Spanning 63.3 miles, this trek from Deer Valley to Congress takes approximately 1 hour and 31 minutes, making it a straightforward day trip. You will navigate primarily via Grand Avenue, the Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway, and the Wickenburg-Prescott Highway. Budgeting about $13 for fuel should comfortably cover the journey through the Desert Southwest. Because the distance is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay; it is designed to be completed in a single, efficient outing. This route offers a direct transition between two areas of the same desert region, providing a consistent landscape feel throughout the duration of your travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
31.7 miles from Deer Valley, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Grand Avenue
21 mi
26m
Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
9 mi
10m
Wickenburg-Prescott Highway
7.4 mi
10m
Agua Fria Freeway
6.6 mi
7m
West Bell Road
6.4 mi
11m
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
5.9 mi
11m
S STATE ROUTE 89
2.5 mi
2m
East Wickenburg Way
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Grand Avenue
— 21 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Deer Valley, AZ and Congress, AZ.
1
Start on North 35th Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·North 35th Avenue
2
Turn right onto West Beardsley Road
0.1 mi·11 sec·West Beardsley Road
Use the right lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop West
4
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
6.6 mi·7 min·Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·34 sec
Exit 14Toward Bell RoadUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·9 sec
Toward Bell Road, Surprise StadiumUse the right lane.
7
Turn straight onto West Bell Road
6.4 mi·11 min·West Bell Road
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·1 min
Toward US-60 WestUse the right lane.
9
Merge onto US 60
14 mi·17 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
159 ft·3 sec·Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
11
Continue on US 60
0.9 mi·1 min·Grand Avenue
12
Continue on US 60
0.2 mi·15 sec·Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
13
Continue on US 60
0.1 mi·8 sec·Wickenburg–Phoenix Highway
14
Continue on US 60
6.3 mi·7 min·Grand Avenue
15
Continue on US 60
0.5 mi·31 sec·Phoenix-Wickenburg Highway
16
Continue on US 60
8.7 mi·10 min·Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
17
Continue on US 60
1.5 mi·2 min·East Wickenburg Way
18
Enter roundabout onto US 93
2 ft·0 sec·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
19
Continue on US 93
1.2 mi·2 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
20
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
0.5 mi·1 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
21
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
0.9 mi·1 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
0.9 mi·1 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
23
Enter roundabout onto US 93
100 ft·4 sec·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
24
Continue on US 93
1.2 mi·2 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
25
Enter roundabout onto US 93
155 ft·6 sec·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
26
Continue on US 93
0.6 mi·1 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
27
Turn left onto US 93
112 ft·4 sec·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
28
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
0.6 mi·46 sec·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
29
Turn slight right onto AZ 89
0.8 mi·1 min·Wickenburg-Prescott Highway
30
Continue on AZ 89
2.5 mi·2 min·S STATE ROUTE 89
31
Continue on AZ 89
6.6 mi·9 min·Wickenburg-Prescott Highway
32
Turn left onto AZ 71
0.4 mi·59 sec·Aguila-Congress Junction Highway
Use the left lane.
33
Arrive at destination
AZ 71
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact trip with no mandatory stops, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. While you won't need to plan for overnight rest, keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route can be tiring, so ensure you are well-rested before heading out. With zero formal stops required, you can easily pace the drive according to your own comfort level. Make sure to check your fuel levels before you leave Deer Valley, as that $13 estimate assumes a consistent pace throughout the 63.3-mile distance. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to stay focused on the changing road conditions as you transition from Grand Avenue onto the Wickenburg-Prescott Highway, as the road character shifts significantly.
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 31.7 miles from Deer Valley, AZ, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21 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 14 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 31.7 miles or 45m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Congress, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Deer Valley, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Deer Valley, AZ
This is one driving day of about 63.3 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Deer Valley, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Grand Avenue for about 21 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 14.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip|~1m in|West Beardsley Road
Turn right onto West Beardsley Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|AZ 101 Loop / Agua Fria Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Agua Fria Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
8 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward Bell Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 14
Toward Bell Road
8
8.4 mi into trip|~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Bell Road, Surprise Stadium
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Bell Road, Surprise Stadium
5
14.9 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the ramp toward US-60 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US-60 West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.61 one way
$25.22 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg22 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$13.35
$26.69
premium
$5.59
$13.93
$27.87
diesel
$5.61
$13.98
$27.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19
0
$6.65
$3.04
Efficient EV
15.8
0
$5.54
$2.53
EV Truck/SUV
25.3
0
$8.86
$4.05
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Deer Valley, AZ
Evening
in Deer Valley on Saturday
Local time
7:47 PM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Congress, AZ
Evening
in Congress on Saturday
Local time
7:47 PM
MST
Current temp
82°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
6 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
1h 31m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Only 15% of this journey is comprised of highway driving, meaning you will spend the bulk of your time navigating local stretches. Your longest uninterrupted segment occurs on Grand Avenue, where you will cover 21 miles before the road profile begins to shift. As you transition from the initial stretches onto the Wickenburg-Prescott Highway, the road requires you to stay alert for frequent turns. It is a practical, hands-on driving experience that avoids the monotonous, straight-line feel of a typical interstate commute.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21 mi on Grand Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near West Beardsley Road.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.3 miles you will encounter 18 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 1 miles (West Beardsley Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Agua Fria Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Deer Valley, AZ to Congress, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Surprise Stadium along the way.
Surprise Stadium
8.4 mi in|~10m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 63.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21 miles on Grand Avenue. 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 Congress, 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 1 miles (West Beardsley Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Agua Fria Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Congress, AZ before heading back.
