Origin
Glendale, AZ
Morning in Glendale on Tuesday
Local time
6:26 AM
MST
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Glendale, AZ to Big Park, AZ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 58m
Distance
104.8 mi
169 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 50m
★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 16m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 3m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 15m
8 PM
1h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Glendale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Big Park, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Glendale, AZ to Big Park, AZ is 104.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 58 minutes via Arizona Veterans Highway and Black Canyon Freeway, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward drive through Arizona. Given the relatively short distance and duration, it's an easy same-day excursion. You'll find the route offers a mix of landscapes typical of the region, making it a practical choice for a quick getaway without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.4 miles from Glendale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Veterans Highway | 50.2 mi | 50m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 32 mi | 34m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 8.9 mi | 9m |
| Red Rock Scenic Byway | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| West Northern Avenue | 4.2 mi | 8m |
| North 59th Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Grand Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Myrtle Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Arizona Veterans Highway
— 50.2 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glendale, AZ and Big Park, AZ.
1
Start on US 60
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Grand Avenue
2
Turn sharp right onto West Myrtle Avenue
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
West Myrtle Avenue
3
Turn left onto North 59th Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North 59th Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto West Northern Avenue
4.2 mi
·
8 min
·
West Northern Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Turn slight left
439 ft
·
18 sec
6
Turn straight onto North Black Canyon Highway
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
North Black Canyon Highway
7
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
8
Merge onto I 17
32 mi
·
34 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 17
8.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 17
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 17
37 mi
·
36 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
12
Take the exit onto AZ 179
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
AZ 179
Exit 298
Toward Oak Creek Canyon, SR 179, Sedona
13
Turn left onto AZ 179
7.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Red Rock Scenic Byway
14
Enter roundabout onto AZ 179
111 ft
·
1 sec
·
Red Rock Scenic Byway
15
Continue on AZ 179
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Red Rock Scenic Byway
16
Enter roundabout onto AZ 179
92 ft
·
1 sec
·
Red Rock Scenic Byway
17
Continue on AZ 179
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Red Rock Scenic Byway
18
Enter roundabout onto East Cortez Drive
26 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Cortez Drive
19
Continue on East Cortez Drive
116 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Cortez Drive
20
Turn left
67 ft
·
4 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
This 104.8-mile drive can easily be completed in under two hours, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the busiest rush hour traffic out of Glendale. With a fuel cost estimated at $21, filling up before you leave is a good idea. Keep an eye out for the transition from the Black Canyon Freeway to Arizona Veterans Highway, as this is where the road type changes. Since it's a short drive, you can take your time and make spontaneous stops if something catches your eye.
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 52.4 miles from Glendale, AZ, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.2 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 23 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.4 miles or 1h 2m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Big Park, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Glendale, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Glendale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 104.8 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Glendale, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Arizona Veterans Highway for about 50.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.4 miles from Glendale, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 104.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North 59th Avenue
Turn left onto North 59th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
West Northern Avenue
Turn right onto West Northern Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
5.9 mi into trip
|
~12m 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
97.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
AZ 179
Take the exit onto AZ 179 toward Oak Creek Canyon, SR 179, Sedona
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 298
Toward Oak Creek Canyon, SR 179, Sedona
5
104.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m in
|
AZ 179 / Red Rock Scenic Byway
Enter roundabout onto AZ 179 / Red Rock Scenic Byway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.88 one way
$41.75 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $22.09 | $44.19 |
| premium | $5.59 | $23.07 | $46.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.14 | $46.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.4 | 0 | $11.00 | $5.03 |
| Efficient EV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.17 | $4.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.9 | 0 | $14.67 | $6.71 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
Big Park, AZ
Morning in Big Park on Tuesday
Local time
6:26 AM
MST
Current temp
73°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
11 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 58m 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.
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
$10
near mile 90.4
Caution: High Levels of Visitation
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
~36 min detour
$10
near mile 101.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 31% of this 104.8-mile drive is on highways, meaning you'll encounter both freeway conditions and surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 50.2 miles along Arizona Veterans Highway. Expect some urban merging as you depart Glendale and head towards the Black Canyon Freeway. The profile suggests a transition from faster highway speeds to a more mixed surface experience as you approach Big Park.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.2 mi on Arizona Veterans Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near North 59th Avenue.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 58m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (North 59th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (West Northern Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles (I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,506 ft
1,127 ft
Total Climb
4,143 ft
Total Descent
1,197 ft
Highest Point
4,506 ft
~74.9 mi in
Elevation Range
3,378 ft
Notable High Points
4,506 ft at ~74.9 miles
+708 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 Glendale, AZ and Big Park, AZ, road signs point toward Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona.
Oak Creek Canyon
97.1 mi in
|
~1h 46m
|
via AZ 179
Sedona
97.1 mi in
|
~1h 46m
|
via AZ 179
About the Cities
Starting in Glendale, AZ
Full guide →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.
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 1h 58m. Total distance: 104.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.2 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.5 miles (North 59th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (West Northern Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles (I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Montezuma Castle National Monument and Tuzigoot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Big Park, AZ before heading back.
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.
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