Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Trip from Phoenix, AZ to Prescott Valley, AZ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 46m
Distance
91.4 mi
147 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
4 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 38m
★
6 AM
1h 46m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 50m
3 PM
1h 52m
5 PM
2h 1m
8 PM
1h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Phoenix, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Prescott Valley, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to escape the heat and transition from the low desert of Phoenix to the higher elevation of Prescott Valley, this 91.4-mile journey is a straightforward trek. You can easily complete the drive in about 1 hour and 46 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $18 on fuel for the trip, which keeps the costs manageable for a quick getaway. The route primarily utilizes West Washington Street, West Adams Street, and I-17 North to navigate out of the city. Since both your start and end points are located within the Desert Southwest, the transition is smooth and familiar. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that gets you to your destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.7 miles from Phoenix, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Black Canyon Freeway | 39.4 mi | 43m |
| AZ 69 | 25.6 mi | 30m |
| Arizona Veterans Highway | 13.4 mi | 13m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 8.9 mi | 9m |
| North Robert Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| West Washington Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| West Adams Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Spouse Drive | 0.3 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 Valley, 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
26 mi
·
30 min
·
AZ 69
Toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, Prescott
9
Turn right onto North Robert Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Robert Road
10
Turn right onto East Spouse Drive
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
East Spouse Drive
11
Arrive at destination
East Spouse Drive
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With the drive clocking in under two hours, you don't need to worry about complex stop planning or rest breaks, as you can easily make the trek in one go. Keep your $18 fuel budget in mind and ensure your tank is ready for the climb in elevation. Because this is a turn-heavy route, try to avoid departing during peak local traffic hours to ensure a smoother, more predictable experience. Staying alert is key, as the lack of long, straight highway stretches means you will be actively engaged with the road for the entire 91.4 miles.
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 45.7 miles from Phoenix, AZ, or about 52m 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 20 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.7 miles or 52m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Prescott Valley, 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 91.4 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 45.7 miles from Phoenix, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Sunset Point Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.7 mi from route
Arizona Science Center
3.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, right off the route
0.5 mi from route
~1 min detour
Phoenix, Arizona
Hours: 10:30 am–4 pm
+16027162000
Visit websiteDorrance DOME
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, right off the route
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Phoenix, Arizona
Hours: 10:30 am–4 pm
Visit websitePioneer Living History Museum
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.8 mi from route
~4 min detour
Phoenix, Arizona
Hours: 9 am–4 pm
+16234651052
Visit websiteEnchanted Island Amusement Park
4.3
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Phoenix, Arizona
Hours: 11 am–4 pm
+16022541200
Visit websiteHurricane Harbor Phoenix
3.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
Glendale, Arizona
Hours: Closed
+16232012000
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 63.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Washington Street
Depart onto West Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
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.
6
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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, Prescott
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.21 one way
$36.42 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $19.27 | $38.54 |
| premium | $5.59 | $20.12 | $40.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.18 | $40.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
4 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Southgate Center (PHX)
Phoenix, AZ
eVgo Network
6 DCFC
City of Phoenix - Facilities Management
Phoenix, AZ
Non-Networked
4 DCFC
Laveen Village Center
Phoenix, AZ
eVgo Network
4 DCFC
ADOA UTILITIES 1400 FC
Phoenix, AZ
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
eVgo Network: 2
ChargePoint Network: 1
Non-Networked: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.60 | $4.39 |
| Efficient EV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.00 | $3.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.6 | 0 | $12.80 | $5.85 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Origin
Phoenix, AZ
Late night in Phoenix on Tuesday
Local time
2:23 AM
MST
Current temp
58°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
WSW 0 to 10 mph
22% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 7:45PM MST until April 13 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Destination
Prescott Valley, AZ
Late night in Prescott Valley on Tuesday
Local time
2:23 AM
MST
Current temp
70°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
12 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
1h 46m 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
~49 min detour
$10
near mile 85.1
Caution: High Levels of Visitation
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$10
near mile 81.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate your way out of the metropolitan area before transitioning onto the interstate. While the route covers 91.4 miles, it features a 0% highway share, meaning your focus will be on local roads rather than long, monotonous stretches of freeway. You won't find any extended straightaways here, as the longest uninterrupted stretch on West Washington Street is 0 miles. The experience behind the wheel is hands-on and requires your full attention due to the frequent turns. Prepare for a dynamic driving experience that prioritizes maneuvering through local streets over sustained high-speed cruising.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 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?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Black Canyon Freeway and AZ 69. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Washington Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 46m 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: near the start (West Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Phoenix, AZ to Prescott Valley, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Prescott along the way.
Prescott
63.8 mi in
|
~1h 11m
|
via AZ 69
About the Cities
Starting in Phoenix, AZ
Full guide →Founded 1868
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 91.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Straightforward navigation.
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.
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: near the start (West Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Prescott Valley, AZ before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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