Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Trip from First Mesa, AZ to Glendale, AZ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 51m
Distance
267.4 mi
430 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 38m
★
6 AM
4h 51m
8 AM
5h 18m
10 AM
5h 1m
12 PM
4h 58m
3 PM
5h 2m
5 PM
5h 17m
8 PM
4h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Glendale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
First Mesa, AZ to Glendale, AZ is 267.4 miles and takes about 4 hours 51 minutes via Arizona Veterans Highway, Purple Heart Trail, and Winslow–Kayenta Highway, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip spans the Desert Southwest, beginning and ending within Arizona. You'll primarily be on surface roads, offering a more relaxed pace compared to interstate driving. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance, it's a straightforward transit that can be completed comfortably within a single day.
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
133.7 miles from First Mesa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Veterans Highway | 93 mi | 1h 33m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 61.2 mi | 1h 2m |
| Winslow–Kayenta Highway | 55.5 mi | 1h 4m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 30.1 mi | 33m |
| Arizona State Highway 264 | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 5.8 mi | 5m |
| AZ 87 | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| West Glendale Avenue | 4 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
Arizona Veterans Highway
— 93 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between First Mesa, AZ and Glendale, AZ.
1
Start on this road
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn left
286 ft
·
13 sec
3
Turn right
247 ft
·
11 sec
4
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 264
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Arizona State Highway 264
5
Turn left onto AZ 87
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Winslow–Kayenta Highway
6
Continue on AZ 87
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
AZ 87
7
Continue on AZ 87
39 mi
·
44 min
·
Winslow–Kayenta Highway
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
9
Merge onto I 40; US 180
61 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 17 South, AZ 89A North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 17, AZ 89A South: Sedona, Phoenix
12
Merge onto I 17; AZ 89A
93 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
13
Continue on I 17
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 17
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on I 17
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
16
Continue on I 17
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 205
Toward Glendale Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight onto North Black Canyon Highway
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Black Canyon Highway
19
Turn right onto West Glendale Avenue
4.0 mi
·
8 min
·
West Glendale Avenue
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto North 57th Drive
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
North 57th Drive
21
Turn right onto US 60
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Grand Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
US 60
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 51-minute driving time, aim to depart in the morning to allow ample time for the drive and any unforeseen delays. With only one stop recommended, you have flexibility in how you pace your travel. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 93-mile stretch on Arizona Veterans Highway, as services can be spread out in this section. The relatively short distance means you can be flexible with your departure time, but starting earlier is always a good bet for a smoother arrival.
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 133.7 miles from First Mesa, AZ, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93 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 59 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.7 miles or 2h 28m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Glendale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving First Mesa, 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 First Mesa, AZ
This is one driving day of about 267.4 miles and 4h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from First Mesa, 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 93 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
134 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 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 133.7 miles from First Mesa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Arizona Veterans Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Meteor Crater Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Sunset Point Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
McGuireville Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
McGuireville Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Meteor Crater Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Rocky Mountain Truck Centers
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.8 mi from route
Fort Tuthill County Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
1.5 mi from route
~4 min detour
Flagstaff, Arizona
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+19286798000
Visit websiteFlagstaff Snow Park
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Flagstaff, Arizona
+19282245938
Visit websiteMontezuma Well
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Final third
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Rimrock, Arizona
Hours: 9 am–4:45 pm
+19285674521
Visit websiteHurricane Harbor Phoenix
3.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, ~10 min detour
Home stretch
3.9 mi from route
~10 min detour
Glendale, Arizona
Hours: Closed
+16232012000
Visit websiteStandin' on The Corner Foundation
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, ~12 min detour
Early stretch
4.8 mi from route
~12 min detour
Winslow, AZ
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websitePioneer Living History Museum
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Phoenix, Arizona
Hours: 9 am–4 pm
+16234651052
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 263 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
At end of road, turn left
Navigation decision point
5
129.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 23m in
Take the exit toward I 17 South, AZ 89A North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 17 South, AZ 89A North: Phoenix, Flags...
6
129.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 17, AZ 89A South: Sedona, Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 17, AZ 89A South: Sedona, Phoenix
7
262.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 41m in
Take the exit toward Glendale Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 205
Toward Glendale Avenue
6
263 mi into trip
|
~4h 41m in
|
West Glendale Avenue
Turn right onto West Glendale Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.38 one way
$94.77 round trip
$4.50/gal
25.4 MPG avg
94 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.82 | $50.74 | $101.49 |
| premium | $5.04 | $53.08 | $106.16 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $50.49 | $100.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 80.2 | 0 | $28.08 | $12.84 |
| Efficient EV | 66.9 | 0 | $23.40 | $10.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 107 | 1 | $37.44 | $17.11 |
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
First Mesa, AZ
Night in First Mesa on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
MST
Current temp
68°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 7 mph
10% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:37PM PDT until July 18 at 1:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Destination
Glendale, AZ
Night in Glendale on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
MST
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 0 to 5 mph
32% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:37PM PDT until July 18 at 1:00AM 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
13 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
4h 51m 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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
$10
near mile 175.2
View on nps.gov
Walnut Canyon National Monument
National Monument
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
$25
near mile 119.9
View on nps.gov
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
National Monument
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 119.9
View on nps.gov
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...
15 mi from route
~39 min detour
$10
near mile 175.2
View on nps.gov
Wupatki National Monument
National Monument
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$25
near mile 119.9
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 is predominantly surface roads, with only 16% on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 93 miles along the Arizona Veterans Highway. Expect mostly rural cruising, transitioning to more developed areas as you approach Glendale. The shift from dedicated highway to surface roads will be noticeable as you progress.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93 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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 267.4 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 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 129.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 129.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,884 ft
1,128 ft
Total Climb
2,011 ft
Total Descent
6,662 ft
Highest Point
6,884 ft
~134.6 mi in
Elevation Range
5,756 ft
Notable High Points
6,884 ft at ~134.6 miles
+543 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between First Mesa, AZ and Glendale, AZ, road signs point toward Flagstaff and Phoenix.
Flagstaff
129.4 mi in
|
~2h 23m
Phoenix
129.6 mi in
|
~2h 23m
About the Cities
Starting in First Mesa, AZ
Full guide →Arriving in Glendale, AZ
Full guide →Founded 1887
Glendale is one of the largest suburbs in the metropolitan Phoenix area, and is rapidly growing as a media/entertainment center in the Valley of the Sun. It was home to over 250,000 people in 2019.
Top landmarks
- • Catlin Court Historic District — historic district in Glendale, Arizona, USA
- • Floralcroft Historic District — historic district in Glendale. Arizona
- • Glendale beet sugar factory
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 4h 51m. Total distance: 267.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 Glendale, 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 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 129.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 129.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Glendale, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, 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 Glendale, AZ
More from First Mesa, AZ
More trips to Glendale, AZ
Explore more options from First Mesa, AZ or browse trips ending in Glendale, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.