Joseph City to Phoenix is 221.7 miles and takes about 3 hours 53 minutes via Arizona Veterans Highway and Black Canyon Freeway, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, transitioning from a more rural start to an urban approach. Expect a straightforward drive that's well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace. The majority of the route consists of surface roads, so plan for a less highway-intensive experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
110.9 miles from Joseph City, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Joseph City, AZ and Phoenix, AZ.
1
Start on I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
2
Turn left onto I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist
362 ft·8 sec·I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist
3
Take the ramp onto I 40 BUS
0.5 mi·59 sec·I 40 BUS
4
Merge onto I 40; US 180
78 mi·1 hr 19 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
25 mi·28 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 200AToward I 10 East, I 10 West: Central Phoenix, Los AngelesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 East: Central Phoenix, TucsonUse the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto I 10
0.6 mi·41 sec·Papago Freeway
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 144AToward 7th AvenueUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward 7th Avenue South, Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix Campus, Downtown Cultural/Sport FacilitiesUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto North 7th Avenue
445 ft·16 sec·North 7th Avenue
18
Turn left onto West Roosevelt Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West Roosevelt Street
19
Turn right onto North 1st Avenue
29 ft·0 sec·North 1st Avenue
20
Keep slight right at fork onto North 1st Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North 1st Avenue
21
Turn left onto West Adams Street
0.1 mi·40 sec·West Adams Street
22
Turn right onto North 1st Street
408 ft·18 sec·North 1st Street
23
Turn right onto East Washington Street
453 ft·15 sec·East Washington Street
24
Arrive at destination
West Washington Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 53-minute estimated drive time, leaving Joseph City in the morning allows ample daylight to reach Phoenix. With only one stop recommended, you have flexibility in timing your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $44, and it's wise to fill up before leaving Joseph City, especially since the longest stretch without a town is 93 miles. The predominantly surface road profile means you should be mindful of local speed limits and potential traffic signals.
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 110.9 miles from Joseph City, AZ, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93 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 49 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.9 miles or 1h 54m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Phoenix, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Joseph City, 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 Joseph City, AZ
This is one driving day of about 221.7 miles and 3h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Joseph City, 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 Arizona Veterans Highway for about 93 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 79.9 and 220.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
79.9 mi into trip|~1h 22m 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
218.3 mi into trip|~3h 46m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Central Phoenix, Los Angeles
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 200A
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Central Phoenix, L...
8
218.5 mi into trip|~3h 46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Central Phoenix, Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 10 East: Central Phoenix, Tucson
7
219.9 mi into trip|~3h 48m in
Take the exit toward 7th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 144A
Toward 7th Avenue
9
220.1 mi into trip|~3h 48m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 7th Avenue South, Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix Campus, Downtown Cultural/Sport Facilities
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward 7th Avenue South, Arizona State Universi...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.29 one way
$78.57 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$42.07
$84.14
premium
$5.04
$44.01
$88.02
diesel
$4.80
$41.86
$83.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.5
0
$23.28
$10.64
Efficient EV
55.4
0
$19.40
$8.87
EV Truck/SUV
88.7
1
$31.04
$14.19
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Joseph City, AZ
Late night
in Joseph City on Sunday
Local time
1:16 AM
MST
Current temp
87°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 7 mph45% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 1:23PM MST until July 18 at 4:30PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 1:04PM MST until July 18 at 3:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
Destination
Phoenix, AZ
Late night
in Phoenix on Sunday
Local time
1:16 AM
MST
Current temp
96°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 1:23PM MST until July 18 at 4:30PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 1:04PM MST until July 18 at 3:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
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
9 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
3h 53m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
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
~29 min detour
$25
near mile 68.8
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...
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 68.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 16% highway driving, with the longest stretch on the Arizona Veterans Highway covering 93 miles. You'll encounter mostly surface roads throughout the 221.7-mile trip. The Black Canyon Freeway portion will likely involve merging with faster-moving traffic as you approach the Phoenix metro area. Expect a more rural cruising feel for a significant portion of this leg.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93 mi on Arizona Veterans Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 79.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 17 significant decision points across 221.7 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 79.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 218.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 218.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,930 ft1,088 ft
Total Climb
3,180 ft
Total Descent
7,105 ft
Highest Point
6,930 ft
~79.2 mi in
Elevation Range
5,843 ft
Notable High Points
6,930 ft at ~79.2 miles+316 ft prominence
4,480 ft at ~142.5 miles+647 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 Joseph City, AZ to Phoenix, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Flagstaff along the way.
Phoenix is the capital of the state of Arizona, the most populous city in the American Southwest. Warm and sunny winter weather have ensured a thriving tourism industry, and the city has become the region's primary political, cultural, economic, and transportation center. Phoenix is extremely hot and dry in the summertime, so always have sunscreen with you! It had about 1,625,000 residents in 2021, and is the fifth largest city in the United States.
Top landmarks
•Arizona State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Arizona
•Phoenix Art Museum — art museum in Phoenix, Arizona
•St. Mary's Basilica — Roman Catholic church in Phoenix, Arizona
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 53m. Total distance: 221.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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 Phoenix, 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 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 79.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 218.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 218.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Phoenix, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
