Flagstaff, AZ to San Luis, AZ is 337.3 miles and takes about 6h 10m via Blue Star Memorial Highway, Arizona Veterans Highway, and Bob Stump Memorial Parkway, with a fuel budget near $65 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Desert Southwest, traversing Arizona entirely. Given its duration and the fact that it's a single-day drive, this route is best suited for those looking to cover ground efficiently. You'll encounter a mix of road types, so expect a varied driving experience as you head south. Plan for a straightforward trip with minimal overnight considerations.
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
168.6 miles from Flagstaff, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
106.8 mi
1h 48m
Arizona Veterans Highway
93.9 mi
1h 34m
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
32.2 mi
37m
Arizona State Highway 85
28.5 mi
33m
Robert A. Vaughan Expressway
20.9 mi
24m
Black Canyon Freeway
13.9 mi
14m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
10.5 mi
11m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 106.8 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Flagstaff, AZ and San Luis, AZ.
1
Start on US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist
500 ft·15 sec·West Historic Route 66
2
Turn slight left onto South Milton Road
1.8 mi·4 min·South Milton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on I 17; AZ 79
94 mi·1 hr 34 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
4
Continue on I 17
5.8 mi·5 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 17
10 mi·10 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on I 17
3.2 mi·3 min·North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
7
Continue on I 17
3.4 mi·3 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·38 sec
Exit 221Toward AZ 303 Loop SouthUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto AZ 303 Loop
0.6 mi·1 min·AZ 303 Loop
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·45 sec
11
Continue on this road
411 ft·7 sec·this road
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·21 sec
13
Merge onto AZ 303 Loop
0.2 mi·12 sec·Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi·47 sec
15
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·19 sec·this road
16
Merge onto AZ 303 Loop
32 mi·36 min·Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 104BToward I 10 West: Los AngelesUse the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto I 10
11 mi·11 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 112Toward AZ 85: Yuma, San DiegoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on AZ 85
3.6 mi·5 min·South Oglesby Road
21
Continue on AZ 85; US 80 Hist
1.0 mi·1 min·Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
22
Continue on AZ 85
28 mi·33 min·Arizona State Highway 85
23
Take the exit onto AZ 85
0.6 mi·1 min·Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
Toward AZ-85 South: Gila Bend
24
Continue on AZ 85
0.3 mi·43 sec·Arizona State Highway 85
25
Continue on AZ 85
2.4 mi·5 min·East Pima Street
26
Take the exit onto I 8 Bus; US 80 Hist
0.7 mi·1 min·I 8 Bus; US 80 Hist
Toward I 8 West: San Diego
27
Merge onto I 8
107 mi·1 hr 48 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward AZ 195: Araby Road, San Luis
29
Keep slight left at fork
267 ft·7 sec
Toward AZ 195: Araby Road, San Luis
30
Enter roundabout onto AZ 195
267 ft·3 sec·South Araby Road
31
Continue on AZ 195
0.1 mi·9 sec·South Araby Road
32
Enter roundabout onto AZ 195
188 ft·2 sec·South Araby Road
33
Continue on AZ 195
0.5 mi·33 sec·South Araby Road
34
Continue on AZ 195
21 mi·24 min·Robert A. Vaughan Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
35
Continue on AZ 195
4.5 mi·7 min·East Cesar Chavez Boulevard
36
Turn left onto 4th Avenue
0.5 mi·54 sec·4th Avenue
37
At end of road, turn right onto Urtuzuastegui Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·Urtuzuastegui Street
38
Arrive at destination
Urtuzuastegui Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 10m estimated drive time, starting your trip in Flagstaff early in the morning is advisable to ensure you arrive in San Luis with ample daylight. The route involves only one stop on average, so plan for your needs before setting out. With a fuel cost estimated around $65, it's wise to fill up before leaving Flagstaff, as fuel availability might be more limited on certain stretches. Pay attention to the transition points between the highways and the surface roads, as this will be a recurring aspect of the drive.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 168.6 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.8 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 74 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 168.6 miles or 3h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Luis, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Flagstaff, 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 Flagstaff, AZ
This is one driving day of about 337.3 miles and 6h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Flagstaff, 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 Blue Star Memorial Highway for about 106.8 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 118.7 and 310.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
118.7 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Take the exit toward AZ 303 Loop South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 221
Toward AZ 303 Loop South
6
119.2 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|AZ 303 Loop
Turn right onto AZ 303 Loop
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
7
154 mi into trip|~2h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 104B
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
8
165.5 mi into trip|~2h 56m in
Take the exit toward AZ 85: Yuma, San Diego
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 112
Toward AZ 85: Yuma, San Diego
6
310.4 mi into trip|~5h 36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward AZ 195: Araby Road, San Luis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AZ 195: Araby Road, San Luis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$68.77 one way
$137.55 round trip
$5.18/gal25.4 MPG avg118 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.48
$72.82
$145.65
premium
$5.74
$76.16
$152.32
diesel
$6.18
$82.05
$164.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$69
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$94–$119
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 118 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
101.2
1
$35.42
$16.19
Efficient EV
84.3
0
$29.51
$13.49
EV Truck/SUV
134.9
1
$47.22
$21.59
Gas CO2
118 kg
EV CO2
39 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Flagstaff, AZ
Late night
in Flagstaff on Tuesday
Local time
2:58 AM
MST
Current temp
61°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 to 8 mph36% chanceLive forecast
Destination
San Luis, AZ
Late night
in San Luis on Tuesday
Local time
2:58 AM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
S 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive 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
27 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
6h 10m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
$10
near mile 46.5
Caution: Visiting During Monsoon Season (July-September)
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...
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...
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 46.5
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?
This drive is mostly on surface roads, with highway driving making up 29% of the total mileage. You'll experience a significant stretch of 106.8 miles on the Blue Star Memorial Highway before transitioning to other main roads. Expect to navigate numerous exits and merges as you progress, particularly as you move between the primary highways and the predominantly surface road sections. The longest continuous highway segment is substantial, giving you a good opportunity for steady cruising.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106.8 mi on Blue Star Memorial Highway.
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 118.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 337.3 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 118.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 119.2 miles (AZ 303 Loop): Lane positioning matters here; at 154 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,900 ft131 ft
Total Climb
518 ft
Total Descent
7,287 ft
Highest Point
6,900 ft
Elevation Range
6,770 ft
Notable High Points
3,801 ft at ~72.3 miles+515 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 Flagstaff, AZ to San Luis, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward San Diego along the way.
Flagstaff is a city of over 75,000 people (2019) near the San Francisco Peaks mountain range of northern Arizona and the Grand Canyon. At an altitude of 6,990 ft (2,130 m), Flagstaff and much of the surrounding region are substantially cooler than the low desert that dominates the southern part of the state. Though still dry by east coast standards, enough rain and snow falls in the area to allow a forest of ponderosa pine trees to cover the landscape. Winters tend to be cold, and heavy snowfall is expected on an annual basis.
Top landmarks
•Lowell Observatory — astronomical observatory
•Weatherford Hotel — United States historic place in Flagstaff, Arizona
•First Baptist Church — historic church in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 10m. Total distance: 337.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 10m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 106.8 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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 San Luis, 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 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 118.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 119.2 miles (AZ 303 Loop): Lane positioning matters here; at 154 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at San Luis, AZ before the return drive.
