Spanning 292.1 miles through the Desert Southwest, this journey from Deer Valley to Cottonwood takes approximately 5 hours and 58 minutes. You will navigate via the Arizona Veterans Highway, the Purple Heart Trail, and the Winslow–Kayenta Highway. While this trip is technically feasible as a single-day excursion, the nearly six-hour duration makes it a full commitment behind the wheel. Expect to budget around $58 for fuel to complete the trek. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Desert Southwest, you can expect consistent environmental conditions throughout your travels.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
146 miles from Deer Valley, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Deer Valley, AZ and Cottonwood, AZ.
1
Start on North 35th Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·North 35th Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto West Pinnacle Peak Road
1.3 mi·2 min·West Pinnacle Peak Road
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto North Black Canyon Highway
0.1 mi·13 sec·North Black Canyon Highway
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward I 17 North
5
Merge onto I 17
22 mi·22 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 17
8.9 mi·9 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 17
13 mi·13 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 17
77 mi·1 hr 17 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
9
Continue on I 17; AZ 89A
0.6 mi·43 sec·Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 East, Albuquerque
11
Merge onto I 40
61 mi·1 hr 2 min·Purple Heart Trail
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward AZ 87 North: Second Mesa
13
Turn left onto AZ 87; US 66 Hist
39 mi·45 min·Winslow–Kayenta Highway
14
Continue on AZ 87
4.1 mi·4 min·AZ 87
15
Continue on AZ 87
17 mi·19 min·Winslow–Kayenta Highway
16
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 264
12 mi·14 min·Arizona State Highway 264
17
Turn left onto Indian Route 60
6.6 mi·16 min·Indian Route 60
18
Continue on H65
8.4 mi·20 min·Hopi Route 65
19
Continue on N65
1.3 mi·3 min·Navajo Route 65
20
Continue on Indian Route 65
2.8 mi·6 min·Indian Route 65
21
Continue on N65
1.9 mi·4 min·Navajo Route 65
22
At end of road, turn right onto N4
4.0 mi·9 min·Navajo Route 4
23
Continue on Indian Route 4
1.8 mi·4 min·Indian Route 4
24
Continue on N4
6.4 mi·15 min·Navajo Route 4
25
Turn right
0.3 mi·1 min
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since you have one planned stop along the way, use that time to stretch and refuel effectively to manage the 292.1-mile distance. Because this is a turn-heavy route, departing early in the day allows you to navigate the more technical sections while visibility is at its peak. Given the $58 fuel estimate, topping off your tank before leaving Deer Valley will help you avoid unnecessary logistical stress in more remote stretches. Maintain a flexible pace throughout the day, as the winding nature of the road can make the 5-hour and 58-minute duration feel more demanding than a standard highway drive.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 146 miles from Deer Valley, AZ, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.6 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 64 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146 miles or 2h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cottonwood, 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.
+
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 Deer Valley, AZ
This is one driving day of about 292.1 miles and 5h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Deer Valley, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Arizona Veterans Highway for about 90.6 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 1 and 246.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1 mi into trip|~1m in|West Pinnacle Peak Road
At end of road, turn right onto West Pinnacle Peak Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in|North Black Canyon Highway
Turn left onto North Black Canyon Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.6 mi into trip|~4m in|I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge onto I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
124.6 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 40 East, Albuquerque
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 East, Albuquerque
5
246.9 mi into trip|~4h 23m in|AZ 264 / Arizona State Highway 264
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 264 / Arizona State Highway 264
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.19 one way
$116.38 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$61.58
$123.17
premium
$5.59
$64.30
$128.59
diesel
$5.61
$64.49
$128.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.6
1
$30.67
$14.02
Efficient EV
73
0
$25.56
$11.68
EV Truck/SUV
116.8
1
$40.89
$18.69
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
6:15 PM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cottonwood, AZ
Evening
in Cottonwood on Saturday
Local time
7:15 PM
MDT
Current temp
69°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
19 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
5h 58m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived and traveled throughout Walnut Canyon’s dynamic landscape. Vibrant communities built their homes in the cliffs and farmed along the canyon’s rim. T...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
$25
near mile 130.9
The lava flow lies on the land like a dream, a wonderland of rock. A thousand years ago the ground was torn open and lava erupted into the sky, forever changing the landscape and the lives of the peop...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
$25
near mile 130.9
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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
$10
near mile 80.6
Nestled between the Painted Desert and ponderosa highlands of northern Arizona, Wupatki National Monument is an unlikely landscape for a thriving community. The early 1100's marked a time of cooler an...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With only 24% of the journey spent on highways, the route favors technical maneuvering over high-speed straightaways. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 90.6 miles on the Arizona Veterans Highway, providing a brief period of steady driving before the route shifts character. Prepare for a dynamic experience where the road surface and curvature change frequently as you transition between local segments.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.6 mi on Arizona Veterans Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near West Pinnacle Peak Road.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 292.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 Pinnacle Peak Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (North Black Canyon Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Cottonwood, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Albuquerque along the way.
Albuquerque
124.6 mi in|~2h 9m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 58m. Total distance: 292.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (24%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.6 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (West Pinnacle Peak Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (North Black Canyon Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Montezuma Castle National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cottonwood, AZ before the return drive.
