Glendale, AZ to Fort Defiance, AZ is 332 miles and takes about 5h 59m via Purple Heart Trail, with a fuel budget near $64 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route travels within Arizona, staying within the Desert Southwest region throughout. It's a straightforward trip that mostly utilizes surface roads, making it a good option if you prefer a more relaxed pace over highway speeds. With a single recommended stop and a duration under six hours, this is a very manageable drive for 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
166 miles from Glendale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 57m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Glendale, AZ and Fort Defiance, 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
77 mi·1 hr 17 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
12
Continue on I 17; AZ 89A
0.6 mi·43 sec·Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 East, Albuquerque
14
Merge onto I 40
161 mi·2 hr 42 min·Purple Heart Trail
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward BIA 12 North: Window Rock
16
Turn left onto N12
24 mi·33 min·Navajo Route 12
17
Turn right onto AZ 264
1.9 mi·2 min·Arizona State Highway 264
18
Turn left onto N12
5.0 mi·8 min·Navajo Route 12
19
Continue on N110
1.2 mi·2 min·Kit Carson Drive
20
Turn right onto Old Red Lake Road
54 ft·2 sec·Old Red Lake Road
21
Arrive at destination
Old Red Lake Road
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 59m estimated drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. Aim to depart Glendale in the morning to give yourself plenty of time. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a guaranteed service point is 161.5 miles on the Purple Heart Trail. Check your tire pressure before departing, as the predominantly surface road profile can be harder on tires than consistent highway driving.
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 166 miles from Glendale, AZ, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 161.5 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 73 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166 miles or 2h 57m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Defiance, 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.
+
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 Glendale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 332 miles and 5h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Glendale, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 161.5 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 0.3 and 138.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|West Myrtle Avenue
Turn sharp right onto West Myrtle Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
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.
5
138.1 mi into trip|~2h 28m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.79 one way
$121.59 round trip
$4.65/gal25.4 MPG avg116 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.00
$65.41
$130.81
premium
$5.34
$69.80
$139.60
diesel
$6.37
$83.31
$166.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.6
1
$34.86
$15.94
Efficient EV
83
0
$29.05
$13.28
EV Truck/SUV
132.8
1
$46.48
$21.25
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Glendale, AZ
Late night
in Glendale on Sunday
Local time
3:19 AM
MST
Current temp
81°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
E 10 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Fort Defiance, AZ
Late night
in Fort Defiance on Sunday
Local time
4:19 AM
MDT
Current temp
60°F
Partly Sunny
E 7 mph0% 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
21 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 59m 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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
$10
near mile 91.6
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...
A landscape where deep time lies fully on display, Petrified Forest National Park blends colorful badlands, vast grasslands, and one of the world’s largest and most vivid collections of petrified wood...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
$25
near mile 251.8
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
~29 min detour
$25
near mile 148.8
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
~38 min detour
$10
near mile 91.6
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
$25
near mile 148.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip covers 332 miles, with 19% on highways like the Black Canyon Freeway. You'll experience 161.5 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, which is the longest continuous stretch of your drive. Expect to transition from freeway conditions to mostly surface roads, offering a more rural cruising experience for the majority of the miles. The highway sections will likely involve urban merging and dense exits, especially at the beginning of your trip.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 161.5 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
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 0.3 miles in near West Myrtle Avenue.
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 332 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 0.3 miles (West Myrtle Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.5 miles (North 59th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (West Northern Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
6,851 ft1,128 ft
Total Climb
8,033 ft
Total Descent
2,328 ft
Highest Point
6,851 ft
~142.3 mi in
Elevation Range
5,723 ft
Notable High Points
4,123 ft at ~71.1 miles+429 ft prominence
6,851 ft at ~142.3 miles+363 ft prominence
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 Fort Defiance, AZ, road signs point toward Albuquerque and Bia 12 North: Window Rock.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 59m. Total distance: 332 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (19%). 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 161.5 miles on Purple Heart Trail. 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.
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 0.3 miles (West Myrtle Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.5 miles (North 59th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (West Northern Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Montezuma Castle National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument and Petrified Forest National Park (6 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 Fort Defiance, AZ before the return drive.
