Traveling from Pinetop-Lakeside to Scottsdale covers 175.5 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 11 minutes to complete. Since both locations are within the Desert Southwest, you will experience a consistent regional transition as you head toward the valley. This journey is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip, making it an ideal choice if you want to reach your destination without an overnight stop. Budgeting approximately $34 for fuel will cover your transit costs comfortably. Given the nature of the roads, you should expect a focused driving experience rather than a high-speed interstate haul. It is a straightforward trek that allows you to transition from the higher elevations of Pinetop-Lakeside to the urban center of Scottsdale efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
89.5 miles from Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ.
1
Start on West Summer Haven Lane
478 ft·26 sec·West Summer Haven Lane
2
Continue on West Summer Haven Lane
0.2 mi·44 sec·West Summer Haven Lane
3
Turn left onto AZ 260
5.7 mi·10 min·West White Mountain Boulevard
4
Continue on AZ 260
2.5 mi·3 min·South White Mountain Road
5
Turn left onto East Woolford
0.2 mi·24 sec·East Woolford
6
Continue on South Central Avenue
1.1 mi·2 min·South Central Avenue
7
Turn left onto West Whipple Street
0.8 mi·1 min·West Whipple Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 60; AZ 77; AZ 260
0.6 mi·1 min·West Deuce of Clubs
9
Continue on US 60; AZ 77
83 mi·1 hr 35 min·Globe-Show Low Highway
10
Turn right onto US 60
1.1 mi·2 min·East Ash Street
11
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·South Hill Street
12
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·11 sec·East Oak Street
13
Turn right onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·North Broad Street
14
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
15
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
16
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·West Live Oak Street
17
Continue on US 60
43 mi·55 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
22 mi·25 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
1.6 mi·2 min
Exit 176BToward AZ 101 Loop NorthUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
2.6 mi·3 min·Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
4.9 mi·5 min·Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 46Toward Chaparral RoadUse the slight right lane.
23
Turn left onto East Chaparral Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Chaparral Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
24
Turn left
64 ft·4 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
When planning your departure, aim to leave early in the day to navigate the local roads while visibility is at its peak. With a total duration of 3 hours and 11 minutes, the route is short enough to provide plenty of flexibility for your schedule. You should plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and ensure your fuel levels remain optimal, keeping that $34 budget in mind. Since this is a turn-heavy drive, prioritize steady pacing over speed to stay comfortable behind the wheel. Given the lack of major highway mileage, keep a close eye on your navigation during transitions between West White Mountain Boulevard and South White Mountain Road to stay on track.
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 89.5 miles from Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.5 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 39 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.5 miles or 1h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scottsdale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pinetop-Lakeside, 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 Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ
This is one driving day of about 179 miles and 3h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Pinetop-Lakeside, 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 Globe-Show Low Highway for about 83.5 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.5 and 178 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
8.5 mi into trip|~15m in|East Woolford
Turn left onto East Woolford
Navigation decision point
5
10.7 mi into trip|~20m in|US 60; AZ 77; AZ 260 / West Deuce of Clubs
At end of road, turn left onto US 60; AZ 77; AZ 260 / West Deuce of Clubs
Navigation decision point
7
168.8 mi into trip|~3h 36m in
Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 176B
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
5
170.5 mi into trip|~3h 38m in|AZ 101 Loop / Price Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Price Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
178 mi into trip|~3h 47m in
Take the exit toward Chaparral Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward Chaparral Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.66 one way
$71.32 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$37.74
$75.48
premium
$5.59
$39.40
$78.80
diesel
$5.61
$39.52
$79.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.7
0
$18.79
$8.59
Efficient EV
44.8
0
$15.66
$7.16
EV Truck/SUV
71.6
0
$25.06
$11.46
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ
Morning
in Pinetop-Lakeside on Sunday
Local time
9:32 AM
MST
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scottsdale, AZ
Morning
in Scottsdale on Sunday
Local time
9:32 AM
MST
Current temp
88°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
49 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
3h 49m 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.
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
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 135.8
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 111.1
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 driving experience that keeps you engaged behind the wheel for the entire 175.5-mile journey. Unlike routes dominated by monotonous interstate stretches, this path relies on local infrastructure like West Summer Haven Lane, West White Mountain Boulevard, and South White Mountain Road. Because the highway share is 0%, your pace will be dictated by local traffic and road geometry rather than open-road cruising. You will not encounter long, straight stretches of highway, as the longest uninterrupted segment on West Summer Haven Lane is 0 miles. Be prepared for a technical drive that requires your full attention as you navigate through the varying terrain between these two Arizona hubs.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.5 mi on Globe-Show Low Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 8.5 miles in near East Woolford.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 49m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.5 miles (East Woolford): Navigation decision point; at 10.7 miles (US 60; AZ 77; AZ 260 / West Deuce of Clubs): Navigation decision point; at 168.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Scottsdale is a city in the state of Arizona. Scottsdale is home to many galleries, high quality resorts, and golf courses. It is also one of the wealthier parts of the Phoenix Metro Area.
Top landmarks
•Taliesin West — Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and school, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
•Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art — art museum
•Little Red Schoolhouse — now used as the Scottsdale Historical Museum, NRHP-listed
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.5 miles on Globe-Show Low Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.5 miles (East Woolford): Navigation decision point; at 10.7 miles (US 60; AZ 77; AZ 260 / West Deuce of Clubs): Navigation decision point; at 168.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Tonto National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Scottsdale, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
