This 94.6-mile drive from Lake Montezuma, AZ, to Glendale, AZ, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 47 minutes. You'll primarily be on major roadways like the Arizona Veterans Highway and the Black Canyon Freeway, with about 32% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $19, making it an economical choice. This trip covers ground within the Desert Southwest region, so expect consistent desert scenery. It's a straightforward drive perfect for a quick transition between locations without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.3 miles from Lake Montezuma, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Arizona Veterans Highway
47.2 mi
47m
Black Canyon Freeway
30.1 mi
33m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5.8 mi
5m
West Glendale Avenue
4 mi
8m
North Black Canyon Highway
3.4 mi
3m
East Beaver Creek Road
1.9 mi
4m
North Montezuma Avenue
1.2 mi
2m
Grand Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Arizona Veterans Highway
— 47.2 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Montezuma, AZ and Glendale, AZ.
1
Start on North Montezuma Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·North Montezuma Avenue
2
Keep slight left at fork onto North Montezuma Avenue
328 ft·9 sec·North Montezuma Avenue
3
Turn straight onto East Beaver Creek Road
1.9 mi·4 min·East Beaver Creek Road
4
Continue on CR 30
0.1 mi·17 sec·East Cornville Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
6
Merge onto I 17
47 mi·47 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
7
Continue on I 17
5.8 mi·5 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 17
10 mi·10 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on I 17
3.2 mi·3 min·North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 17
20 mi·22 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 205Toward Glendale AvenueUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto North Black Canyon Highway
0.1 mi·16 sec·North Black Canyon Highway
13
Turn right onto West Glendale Avenue
4.0 mi·8 min·West Glendale Avenue
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto North 57th Drive
0.2 mi·35 sec·North 57th Drive
15
Turn right onto US 60
0.2 mi·24 sec·Grand Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
US 60
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under two hours, this route offers flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, but an early morning start will help you avoid potential midday heat and traffic, especially as you near Glendale. With no designated stops provided, consider planning a brief fuel or rest break midway if needed, though the longest stretch without a likely stop is manageable. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; while the estimated cost is $19, it's always wise to top up before heading out, especially before joining the Black Canyon Freeway where services might be more spaced out.
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 47.3 miles from Lake Montezuma, AZ, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.2 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 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.3 miles or 52m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Glendale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lake Montezuma, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lake Montezuma, AZ
This is one driving day of about 94.6 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Lake Montezuma, 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 47.2 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 94.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|North Montezuma Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto North Montezuma Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
3.2 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
7
89.9 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward Glendale Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 205
Toward Glendale Avenue
6
90.1 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|West Glendale Avenue
Turn right onto West Glendale Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
94.3 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|US 60 / Grand Avenue
Turn right onto US 60 / Grand Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.85 one way
$37.69 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$19.94
$39.89
premium
$5.59
$20.82
$41.65
diesel
$5.61
$20.89
$41.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.4
0
$9.93
$4.54
Efficient EV
23.7
0
$8.28
$3.78
EV Truck/SUV
37.8
0
$13.24
$6.05
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Lake Montezuma, AZ
Morning
in Lake Montezuma on Sunday
Local time
10:49 AM
MST
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Glendale, AZ
Morning
in Glendale on Sunday
Local time
10:49 AM
MST
Current temp
88°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
43 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
1h 47m 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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The drive offers a mixed experience, with a significant portion on highways. You'll encounter stretches like the 47.2-mile segment on Arizona Veterans Highway, which provides a more direct path. Later, the Black Canyon Freeway will likely present a faster, more interstate-like environment. With 32% of the route being highway driving, expect varying speeds and road types, transitioning from potentially more open roads to busier freeways as you approach the Phoenix metropolitan area. This dynamic means you'll need to adapt your driving style throughout the journey.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.2 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 1.2 miles in near North Montezuma Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 47m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (North Montezuma Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 89.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.2 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 1.2 miles (North Montezuma Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 89.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Glendale, AZ before heading back.
