This 95.3-mile drive from Prescott, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ is designed for a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 52 minutes. You'll navigate primarily on local roads like Arizona Veterans Highway and Dewey-Copper Canyon Highway, with no interstate segments. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $19, making it an economical choice. This route offers a straightforward journey within the Desert Southwest region, connecting two points in Arizona. It's a manageable distance that allows for a relaxed pace, perfect for a day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.7 miles from Prescott, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Prescott, AZ and Flagstaff, AZ.
1
Start on East Goodwin Street
78 ft·7 sec·East Goodwin Street
2
Turn right onto South Cortez Street
0.1 mi·34 sec·South Cortez Street
3
Turn right onto East Gurley Street
1.2 mi·2 min·East Gurley Street
4
Continue on AZ 69
1.2 mi·2 min·Cordes Junction-Prescott Highway
5
Keep slight right at fork onto AZ 69
14 mi·22 min·Cordes Junction-Prescott Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto AZ 169
15 mi·17 min·Dewey-Copper Canyon Highway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
8
Merge onto I 17
60 mi·1 hr·Arizona Veterans Highway
9
Continue on I 17; AZ 89A
0.6 mi·43 sec·Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
10
Continue on I 17; AZ 89A
0.5 mi·42 sec·Arizona Veterans Highway
11
Continue on AZ 89A
1.8 mi·4 min·South Milton Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist
449 ft·14 sec·West Historic Route 66
13
Arrive at destination
US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist
Trip Plan
Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight for this 1 hour and 52-minute drive. With only 95.3 miles and a fuel cost of approximately $19, this trip offers flexibility for stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 60.9 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway, as services may be less frequent. Since this is a relatively short drive, you can easily adjust your departure time or add spontaneous breaks without feeling rushed. Planning your route on Arizona Veterans Highway and the connecting local roads will ensure a smooth transition between segments.
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 47.7 miles from Prescott, AZ, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.9 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 21 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.7 miles or 1h 1m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Flagstaff, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Prescott, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Prescott, AZ
This is one driving day of about 95.3 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Prescott, 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 60.9 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 31.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Cortez Street
Turn right onto South Cortez Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Gurley Street
Turn right onto East Gurley Street
Navigation decision point
6
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in|AZ 69 / Cordes Junction-Prescott Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto AZ 69 / Cordes Junction-Prescott Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
3
16.3 mi into trip|~27m in|AZ 169 / Dewey-Copper Canyon Highway
Turn left onto AZ 169 / Dewey-Copper Canyon Highway
Navigation decision point
4
31.5 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.98 one way
$37.97 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$20.09
$40.18
premium
$5.59
$20.98
$41.95
diesel
$5.61
$21.04
$42.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.6
0
$10.01
$4.57
Efficient EV
23.8
0
$8.34
$3.81
EV Truck/SUV
38.1
0
$13.34
$6.10
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 19, 2026
Origin
Prescott, AZ
Night
in Prescott on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
MST
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Flagstaff, AZ
Night
in Flagstaff on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
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
6 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 52m 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...
Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived and traveled throughout Walnut Canyon’s dynamic landscape. Vibrant communities built their homes in the cliffs and farmed along the canyon’s rim. T...
The lava flow lies on the land like a dream, a wonderland of rock. A thousand years ago the ground was torn open and lava erupted into the sky, forever changing the landscape and the lives of the peop...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
$25
near mile 95.3
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...
15 mi from route
~36 min detour
$10
near mile 42.7
Nestled between the Painted Desert and ponderosa highlands of northern Arizona, Wupatki National Monument is an unlikely landscape for a thriving community. The early 1100's marked a time of cooler an...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
$25
near mile 95.3
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 for the entirety of this 95.3-mile journey. With a 0% highway share, you'll be on roads like Arizona Veterans Highway and Dewey-Copper Canyon Highway for the full duration. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 60.9 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. This route's character is defined by its winding nature, offering a more engaging driving experience than a typical highway cruise, as you traverse the local landscape.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.9 mi on Arizona Veterans Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Cortez Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Prescott, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ is easy. At 1h 52m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Cortez Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Gurley Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (AZ 69 / Cordes Junction-Prescott Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Flagstaff is a city of over 75,000 people (2019) near the San Francisco Peaks mountain range of northern Arizona and the Grand Canyon. At an altitude of 6,990 ft (2,130 m), Flagstaff and much of the surrounding region are substantially cooler than the low desert that dominates the southern part of the state. Though still dry by east coast standards, enough rain and snow falls in the area to allow a forest of ponderosa pine trees to cover the landscape. Winters tend to be cold, and heavy snowfall is expected on an annual basis.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.9 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: near the start (South Cortez Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Gurley Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (AZ 69 / Cordes Junction-Prescott Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Montezuma Castle National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument (5 total within detour distance). 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 Flagstaff, AZ before heading back.
