Origin
Clarkdale, AZ
Late night in Clarkdale on Tuesday
Local time
2:26 AM
MST
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clarkdale, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 13m
Distance
113.1 mi
182 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 4m
★
6 AM
2h 13m
8 AM
2h 32m
10 AM
2h 20m
12 PM
2h 18m
3 PM
2h 20m
5 PM
2h 31m
8 PM
2h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clarkdale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Scottsdale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Clarkdale, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ is 113.1 miles and takes about 2h 13m via Arizona Veterans Highway and freeways, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the Desert Southwest for its entirety, offering a straightforward drive from one Arizona locale to another. Expect a mixed drive that transitions from a more open highway to urban freeway as you approach Scottsdale. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing for a relaxed start or ample time at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.6 miles from Clarkdale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Veterans Highway | 41 mi | 40m |
| Pima Freeway | 21.8 mi | 25m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 20.7 mi | 22m |
| Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway | 12.1 mi | 20m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 5.8 mi | 5m |
| North Main Street | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| North Black Canyon Highway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| South Broadway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Arizona Veterans Highway
— 41 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clarkdale, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ.
1
Start on US 89A Historic
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn straight onto US 89A Historic
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Broadway
3
Continue on US 89A Historic
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
4
Enter roundabout onto US 89A Historic
88 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Main Street
5
Continue on US 89A Historic
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
6
Continue on AZ 260
420 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Main Street
7
Continue on AZ 260
4.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
8
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
166 ft
·
7 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
9
Continue on AZ 260
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
10
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
158 ft
·
6 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
11
Continue on AZ 260
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
12
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
191 ft
·
8 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
13
Continue on AZ 260
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
14
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
198 ft
·
8 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
15
Continue on AZ 260
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
16
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
152 ft
·
2 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
17
Continue on AZ 260
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
18
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
104 ft
·
4 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
19
Continue on AZ 260
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
20
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
155 ft
·
6 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
21
Continue on AZ 260
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
22
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Use the slight right lane.
23
Merge onto I 17
41 mi
·
40 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
24
Continue on I 17
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 17
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Continue on I 17
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
27
Continue on I 17
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 214C
Toward AZ 101 Loop West, AZ 101 Loop East
Use the slight right lane.
29
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward AZ 101 Loop East
Use the slight left lane.
30
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Use the slight right lane.
32
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Chaparral Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
33
Turn left
64 ft
·
4 sec
34
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 2 hours, you have the flexibility to depart Clarkdale at your leisure. Consider an early start to maximize your time in Scottsdale, or a later departure to enjoy a relaxed morning. The fuel cost is estimated at $23, so ensure your tank is adequately full before leaving Clarkdale, as services may be more spaced out on the initial highway segment. Keep an eye on traffic conditions as you approach the Phoenix area, particularly if traveling during peak commute times. The longest stretch without a significant change in road is 41 miles, so plan any brief stops before or after this 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 56.6 miles from Clarkdale, AZ, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41 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 25 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.6 miles or 1h 9m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scottsdale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clarkdale, 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 Clarkdale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 113.1 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Clarkdale, 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 41 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56.6 miles from Clarkdale, 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 3.4 and 112.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 89A Historic / North Main Street
Enter roundabout onto US 89A Historic / North Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
17.6 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
88.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop West, AZ 101 Loop East
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 214C
Toward AZ 101 Loop West, AZ 101 Loop East
7
89.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward AZ 101 Loop East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward AZ 101 Loop East
7
112.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward Chaparral Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.53 one way
$45.06 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $23.84 | $47.69 |
| premium | $5.59 | $24.90 | $49.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.97 | $49.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.9 | 0 | $11.88 | $5.43 |
| Efficient EV | 28.3 | 0 | $9.90 | $4.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.2 | 0 | $15.83 | $7.24 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Scottsdale, AZ
Late night in Scottsdale on Tuesday
Local time
2:26 AM
MST
Current temp
83°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
12 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
2h 13m 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.
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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
$10
Caution: High Levels of Visitation
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
~13 min detour
$10
near mile 15.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a mixed drive, with 38% of it utilizing freeways like the Pima Freeway and Black Canyon Freeway. You'll encounter an uninterrupted stretch of 41 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway, which provides a good feel for the open road before transitioning to busier conditions. The character of the drive shifts as you progress, moving from the more expansive feel of the Arizona Veterans Highway to the more urbanized flow of the Phoenix metropolitan area's freeway system. This blend means you'll experience different driving environments within the same trip.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41 mi on Arizona Veterans Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 3.4 miles in near US 89A Historic / North Main Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 113.1 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 3.4 miles (US 89A Historic / North Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 17.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 88.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Scottsdale, AZ
Full guide →Founded 1894
Scottsdale is a city in the state of Arizona. Scottsdale is home to many galleries, high quality resorts, and golf courses. It is also one of the wealthier parts of the Phoenix Metro Area.
Top landmarks
- • Taliesin West — Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and school, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
- • Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art — art museum
- • Little Red Schoolhouse — now used as the Scottsdale Historical Museum, NRHP-listed
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 2h 13m. Total distance: 113.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). 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 41 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 Scottsdale, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles (US 89A Historic / North Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 17.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 88.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Tuzigoot National Monument and Montezuma Castle 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 Scottsdale, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Scottsdale, AZ
More from Clarkdale, AZ
More trips to Scottsdale, AZ
Explore more options from Clarkdale, AZ or browse trips ending in Scottsdale, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.