Deer Valley, AZ to Tuba City, AZ is 204.7 miles and takes about 3h 47m via Arizona Veterans Highway and Flagstaff-Cameron Highway, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Desert Southwest, offering a straightforward drive from one part of Arizona to another. You'll primarily be on surface roads for this stretch, making it a more relaxed pace than a full interstate cruise. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
102.3 miles from Deer Valley, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Deer Valley, AZ and Tuba City, 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
5.1 mi·5 min·Purple Heart Trail
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 89 North: Page
13
Turn left onto US 180; I 40 Bus
0.5 mi·50 sec·Country Club Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn right onto US 89
2.3 mi·3 min·Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on US 89
6.4 mi·8 min·US Highway 89
16
Continue on US 89
38 mi·44 min·Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
17
Enter roundabout onto US 89
156 ft·2 sec·Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway
18
Continue on US 89
1.4 mi·2 min·Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway
19
Continue on US 89
0.3 mi·27 sec·US 89
20
Continue on US 89
14 mi·16 min·Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway
21
Turn right onto US 160
10 mi·11 min·Navajo Trail
22
Turn left onto N1017
1.3 mi·2 min·Main Street
23
Turn left onto Cedar Avenue
16 ft·0 sec·Cedar Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
Leaving Deer Valley in the morning is your best bet, giving you ample daylight to reach Tuba City. Given the 3h 47m drive time, you can comfortably complete this in one day without needing an overnight stay. Plan for one stop to stretch your legs or grab a quick bite, as the longest stretch without services is 90.6 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. Keep your fuel tank topped off before you leave the Phoenix area, as services can become more spread out once you're north of Flagstaff. The flexibility of a shorter drive like this means you can adjust your departure time if needed.
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 102.3 miles from Deer Valley, AZ, or about 1h 46m 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 45 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.3 miles or 1h 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 3h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tuba City, 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 204.7 miles and 3h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 131 — 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.
6
130.5 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|US 180; I 40 Bus / Country Club Drive
Turn left onto US 180; I 40 Bus / Country Club Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
131 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|US 89 / Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
Turn right onto US 89 / Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.27 one way
$72.55 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$38.84
$77.69
premium
$5.04
$40.63
$81.27
diesel
$4.80
$38.65
$77.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
EV Charging Along Route
13 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Phoenix, AZ - Agua Fria Fwy - Tesla Supercharger
Phoenix, AZ
Tesla
16 DCFC
Phoenix, AZ - West Happy Valley Rd - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.4
0
$21.49
$9.83
Efficient EV
51.2
0
$17.91
$8.19
EV Truck/SUV
81.9
1
$28.66
$13.10
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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
Deer Valley, AZ
Late night
in Deer Valley on Sunday
Local time
12:00 AM
MST
Current temp
79°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
N 0 to 5 mph35% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 7:00PM PDT until July 18 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 6:58PM MST until July 18 at 10:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Destination
Tuba City, AZ
Late night
in Tuba City on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 mph51% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 7:00PM PDT until July 18 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 6:58PM MST until July 18 at 10:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
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
17 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
3h 47m 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...
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...
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
$25
near mile 134.1
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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
$25
near mile 155.3
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
$10
near mile 77.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with only about 14% spent on highways like the Black Canyon Freeway. You'll encounter your longest stretch of uninterrupted driving on Arizona Veterans Highway, covering 90.6 miles. Expect a rural cruising feel for much of this trip, transitioning from freeway to surface roads as you head north. The road surface is generally good, but keep an eye out for potential changes in speed limits and road conditions as you leave the more urban areas.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 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?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 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 Effort6/10
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 204.7 miles you will encounter 14 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.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,860 ft1,374 ft
Total Climb
7,228 ft
Total Descent
3,639 ft
Highest Point
6,860 ft
~131.6 mi in
Elevation Range
5,487 ft
Notable High Points
4,247 ft at ~58.5 miles+633 ft prominence
6,860 ft at ~131.6 miles+141 ft prominence
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 Tuba City, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Albuquerque along the way.
Tuba City is a town of 9,700 people (2015) in Northern Arizona. Tuba City is the largest settlement on the Arizona side of the Navajo Nation. There is little to detain the traveler, but it makes a good refueling stop on the way from Monument Valley to the Grand Canyon.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 47m. Total distance: 204.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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.
Yes — we found about 7 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 Tuba City, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Walnut Canyon National Monument (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Tuba City, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
