Scottsdale to Kayenta is 300.3 miles and takes about 5h 38m via Arizona Veterans Highway, Navajo Trail, and Flagstaff-Cameron Highway, with a fuel budget near $60 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Desert Southwest, offering a consistent landscape for its entire length. It's a single-day trip, primarily on surface roads, making it a straightforward excursion. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct path through Arizona's desert terrain without extensive highway time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
150.1 miles from Scottsdale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsdale, AZ and Kayenta, AZ.
1
Start on this road
64 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Chaparral Road
3
Turn left
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop NorthUse the left lane.
4
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
22 mi·25 min·Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·45 sec
Exit 23C-BToward I 17 South, I 17 North: Phoenix, FlagstaffUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward I 17 North: FlagstaffUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·33 sec
8
Merge onto I 17
23 mi·24 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 17
8.9 mi·9 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 17
13 mi·13 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 17
77 mi·1 hr 17 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
12
Continue on I 17; AZ 89A
0.6 mi·43 sec·Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 East, Albuquerque
14
Merge onto I 40
5.1 mi·5 min·Purple Heart Trail
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 89 North: Page
16
Turn left onto US 180; I 40 Bus
0.5 mi·50 sec·Country Club Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Turn right onto US 89
2.3 mi·3 min·Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on US 89
6.4 mi·8 min·US Highway 89
19
Continue on US 89
38 mi·44 min·Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
20
Enter roundabout onto US 89
156 ft·2 sec·Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway
21
Continue on US 89
1.4 mi·2 min·Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway
22
Continue on US 89
0.3 mi·27 sec·US 89
23
Continue on US 89
14 mi·16 min·Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway
24
Turn right onto US 160
82 mi·1 hr 34 min·Navajo Trail
25
Turn left onto US 163
1.4 mi·2 min·Kayenta-Utah State Line Highway
26
Turn left
0.1 mi·32 sec
27
Turn left onto Comb Ridge Road
42 ft·1 sec·Comb Ridge Road
28
Arrive at destination
Comb Ridge Road
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 38m estimated drive time, leaving Scottsdale in the morning should allow you to reach Kayenta with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $60, this trip is manageable in a single day. The longest stretch without stopping is over 90 miles, so ensure your fuel tank is adequately filled before departing Scottsdale. Pay attention to the transition from highway to surface roads, as speed limits and road conditions can change.
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 150.1 miles from Scottsdale, AZ, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.6 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 66 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.1 miles or 2h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kayenta, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Scottsdale, 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 Scottsdale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 300.3 miles and 5h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Scottsdale, 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 Arizona Veterans Highway for about 90.6 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 154.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in
Turn left toward AZ 101 Loop North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
8
23 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the exit toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 23C-B
Toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Phoenix, Flagsta...
7
23.5 mi into trip|~28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
6
154 mi into trip|~2h 44m in|US 180; I 40 Bus / Country Club Drive
Turn left onto US 180; I 40 Bus / Country Club Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
154.5 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|US 89 / Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
Turn right onto US 89 / Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.21 one way
$106.43 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$56.99
$113.97
premium
$5.04
$59.61
$119.22
diesel
$4.80
$56.70
$113.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.1
1
$31.53
$14.41
Efficient EV
75.1
0
$26.28
$12.01
EV Truck/SUV
120.1
1
$42.04
$19.22
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Scottsdale, AZ
Late night
in Scottsdale on Sunday
Local time
2:33 AM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
E 5 mph30% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 1:51PM MST until July 17 at 4:15PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 1:16PM MST until July 17 at 2:45PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Destination
Kayenta, AZ
Late night
in Kayenta on Sunday
Local time
3:33 AM
MDT
Current temp
86°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 6 mph56% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 1:51PM MST until July 17 at 4:15PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 1:16PM MST until July 17 at 2:45PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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
5h 38m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
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...
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
$25
near mile 155.3
For centuries, the Hopi, San Juan Southern Paiute, Zuni, and Navajo people have lived in the canyons. Springs fed farmlands on the canyon floor and homes were built in the natural sandstone alcoves. T...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 289.9
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...
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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
$10
near mile 103.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features 17% highway driving, meaning most of your time will be spent on surface roads. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 90.6 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway before transitioning to other surface roads. Expect mostly rural cruising with limited exits, especially once you leave any main highway sections. The profile is generally surface roads, so plan for varying speed limits and road conditions.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.6 mi on Arizona Veterans Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 300.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 23 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
6,866 ft1,259 ft
Total Climb
8,490 ft
Total Descent
4,109 ft
Highest Point
6,866 ft
~150.1 mi in
Elevation Range
5,607 ft
Notable High Points
4,489 ft at ~85.8 miles+636 ft prominence
6,866 ft at ~150.1 miles+378 ft prominence
6,642 ft at ~278.8 miles+859 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Scottsdale, AZ and Kayenta, AZ, road signs point toward Flagstaff and Albuquerque.
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
Kayenta is a small town near the northern border of Arizona and part of the Navajo Nation. The population was 5,189 at the 2010 census. Kayenta is 22 miles (35 km) south of Monument Valley and contains a number of hotels and motels which service visitors to Monument Valley.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 38m. Total distance: 300.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.6 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Kayenta, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 23 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Montezuma Castle National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Walnut Canyon National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kayenta, AZ before the return drive.
