Traveling from Maryvale to Flagstaff covers 143.5 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 14 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip, it serves perfectly as a quick day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize West Indian School Road, North Black Canyon Highway, and I-17 North to make the ascent into higher elevations. Budgeting approximately $29 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire journey. Both your starting point and destination are nestled within the Desert Southwest, offering a consistent regional feel as you transition from the valley floor to the mountains. It is a straightforward route that is easy to navigate for those looking to swap the heat for the cooler air of the north.
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
71.6 miles from Maryvale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Maryvale, AZ and Flagstaff, AZ.
1
Start on North 55th Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·North 55th Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Indian School Road
3.8 mi·7 min·West Indian School Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto North Black Canyon Highway
406 ft·10 sec·North Black Canyon Highway
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
5
Merge onto I 17
36 mi·39 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 17
8.9 mi·9 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 17
13 mi·13 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 17
77 mi·1 hr 17 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
9
Continue on I 17; AZ 89A
0.6 mi·43 sec·Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
10
Continue on I 17; AZ 89A
0.5 mi·42 sec·Arizona Veterans Highway
11
Continue on AZ 89A
1.8 mi·4 min·South Milton Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist
449 ft·14 sec·West Historic Route 66
13
Arrive at destination
US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist
Trip Plan
Since the trip is just over two hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule rather than rushing to beat the clock. If you prefer a relaxed pace, consider leaving early in the morning to avoid the heaviest traffic on the North Black Canyon Highway. You do not need to worry about extensive rest stops given the short duration, but having your $29 fuel budget ready before you leave will save you time once you hit the road. One specific tip for this route is to remain vigilant during the transition from local roads to I-17 North, as the change in speed and volume can be sudden. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving the metro area to ensure you have enough to handle the steady climb ahead.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.6 miles from Maryvale, AZ, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.1 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 32 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.6 miles or 1h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Flagstaff, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Maryvale, 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 Maryvale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 143.2 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Maryvale, 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 91.1 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 62.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|West Indian School Road
Turn left onto West Indian School Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
4.2 mi into trip|~8m in|North Black Canyon Highway
Turn left onto North Black Canyon Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
4.3 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
Navigation decision point
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
5
4.6 mi into trip|~9m in|I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge onto I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
62.9 mi into trip|~1h 12m in|I 17 / Arizona Veterans Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 17 / Arizona Veterans Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.53 one way
$57.05 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$30.19
$60.38
premium
$5.59
$31.52
$63.04
diesel
$5.61
$31.62
$63.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43
0
$15.04
$6.87
Efficient EV
35.8
0
$12.53
$5.73
EV Truck/SUV
57.3
0
$20.05
$9.16
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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 15, 2026
Origin
Maryvale, AZ
Night
in Maryvale on Saturday
Local time
9:20 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Flagstaff, AZ
Night
in Flagstaff on Saturday
Local time
9:20 PM
MST
Current temp
64°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
29 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
2h 36m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This path functions as a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you transition off city streets and onto the highway. Since there is no significant highway-share percentage provided for the local segments, expect a mix of urban navigation and interstate transit. You won't find one long, monotonous stretch here; instead, the road requires you to stay engaged through varied driving conditions. The character of the route evolves as you leave the local roads behind and head north. Whether you are navigating intersections or merging onto the interstate, the drive maintains a practical, functional pace that gets you to your destination efficiently.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91.1 mi on Arizona Veterans Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near West Indian School Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 36m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (West Indian School Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (North Black Canyon Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
Flagstaff is a city of over 75,000 people (2019) near the San Francisco Peaks mountain range of northern Arizona and the Grand Canyon. At an altitude of 6,990 ft (2,130 m), Flagstaff and much of the surrounding region are substantially cooler than the low desert that dominates the southern part of the state. Though still dry by east coast standards, enough rain and snow falls in the area to allow a forest of ponderosa pine trees to cover the landscape. Winters tend to be cold, and heavy snowfall is expected on an annual basis.
The longest stretch is about 91.1 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (West Indian School Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (North Black Canyon Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Flagstaff, AZ before heading back.
