Traveling from Phoenix to Prescott covers 99.6 miles and takes approximately 1 hour and 49 minutes to complete. This journey is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to easily transition from the desert heat of the valley to the higher elevation of the mountains. You will primarily navigate via West Washington Street, West Adams Street, and I-17 North. Budgeting around $19 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire trip. Since the drive is relatively short, you can comfortably complete it in one go without the need for an overnight stay. Both ends of the trip remain firmly within the Desert Southwest, providing a consistent regional feel as you head north.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.8 miles from Phoenix, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Black Canyon Freeway
39.4 mi
43m
AZ 69
31.9 mi
41m
Arizona Veterans Highway
13.4 mi
13m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
8.9 mi
9m
Prescott Lakes Parkway
2.3 mi
4m
Prescott–Ash Fork Highway
2.1 mi
3m
West Washington Street
1.2 mi
2m
East Gurley Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Black Canyon Freeway
— 39.4 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Phoenix, AZ and Prescott, 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 right at fork onto AZ 69
32 mi·41 min·AZ 69
Toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, PrescottUse the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto Prescott Lakes Parkway
1.5 mi·2 min·Prescott Lakes Parkway
10
Enter roundabout onto Prescott Lakes Parkway
138 ft·2 sec·Prescott Lakes Parkway
11
Continue on Prescott Lakes Parkway
0.7 mi·1 min·Prescott Lakes Parkway
12
Turn left onto AZ 89
2.1 mi·3 min·Prescott–Ash Fork Highway
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·1 min
14
Turn straight onto AZ 89
1.0 mi·1 min·East Gurley Street
15
Turn left onto South Marina Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·South Marina Street
16
Turn right onto East Goodwin Street
345 ft·15 sec·East Goodwin Street
17
Arrive at destination
East Goodwin Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact 99.6-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility when planning your departure time. Aim to leave Phoenix during off-peak hours to avoid heavy traffic on local city streets like West Washington and West Adams, which could otherwise inflate your 1 hour and 49 minute travel time. Because the drive is short, you likely won't need to plan for scheduled stops, but keep your $19 fuel budget in mind for a quick top-off before you leave the city. Focus on the frequent turns ahead, as the lack of long highway stretches means you will be actively steering for the duration of the trip. Enjoy the ease of a quick getaway that gets you to your destination without the fatigue of a multi-day haul.
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 50.8 miles from Phoenix, AZ, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.4 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 22 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.8 miles or 58m 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 37m
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 Phoenix, 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 Phoenix, AZ
This is one driving day of about 101.6 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Phoenix, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Black Canyon Freeway for about 39.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 101.6 — 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.
8
63.8 mi into trip|~1h 11m 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
5
101.6 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|East Goodwin Street
Turn right onto East Goodwin Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.24 one way
$40.48 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$21.42
$42.84
premium
$5.59
$22.36
$44.73
diesel
$5.61
$22.43
$44.86
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: 35.5 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
30.5
0
$10.67
$4.88
Efficient EV
25.4
0
$8.89
$4.06
EV Truck/SUV
40.6
0
$14.22
$6.50
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 14, 2026
Origin
Phoenix, AZ
Night
in Phoenix on Saturday
Local time
9:16 PM
MST
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Prescott, AZ
Night
in Prescott on Saturday
Local time
9:16 PM
MST
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 9 mph11% 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
18 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 4m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
$10
near mile 84.1
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$10
near mile 84.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention compared to a standard interstate cruise. Although you utilize I-17 North to gain distance, the route is characterized by technical maneuvering rather than long, monotonous highway stretches. Interestingly, the highway share is 0%, meaning you will spend your time navigating local infrastructure rather than sustained high-speed lanes. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on West Washington Street, highlighting the frequent turns you will encounter. Transitioning from the city streets to the winding path toward Prescott keeps the driving experience engaging and dynamic throughout the nearly two-hour journey.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.4 mi on Black Canyon Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Black Canyon Freeway and AZ 69. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near West Washington Street.
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 101.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 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.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 101.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.4 miles on Black Canyon Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 — Tuzigoot National Monument and Montezuma Castle 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 Prescott, AZ before heading back.
