Spanning 290.9 miles across the Desert Southwest, this journey from Houck to Peoria typically takes about 4 hours and 18 minutes of driving time. Because the trip is manageable in a single day, you likely won't need an overnight stay, making it an efficient way to traverse this part of Arizona. You should set aside approximately $58 for fuel costs to complete the trip comfortably. Navigating this route involves a mix of North Frontage Road, local streets, and the Purple Heart Trail. Since it is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, expect to stay engaged behind the wheel for the duration of the trip.
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
145.3 miles from Houck, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Houck, AZ and Peoria, AZ.
1
Start on North Frontage Road
0.3 mi·48 sec·North Frontage Road
2
Turn sharp left onto St. Anslem Road
174 ft·6 sec·St. Anslem Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
4
Merge onto I 40
152 mi·2 hr 32 min·Purple Heart Trail
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Toward I 17 South, AZ 89A North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
6
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward I 17, AZ 89A South: Sedona, Phoenix
7
Merge onto I 17; AZ 89A
93 mi·1 hr 33 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
8
Continue on I 17
5.8 mi·5 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 17
10 mi·10 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on I 17
3.2 mi·3 min·North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 17
10 mi·11 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 214CToward AZ 101 Loop West, AZ 101 Loop EastUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward AZ 101 Loop WestUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
10 mi·12 min·Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 11Toward 91st Avenue, Grand Avenue, Cactus Road, SurpriseUse the slight right lane.
16
Continue on North 91st Avenue
0.2 mi·21 sec·North 91st Avenue
17
Turn left onto US 60
1.3 mi·2 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto North 83rd Avenue
229 ft·37 sec·North 83rd Avenue
19
Continue on North 83rd Avenue
77 ft·2 sec·North 83rd Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
North 83rd Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a 290.9-mile trek, planning at least one dedicated stop will help you stay refreshed during the 4-hour and 18-minute drive. Aim to depart early in the day to avoid the stress of navigating local turns after dark. Keep your $58 fuel budget in mind, and verify your gas levels before leaving Houck, as local road driving can sometimes be less fuel-efficient than consistent highway speeds. Because the route relies on local infrastructure, prioritize using a reliable GPS to track your turns along the Purple Heart Trail and local streets. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so if you find yourself needing a break, utilize that planned stop to stretch your legs before hitting the final stretch into Peoria.
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 145.3 miles from Houck, AZ, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 152 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 64 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.3 miles or 2h 26m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Peoria, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Houck, 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 Houck, AZ
This is one driving day of about 290.6 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Houck, 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 152 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 288.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|St. Anslem Road
Turn sharp left onto St. Anslem Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
152.7 mi into trip|~2h 34m 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
8
276.5 mi into trip|~4h 41m in
Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop West, AZ 101 Loop East
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 214C
Toward AZ 101 Loop West, AZ 101 Loop East
7
276.9 mi into trip|~4h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 101 Loop West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward AZ 101 Loop West
8
288.2 mi into trip|~4h 55m in
Take the exit toward 91st Avenue, Grand Avenue, Cactus Road, Surprise
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 11
Toward 91st Avenue, Grand Avenue, Cactus Road,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.89 one way
$115.78 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$61.27
$122.53
premium
$5.59
$63.97
$127.93
diesel
$5.61
$64.16
$128.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.2
1
$30.51
$13.95
Efficient EV
72.7
0
$25.43
$11.62
EV Truck/SUV
116.2
1
$40.68
$18.60
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Houck, AZ
Evening
in Houck on Saturday
Local time
7:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Peoria, AZ
Evening
in Peoria on Saturday
Local time
6:08 PM
MST
Current temp
92°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
19 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
5h 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...
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...
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
$25
near mile 140.3
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
~37 min detour
$10
near mile 200.4
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 140.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With a 0% highway share, you will be navigating local roads and the Purple Heart Trail, which gives the journey a distinct, hands-on feel. The route lacks long, uninterrupted highway stretches, so be prepared for more frequent adjustments in speed and direction. As you transition from the Houck area toward Peoria, the character of the road remains consistently technical. This isn't a route for cruise control; instead, it is a drive that requires you to stay alert and navigate the path turn by turn.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 152 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 0.3 miles in near St. Anslem Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 290.6 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 0.3 miles (St. Anslem Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 152.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 276.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Houck, AZ and Peoria, AZ, road signs point toward Flagstaff and Phoenix.
Peoria is a city inside of Phoenix, Arizona. Many visitors come to the area during the spring to see their favorite professional baseball team during Spring Training in the Cactus League.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h. Total distance: 290.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 152 miles on Purple Heart Trail. 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 Peoria, 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 0.3 miles (St. Anslem Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 152.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 276.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Peoria, AZ before the return drive.
