If you are looking to escape the city for a quick getaway, the trip from Phoenix to Cornville is a straightforward journey covering 104.3 miles. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 59 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Budgeting roughly $21 for fuel should cover your travel costs, leaving you plenty of flexibility for your plans once you arrive. Because the drive is relatively short, you won't need to worry about overnight stops or complex logistics. You will remain within the Desert Southwest region throughout the entire transit, ensuring a consistent climate experience as you head north. It is a practical, efficient route that serves as a seamless transition from the heart of the state to the quieter surroundings of Cornville.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.1 miles from Phoenix, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Arizona Veterans Highway
44.4 mi
44m
Black Canyon Freeway
39.4 mi
43m
East Cornville Road
9.2 mi
16m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
8.9 mi
9m
West Washington Street
1.2 mi
2m
West Adams Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Arizona Veterans Highway
— 44.4 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Phoenix, AZ and Cornville, AZ.
1
Start on West Washington Street
1.0 mi·2 min·West Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
2
Keep slight right at fork onto West Washington Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·West Washington Street
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on West Adams Street
0.8 mi·1 min·West Adams Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward I 17 North, US 60 West: Flagstaff
5
Merge onto I 17; US 60
39 mi·43 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
31 mi·31 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Toward Rimrock, McGuiveville, Lake Montesuma Well, Cornville Road, Dry Beaver Creek
10
Turn left onto CR 30
9.2 mi·16 min·East Cornville Road
11
Arrive at destination
CR 30
Trip Plan
Since this is a two-hour drive, you have the advantage of total flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily make the trip in one go without the need for scheduled stops, though keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise before leaving the Phoenix area. Because the route relies on major corridors like the Black Canyon Freeway, try to avoid peak rush hour traffic to ensure you maintain that estimated two-hour travel time. Keep your $21 fuel budget handy and consider topping off your tank before you hit the longest 44.4-mile stretch to minimize the need for mid-route fuel stops. Being prepared for these highway sections will help you maintain a smooth, stress-free pace as you head toward your destination.
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 52.1 miles from Phoenix, AZ, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.4 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 23 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.1 miles or 59m 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 Cornville, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Phoenix, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Phoenix, AZ
This is one driving day of about 104.3 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Phoenix, 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 44.4 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 and 94.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip|~2m in|West Washington Street
Keep slight right at fork onto West Washington Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
2 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 17 North, US 60 West: Flagstaff
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 17 North, US 60 West: Flagstaff
5
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in|I 17; US 60 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge onto I 17; US 60 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
63.8 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|I 17 / Arizona Veterans Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 17 / Arizona Veterans Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
94.9 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward Rimrock, McGuiveville, Lake Montesuma Well, Cornville Road, Dry Beaver Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Rimrock, McGuiveville, Lake Montesuma We...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.78 one way
$41.56 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$21.99
$43.98
premium
$5.59
$22.96
$45.92
diesel
$5.61
$23.03
$46.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.3
0
$10.95
$5.01
Efficient EV
26.1
0
$9.13
$4.17
EV Truck/SUV
41.7
0
$14.60
$6.68
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 15, 2026
Origin
Phoenix, AZ
Night
in Phoenix on Saturday
Local time
10:58 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cornville, AZ
Night
in Cornville on Saturday
Local time
10:58 PM
MST
Current temp
79°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
14 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
1h 59m 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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
$10
near mile 104.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience that balances high-speed interstate travel with more local road maneuvering. You will spend about 38% of your time on highways, primarily utilizing the Black Canyon Freeway and the Arizona Veterans Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 44.4-mile segment along the Arizona Veterans Highway, which allows for steady cruising. As you move away from the metropolitan sprawl, the road character shifts, eventually transitioning into the local flow of East Cornville Road. Navigating these varied road types keeps the drive engaging without becoming overly technical, providing a reliable pace from start to finish.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.4 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 miles in near West Washington Street.
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 59m 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 miles (West Washington Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles (I 17; US 60 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Phoenix, AZ and Cornville, AZ, road signs point toward Rimrock, Mcguiveville, Lake Montesuma Well and Dry Beaver Creek.
Phoenix is the capital of the state of Arizona, the most populous city in the American Southwest. Warm and sunny winter weather have ensured a thriving tourism industry, and the city has become the region's primary political, cultural, economic, and transportation center. Phoenix is extremely hot and dry in the summertime, so always have sunscreen with you! It had about 1,625,000 residents in 2021, and is the fifth largest city in the United States.
Top landmarks
•Arizona State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Arizona
•Phoenix Art Museum — art museum in Phoenix, Arizona
•St. Mary's Basilica — Roman Catholic church in Phoenix, Arizona
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.4 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 miles (West Washington Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles (I 17; US 60 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Cornville, AZ before heading back.
