Driving from Peoria to Prescott covers approximately 95.9 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 42 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, though staying overnight allows for a more relaxed pace. You will navigate through the Desert Southwest, transitioning from the Phoenix metro area toward the higher elevations of Prescott. Budgeting around $19 for fuel is a safe estimate for the round trip. This route is straightforward enough that you won't need to worry about complex multi-day planning, making it an ideal choice for a quick getaway.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49 miles from Peoria, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AZ 69
31.9 mi
41m
Black Canyon Freeway
23.2 mi
24m
Arizona Veterans Highway
13.4 mi
13m
Agua Fria Freeway
10.5 mi
12m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
8.9 mi
9m
Prescott Lakes Parkway
2.3 mi
4m
Prescott–Ash Fork Highway
2.1 mi
3m
Grand Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
AZ 69
— 31.9 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Peoria, AZ and Prescott, AZ.
1
Start on North 83rd Avenue
128 ft·6 sec·North 83rd Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·Grand Avenue
3
Turn right onto North 91st Avenue
0.2 mi·22 sec·North 91st Avenue
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·56 sec
5
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
11 mi·12 min·Agua Fria Freeway
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 23Toward I 17 North, I 17 South: Flagstaff, PhoenixUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 17 North, I 17 South: Flagstaff, PhoenixUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi·1 min
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·33 sec
10
Merge onto I 17
23 mi·24 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 17
8.9 mi·9 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 17
13 mi·13 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto AZ 69
32 mi·41 min·AZ 69
Toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, PrescottUse the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto Prescott Lakes Parkway
1.5 mi·2 min·Prescott Lakes Parkway
15
Enter roundabout onto Prescott Lakes Parkway
138 ft·2 sec·Prescott Lakes Parkway
16
Continue on Prescott Lakes Parkway
0.7 mi·1 min·Prescott Lakes Parkway
17
Turn left onto AZ 89
2.1 mi·3 min·Prescott–Ash Fork Highway
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·1 min
19
Turn straight onto AZ 89
1.0 mi·1 min·East Gurley Street
20
Turn left onto South Marina Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·South Marina Street
21
Turn right onto East Goodwin Street
345 ft·15 sec·East Goodwin Street
22
Arrive at destination
East Goodwin Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 1 hour and 42-minute journey, try to depart early in the morning to avoid local traffic congestion on your way out of Peoria. Since there are no scheduled stops required for this 95.9-mile distance, you have the flexibility to pull over whenever you need a break. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving the metro area, as local road driving can sometimes be less efficient than sustained highway speeds. A practical tip for this specific drive is to familiarize yourself with the transition points between Grand Avenue and the local road network beforehand. Since this is a short trip, use your time wisely by planning your arrival to coincide with the best local conditions in Prescott.
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 49 miles from Peoria, AZ, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.9 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 22 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49 miles or 56m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Prescott, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Peoria, 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 Peoria, AZ
This is one driving day of about 98 miles and 2h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Peoria, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on AZ 69 for about 31.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 60.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|North 91st Avenue
Turn right onto North 91st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
12.7 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward I 17 North, I 17 South: Flagstaff, Phoenix
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 23
Toward I 17 North, I 17 South: Flagstaff, Phoen...
8
12.9 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 17 North, I 17 South: Flagstaff, Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 17 North, I 17 South: Flagstaff, Phoen...
5
13.2 mi into trip|~17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
8
60.2 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|AZ 69
Keep slight right at fork onto AZ 69 toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, Prescott
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, Prescott
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.52 one way
$39.05 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$20.66
$41.32
premium
$5.59
$21.57
$43.14
diesel
$5.61
$21.64
$43.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.4
0
$10.29
$4.70
Efficient EV
24.5
0
$8.58
$3.92
EV Truck/SUV
39.2
0
$13.72
$6.27
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Peoria, AZ
Late night
in Peoria on Tuesday
Local time
1:53 AM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 3:13AM PDT until April 17 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 3:13AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Destination
Prescott, AZ
Late night
in Prescott on Tuesday
Local time
1:53 AM
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
24 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 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a mindless highway cruise, as this route features zero percent highway travel. Your path utilizes a mix of Grand Avenue, North 91st Avenue, and the Agua Fria Freeway to transition out of the valley. Because the route relies on local roads, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention. The road character shifts significantly from suburban gridlock to the winding, technical turns characteristic of this regional ascent. Stay alert, as the lack of long, uninterrupted highway stretches means you will be navigating intersections and curves throughout the duration of the trip.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.9 mi on AZ 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on AZ 69 and Black Canyon Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near North 91st Avenue.
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 13 significant decision points across 98 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 1.4 miles (North 91st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Peoria, AZ to Prescott, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Phoenix along the way.
Peoria is a city inside of Phoenix, Arizona. Many visitors come to the area during the spring to see their favorite professional baseball team during Spring Training in the Cactus League.
Top landmarks
•Central School — school building in Peoria, Arizona
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h. Total distance: 98 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.9 miles on AZ 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 Prescott, 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. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (North 91st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Prescott, AZ before heading back.
