Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Lukachukai, AZ to Deer Valley, AZ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 3m
Distance
373.5 mi
601 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$76
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 53m
★
6 AM
7h 4m
8 AM
7h 26m
10 AM
7h 12m
12 PM
7h 9m
3 PM
7h 13m
5 PM
7h 25m
8 PM
6h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lukachukai, AZ
András Nyemczovszky
Deer Valley, AZ
Line Knipst
Trip Overview
Lukachukai, AZ to Deer Valley, AZ is 373.5 miles and takes about 7h 3m via Purple Heart Trail and Arizona Veterans Highway, with a fuel budget near $75 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route traverses the Desert Southwest, offering a straightforward path across Arizona. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a practical option for reaching your destination without needing an overnight stop. Plan for a day primarily on surface roads, so be prepared for a more relaxed pace compared to interstate travel.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
186.8 miles from Lukachukai, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 161.3 mi | 2h 42m |
| Arizona Veterans Highway | 93 mi | 1h 33m |
| Navajo Route 12 | 81.4 mi | 2h 2m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 20 mi | 21m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 5.8 mi | 5m |
| North Black Canyon Highway | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| Navajo Route 13 | 2 mi | 3m |
| Arizona State Highway 264 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 161.3 mi, about 2h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lukachukai, AZ and Deer Valley, AZ.
1
Start on this road
278 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
81 ft
·
3 sec
3
Turn right onto N133
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Navajo Route 133
4
Continue on N13
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Navajo Route 13
5
At end of road, turn left onto N12
41 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
Navajo Route 12
6
Continue on N12
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Cleveland Boulevard
7
Continue on N12
12 mi
·
19 min
·
Navajo Route 12
8
At end of road, turn left onto N12
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Navajo Route 12
9
Turn right onto AZ 264
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Arizona State Highway 264
10
Turn left onto N12
24 mi
·
33 min
·
Navajo Route 12
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
12
Merge onto I 40
161 mi
·
2 hr 42 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 17 South, AZ 89A North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
14
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 17, AZ 89A South: Sedona, Phoenix
15
Merge onto I 17; AZ 89A
93 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
16
Continue on I 17
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 17
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on I 17
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
19
Continue on I 17
9.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 215B
Toward Deer Valley Road, Rose Garden Lane
Use the slight right lane.
21
Turn straight onto North Black Canyon Highway
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
North Black Canyon Highway
22
Turn right onto West Deer Valley Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Deer Valley Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn right onto North 35th Avenue
37 ft
·
0 sec
·
North 35th Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
North 35th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour drive time and mostly surface roads, starting early in the morning is your best bet to complete this trip comfortably within daylight hours. With two recommended stops, you can break up the 373.5 miles into manageable segments. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on the longer stretches, as services might be more spread out on surface roads; the estimated fuel cost is around $75. A good strategy is to fuel up whenever you see a station, particularly before embarking on the 161.3-mile stretch on Purple Heart Trail.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 186.8 miles from Lukachukai, AZ, or about 3h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 161.3 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 82 miles or 2h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 186.8 miles or 3h 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 6h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Deer Valley, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lukachukai, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lukachukai, AZ
This is one driving day of about 373.5 miles and 7h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Lukachukai, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 161.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
187 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 186.8 miles from Lukachukai, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 161.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Meteor Crater Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Sunset Point Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
McGuireville Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
McGuireville Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Meteor Crater Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Rocky Mountain Truck Centers
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.8 mi from route
Rest Area
0.9 mi from route
Painted Cliffs Rest Area
0.9 mi from route
Rest Area
1.2 mi from route
Hurricane Harbor Phoenix
3.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Glendale, Arizona
Hours: Closed
+16232012000
Visit websiteMontezuma Well
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Rimrock, Arizona
Hours: 9 am–4:45 pm
+19285674521
Visit websiteNavajo County Historical Society
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
Holbrook, Arizona
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+19285246558
Visit websiteStandin' on The Corner Foundation
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Halfway reset
3.6 mi from route
~9 min detour
Winslow, AZ
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 372.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
N12 / Navajo Route 12
At end of road, turn left onto N12 / Navajo Route 12
Navigation decision point
5
248.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 54m in
Take the exit toward I 17 South, AZ 89A North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 17 South, AZ 89A North: Phoenix, Flags...
6
248.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 54m 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
372 mi into trip
|
~7h in
Take the exit toward Deer Valley Road, Rose Garden Lane
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 215B
Toward Deer Valley Road, Rose Garden Lane
5
372.3 mi into trip
|
~7h 1m in
|
West Deer Valley Road
Turn right onto West Deer Valley Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$76.27 one way
$152.55 round trip
$5.19/gal
25.4 MPG avg
131 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.52 | $81.14 | $162.28 |
| premium | $5.72 | $84.10 | $168.19 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $78.67 | $157.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$76
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$101–$126
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 130.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 112.1 | 1 | $39.22 | $17.93 |
| Efficient EV | 93.4 | 1 | $32.68 | $14.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 149.4 | 1 | $52.29 | $23.90 |
Gas CO2
131 kg
EV CO2
44 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.
Origin
Lukachukai, AZ
Afternoon in Lukachukai on Wednesday
Local time
1:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
49°F
Clear
SE 7 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Deer Valley, AZ
Afternoon in Deer Valley on Wednesday
Local time
12:06 PM
MST
Current temp
70°F
Clear
0 mph
0% chance
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
21 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
7h 3m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 296.2
Caution: High Levels of Visitation
Walnut Canyon National Monument
National Monument
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
$25
near mile 244.7
View on nps.gov
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
$25
near mile 141.7
View on nps.gov
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
National Monument
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
~31 min detour
$25
near mile 244.7
View on nps.gov
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
National Monument
This canyon is home to Diné families who raise livestock, grow crops and live here. People have lived in these canyons for nearly 5,000 years, which is longer than anyone has lived continuously on the...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 12.9
View on nps.gov
Tuzigoot National Monument
National Monument
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 296.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with only 28% on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 161.3 miles on Purple Heart Trail, so expect extended periods of cruising without frequent exits. The transition from highway to surface roads will happen early, setting a rural tone for much of the trip. Be ready for a consistent pace as you navigate through varied desert landscapes.
Only 28% 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: 161.3 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near N12 / Navajo Route 12.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 373.5 miles you will encounter 14 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 2.4 miles (N12 / Navajo Route 12): Navigation decision point; at 248.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 248.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,332 ft
1,374 ft
Total Climb
2,832 ft
Total Descent
8,003 ft
Highest Point
7,332 ft
~26.7 mi in
Elevation Range
5,959 ft
Notable High Points
7,332 ft at ~26.7 miles
+374 ft prominence
6,671 ft at ~240.1 miles
+209 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lukachukai, AZ and Deer Valley, AZ, road signs point toward Flagstaff and Phoenix.
Flagstaff
248.7 mi in
|
~4h 54m
Phoenix
248.9 mi in
|
~4h 54m
About the Cities
Starting in Lukachukai, AZ
Full guide →Arriving in Deer Valley, AZ
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 3m. Total distance: 373.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 3m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 161.3 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.
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 Deer Valley, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (N12 / Navajo Route 12): Navigation decision point; at 248.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 248.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Deer Valley, AZ before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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