Morenci, AZ to Deer Valley, AZ is 239.6 miles and takes about 5h 42m via Phoenix–Globe Highway and Superstition Freeway, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Desert Southwest route stays within Arizona, taking you from the mining town of Morenci towards the Phoenix metropolitan area. Expect a significant portion of your drive to be on surface roads, offering a more grounded perspective of the landscape. It's a manageable one-day trip, so you can take your time and enjoy the changing scenery without feeling rushed.
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
119.8 miles from Morenci, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East Center Street
66.5 mi
1h 21m
Phoenix–Globe Highway
42.9 mi
55m
Superstition Freeway
27.1 mi
31m
Black Canyon Freeway
17.1 mi
19m
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
14.7 mi
20m
Safford-Springerville Highway
13.3 mi
15m
US 191 Temp
12.8 mi
20m
Coronado Boulevard
10.3 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
East Center Street
— 66.5 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Morenci, AZ and Deer Valley, AZ.
1
Start on this road
1.3 mi·8 min·this road
2
Turn sharp right
1.2 mi·8 min
3
Turn right
0.5 mi·3 min
4
Turn sharp right
1.0 mi·6 min
5
At end of road, turn right
0.3 mi·2 min
6
Turn sharp left onto US 191 Temp
3.9 mi·11 min·Coronado Trail
7
Continue on US 191 Temp
13 mi·20 min·US 191 Temp
8
Turn straight onto US 191
10 mi·12 min·Coronado Boulevard
9
Continue on US 191
13 mi·15 min·Safford-Springerville Highway
10
At end of road, turn right onto US 70; US 191
10 mi·13 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
11
Turn left onto US 191
403 ft·11 sec·South 1st Avenue
12
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West Main Street
13
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue
436 ft·16 sec·South 8th Avenue
14
Turn left onto US 70
2.3 mi·4 min·West Thatcher Boulevard
15
Continue on US 70
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
16
Continue on US 70
4.7 mi·6 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
17
Continue on US 70
66 mi·1 hr 21 min·East Center Street
18
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
2.3 mi·4 min·East Ash Street
19
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·South Hill Street
20
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·11 sec·East Oak Street
21
Turn right onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·North Broad Street
22
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
23
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
24
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·West Live Oak Street
25
Continue on US 60
43 mi·55 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
27 mi·31 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60
0.6 mi·38 sec·US 60
Toward I 10 North
28
Merge onto I 10; US 60
4.9 mi·5 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
4.2 mi·4 min·Maricopa Freeway
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: FlagstaffUse the slight right lane.
30
Continue on I 17; US 60
17 mi·19 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.4 mi·39 sec
Exit 215AToward Rose Garden Lane, Deer Valley RoadUse the slight right lane.
32
Continue on North Black Canyon Highway
0.5 mi·58 sec·North Black Canyon Highway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
33
Turn left onto West Deer Valley Road
1.4 mi·2 min·West Deer Valley Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
34
Turn right onto North 35th Avenue
37 ft·0 sec·North 35th Avenue
35
Arrive at destination
North 35th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 42m estimated driving time, leaving Morenci in the morning is your best bet to reach Deer Valley with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $47, this is a straightforward one-day trip, so you have flexibility in your schedule. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can be spread out on the surface road sections. The transition from rural to urban driving will become apparent as you approach the Phoenix metro area, so be ready for increased traffic density.
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 119.8 miles from Morenci, AZ, or about 3h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.5 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 53 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.8 miles or 3h 7m 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 50m
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 Morenci, 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 Morenci, AZ
This is one driving day of about 239.6 miles and 5h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Morenci, 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 East Center Street for about 66.5 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 237.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.3 mi into trip|~8m in
Turn sharp right
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
3 mi into trip|~19m in
Turn sharp right
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
4 mi into trip|~26m in
At end of road, turn right
Navigation decision point
8
216 mi into trip|~5h 13m in|US 60 / Maricopa Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60 / Maricopa Freeway toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
8
237.3 mi into trip|~5h 38m in
Take the exit toward Rose Garden Lane, Deer Valley Road
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 215A
Toward Rose Garden Lane, Deer Valley Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.46 one way
$84.92 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$45.47
$90.93
premium
$5.04
$47.56
$95.12
diesel
$4.80
$45.24
$90.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.9
0
$25.16
$11.50
Efficient EV
59.9
0
$20.97
$9.58
EV Truck/SUV
95.8
1
$33.54
$15.33
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 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
Morenci, AZ
Afternoon
in Morenci on Saturday
Local time
12:02 PM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 1 to 12 mph25% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Deer Valley, AZ
Afternoon
in Deer Valley on Saturday
Local time
12:02 PM
MST
Current temp
94°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 5 mph59% chanceLive 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
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
5h 42m 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.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 173.5
Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
$10
near mile 148.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily on surface roads, with only 29% of the route utilizing highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 66.5 miles on East Center Street before transitioning to the Phoenix–Globe Highway. Be prepared for merging and traffic as you approach the Phoenix area, particularly on the Superstition Freeway. The majority of your miles will be on roads with lower speed limits and more varied traffic patterns.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.5 mi on East Center Street.
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 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 239.6 miles you will encounter 19 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 1.3 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 3 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4 miles: Navigation decision point.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 42m. Total distance: 239.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.5 miles on East Center Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 3 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Tonto National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 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.
