Traveling from Goodyear to Holbrook covers 202.5 miles of Arizona landscape, typically taking about 4 hours and 12 minutes to complete. Because this is a manageable distance, you can easily tackle the journey in a single day without needing to book an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $40 on fuel for the trip. You will navigate via the Beeline Highway, AZ 260, and Heber Road, moving through the heart of the Desert Southwest. Whether you are heading out for a weekend getaway or a quick transit, this route offers a straightforward path between your two points. It is a practical option for drivers looking to transition between these areas efficiently.
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
101.2 miles from Goodyear, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Beeline Highway
68.4 mi
1h 20m
AZ 260
53 mi
1h 11m
Heber Road
30.9 mi
36m
Papago Freeway
17.4 mi
20m
Red Mountain Freeway
12.9 mi
15m
West 3rd Street North
4.9 mi
6m
North Beeline Highway
4.5 mi
5m
Heber-Holbrook Highway
2.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Beeline Highway
— 68.4 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Goodyear, AZ and Holbrook, AZ.
1
Start on South Litchfield Road
1.5 mi·2 min·South Litchfield Road
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 10 East: PhoenixUse the right lane.
3
Merge onto I 10
16 mi·18 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·35 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
5
Continue on I 10
1.4 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto Red Mountain Freeway
0.1 mi·7 sec·Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147Toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway
0.3 mi·41 sec·Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147AToward AZ 202 Loop East
8
Keep slight left at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway
12 mi·14 min·Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147AToward AZ 202 Loop EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 13Toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, PaysonUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto AZ 87
0.5 mi·1 min·North Country Club Drive
11
Continue on AZ 87
4.5 mi·5 min·North Beeline Highway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Continue on AZ 87
68 mi·1 hr 20 min·Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto AZ 260
53 mi·1 hr 11 min·AZ 260
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto AZ 277
1.9 mi·3 min·Highway 277
15
Continue on AZ 277
4.9 mi·6 min·West 3rd Street North
16
Turn left onto AZ 377
2.9 mi·3 min·Heber-Holbrook Highway
17
Turn straight onto AZ 377
31 mi·36 min·Heber Road
18
Turn left onto AZ 77
1.6 mi·2 min·Show Low-Holbrook Highway
19
Continue on US 180; AZ 77
0.5 mi·56 sec·Holbrook-Springerville Highway
20
Continue on US 180; AZ 77
0.2 mi·21 sec·Navajo Boulevard
21
Arrive at destination
I 40 Bus; AZ 77; US 66 Hist
Trip Plan
Since the trip duration is just over four hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time to avoid the heaviest traffic. Aim to complete your single planned stop strategically to break up the drive and keep your focus sharp. With a fuel budget of $40, it is wise to check your levels before leaving Goodyear, as service availability can fluctuate once you move onto the secondary roads. Given the 202.5-mile distance, keeping your vehicle well-maintained is key for this mixed-road itinerary. Use the 68.4-mile stretch on the Beeline Highway to set a steady, comfortable pace before you reach the transition to AZ 260 and Heber Road.
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 101.2 miles from Goodyear, AZ, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.4 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 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.2 miles or 2h 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Holbrook, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Goodyear, 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 Goodyear, AZ
This is one driving day of about 202.5 miles and 4h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Goodyear, 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 Beeline Highway for about 68.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 32.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.5 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 East: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 10 East: Phoenix
8
19.7 mi into trip|~24m in|Red Mountain Freeway
Take the exit onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
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 147
Toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
6
19.8 mi into trip|~24m in|Red Mountain Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 202 Loop East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 147A
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
8
20.2 mi into trip|~25m in|Red Mountain Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 202 Loop East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 147A
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
8
32.6 mi into trip|~39m in
Take the exit toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Payson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13
Toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Payson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.34 one way
$80.68 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$42.69
$85.38
premium
$5.59
$44.57
$89.15
diesel
$5.61
$44.71
$89.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.8
0
$21.26
$9.72
Efficient EV
50.6
0
$17.72
$8.10
EV Truck/SUV
81
1
$28.35
$12.96
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Goodyear, AZ
Late night
in Goodyear on Tuesday
Local time
1:11 AM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Holbrook, AZ
Late night
in Holbrook on Tuesday
Local time
1:11 AM
MST
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Payson, AZ
101 mi in
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
18 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
4h 12m 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.
Petrified Forest National Park
National Park
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
$25
near mile 202.5
Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
$10
near mile 62.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a mixed drive profile, with only 42% of the journey spent on major highways. You will experience a variety of road conditions, shifting away from the typical interstate grind to more varied local segments. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 68.4 miles along the Beeline Highway. As you progress, the road environment changes, requiring you to remain attentive as you transition between these different roadway types. Expect a dynamic driving experience that keeps you engaged rather than just cruising on a monotonous path.
42% 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: 68.4 mi on Beeline Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
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 202.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 19.7 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.8 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Goodyear, AZ to Holbrook, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Payson along the way.
Holbrook is a town on Route 66 in the Mogollon Rim in Eastern Arizona, once known as the "town too rough for women and churches." The town makes a convenient base for visiting Petrified Forest National Park.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 12m. Total distance: 202.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68.4 miles on Beeline Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Holbrook, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 19.7 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.8 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Petrified Forest National Park and Tonto National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Holbrook, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
