47 sec
17
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
this road
18
Merge onto AZ 303 Loop
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
1 min
Exit 123
Toward El Mirage Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 123
Toward El Mirage Road
21
Turn left onto North El Mirage Road
5.1 mi
·
9 min
·
North El Mirage Road
Use the right lane.
22
Turn right onto West Paradise Lane
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Paradise Lane
23
Turn left onto North Nash Street
88 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Nash Street
24
Arrive at destination
North Nash Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of about 1 hour and 40 minutes, this trip offers great flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive well before noon, or even head out in the afternoon. With a fuel cost estimated around $18, planning your fuel stops is straightforward. The longest stretch without a major road change is 39.4 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before embarking on that segment.
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 43.9 miles from Camp Verde, AZ, or about 46m 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 19 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.9 miles or 46m 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 Surprise, 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 87.9 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.9 miles from Camp Verde, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 66.4 and 81.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
66.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward AZ 303 Loop South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 221
Toward AZ 303 Loop South
6
66.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
AZ 303 Loop
Turn right onto AZ 303 Loop
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
68.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
69.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
AZ 303 Loop / Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
Merge onto AZ 303 Loop / Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
81.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward El Mirage Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123
Toward El Mirage Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.51 one way
$35.02 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $18.53 | $37.06 |
| premium | $5.59 | $19.35 | $38.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.41 | $38.81 |
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: 30.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.23 | $4.22 |
| Efficient EV | 22 | 0 | $7.69 | $3.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.2 | 0 | $12.31 | $5.63 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Surprise, AZ
Late night in Surprise on Sunday
Local time
12:49 AM
MST
Current temp
88°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
8 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 40m 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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10
Caution: High Levels of Visitation
Tuzigoot National Monument
National Monument
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...
17 mi from route
~41 min detour
$10
near mile 3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a mixed profile, with about 30% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on Arizona Veterans Highway, including the longest uninterrupted segment of 39.4 miles. The route progresses from potentially more open desert roads to freeway conditions as you approach your destination. Expect a blend of driving experiences, moving from less trafficked areas to busier urban approach roads.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 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?
8/10
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 66.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.9 miles you will encounter 16 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 66.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.9 miles (AZ 303 Loop): Lane positioning matters here; at 68.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
About the Cities
Arriving in Surprise, AZ
Full guide →Sun City is a suburb 20 miles (30km) northwest of downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It was built as a planned retirement community in Maricopa County in the 1960s. An adjacent retirement community Sun City West was built in the late 1970s; there is also a Sun City Grand. Directly northwest of the three "Sun City" suburbs is Surprise, Arizona.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 87.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). 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 Surprise, 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 66.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.9 miles (AZ 303 Loop): Lane positioning matters here; at 68.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Surprise, AZ before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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