Chandler, AZ to Cornville, AZ is 126.7 miles and takes about 2h 26m via Arizona Veterans Highway and Black Canyon Freeway, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within the Desert Southwest region, transitioning from the urban edge of Chandler to more rural landscapes as you approach Cornville. The route is mostly highway, making for efficient travel, but be prepared for a change in scenery and road type for the final leg. It's a straightforward option if you're looking for a relatively quick trip between these two points in Arizona.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
63.3 miles from Chandler, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Arizona Veterans Highway
44.4 mi
44m
Black Canyon Freeway
41.3 mi
45m
East Cornville Road
9.2 mi
16m
Maricopa Freeway
9.1 mi
10m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
8.9 mi
9m
Price Freeway
4.8 mi
5m
Superstition Freeway
3.7 mi
4m
West Chandler Boulevard
3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Arizona Veterans Highway
— 44.4 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chandler, AZ and Cornville, AZ.
1
Start on East Chandler Boulevard
0.1 mi·41 sec·East Chandler Boulevard
2
Continue on East Chandler Boulevard
0.2 mi·17 sec·East Chandler Boulevard
3
Continue on West Chandler Boulevard
3.0 mi·5 min·West Chandler Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto South Price Road
321 ft·6 sec·South Price Road
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
6
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
4.8 mi·5 min·Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 55A; 55BToward US 60 West, US 60 East: Phoenix, GlobeUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 55AToward US 60 West: PhoenixUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 60
3.7 mi·4 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60
0.6 mi·38 sec·US 60
Toward I 10 North
11
Merge onto I 10; US 60
4.9 mi·5 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
4.2 mi·4 min·Maricopa Freeway
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: FlagstaffUse the slight right lane.
13
Continue on I 17; US 60
41 mi·45 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 17
8.9 mi·9 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 17
13 mi·13 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 17
31 mi·31 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Toward Rimrock, McGuiveville, Lake Montesuma Well, Cornville Road, Dry Beaver Creek
18
Turn left onto CR 30
9.2 mi·16 min·East Cornville Road
19
Arrive at destination
CR 30
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour, 26-minute drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility. With a fuel cost estimated around $25, it's wise to fill up before you depart Chandler, as services might be more spread out once you're on Arizona Veterans Highway. Since this is a single-day trip, you don't need to rush. Pay attention to the road surface change onto East Cornville Road; it's a good indicator you're nearing your destination and may want to reduce speed.
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 63.3 miles from Chandler, AZ, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.4 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 28 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.3 miles or 1h 14m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cornville, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chandler, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chandler, AZ
This is one driving day of about 126.7 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Chandler, 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 44.4 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 18.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.3 mi into trip|~6m in|South Price Road
Turn right onto South Price Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
3.7 mi into trip|~7m in|AZ 101 Loop / Price Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Price Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
8.5 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward US 60 West, US 60 East: Phoenix, Globe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 55A; 55B
Toward US 60 West, US 60 East: Phoenix, Globe
8
8.6 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 60 West: Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 55A
Toward US 60 West: Phoenix
8
18.4 mi into trip|~25m in|US 60 / Maricopa Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60 / Maricopa Freeway toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.45 one way
$44.90 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$24.04
$48.09
premium
$5.04
$25.15
$50.30
diesel
$4.80
$23.92
$47.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38
0
$13.30
$6.08
Efficient EV
31.7
0
$11.09
$5.07
EV Truck/SUV
50.7
0
$17.74
$8.11
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Chandler, AZ
Late night
in Chandler on Sunday
Local time
4:28 AM
MST
Current temp
79°F
Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ENE 0 to 5 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:11PM MST until July 19 at 12:15AM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:18PM PDT until July 18 at 10:15PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Destination
Cornville, AZ
Late night
in Cornville on Sunday
Local time
4:28 AM
MST
Current temp
68°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
N 1 mph34% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:11PM MST until July 19 at 12:15AM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:18PM PDT until July 18 at 10:15PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
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
11 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 26m on the road
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.
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
$10
near mile 126.7
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 47% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads like the Black Canyon Freeway. The longest stretch without a significant break is 44.4 miles along Arizona Veterans Highway. Expect to transition from the freeway environment to surface roads, specifically East Cornville Road, for the latter part of your drive. You'll notice the change from dense urban exits to a more spread-out, rural feel as you get closer to Cornville.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.4 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 3.3 miles in near South Price Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 126.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles (South Price Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Price Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,431 ft1,117 ft
Total Climb
3,314 ft
Total Descent
1,215 ft
Highest Point
4,431 ft
~99.5 mi in
Elevation Range
3,314 ft
Notable High Points
4,431 ft at ~99.5 miles+647 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chandler, AZ and Cornville, AZ, road signs point toward Globe, Rimrock, Mcguiveville, Lake Montesuma Well and Dry Beaver Creek.
Globe
8.5 mi in|~12m
Rimrock
117.3 mi in|~2h 9m
Mcguiveville
117.3 mi in|~2h 9m
Lake Montesuma Well
117.3 mi in|~2h 9m
Dry Beaver Creek
117.3 mi in|~2h 9m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 126.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). 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 44.4 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Cornville, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles (South Price Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Price Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Montezuma Castle National Monument, Tuzigoot National Monument and Casa Grande Ruins 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 Cornville, AZ before heading back.
