Scottsdale to Star Valley is 82.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 41 minutes via Beeline Highway and AZ 260, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, offering a transition from the arid landscapes around Scottsdale to the higher elevations and pine forests of the Mogollon Rim area. Given the relatively short distance and time, it's a straightforward trip suitable for a single day. Consider this if you're looking for a quick escape to cooler, forested terrain without a significant time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.4 miles from Scottsdale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Beeline Highway
68.4 mi
1h 20m
North Beeline Highway
4.2 mi
4m
AZ 260
3.9 mi
6m
East McDowell Road
2.7 mi
4m
Pima Freeway
2.3 mi
2m
East Chaparral Road
0.6 mi
1m
Payson-Show Low Highway
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Beeline Highway
— 68.4 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsdale, AZ and Star Valley, AZ.
1
Start on this road
64 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
0.6 mi·1 min·East Chaparral Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
4
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
2.3 mi·2 min·Pima Freeway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 49Toward McDowell RoadUse the slight right lane.
6
Turn left onto East McDowell Road
2.7 mi·4 min·East McDowell Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto AZ 87
4.2 mi·4 min·North Beeline Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Continue on AZ 87
68 mi·1 hr 20 min·Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto AZ 260
3.9 mi·6 min·AZ 260
10
Arrive at destination
AZ 260
Trip Plan
With a total travel time of under two hours, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You could depart Scottsdale anytime and still arrive in Star Valley with plenty of daylight. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan your own break if needed, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; while the estimated cost is $16, it's always wise to fill up before leaving Scottsdale, especially since the longest stretch without a major highway is 68.4 miles. Given the short duration, you can easily make this a same-day round trip or have a relaxed morning departure.
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 41.4 miles from Scottsdale, AZ, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.4 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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.4 miles or 50m 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 Star Valley, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Scottsdale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 82.8 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Scottsdale, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Beeline Highway for about 68.4 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 6.3 — 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|East Chaparral Road
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward AZ 101 Loop South
Navigation decision point
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
7
3.3 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward McDowell Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 49
Toward McDowell Road
4
3.6 mi into trip|~5m in|East McDowell Road
Turn left onto East McDowell Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
6.3 mi into trip|~9m in|AZ 87 / North Beeline Highway
Turn left onto AZ 87 / North Beeline Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.49 one way
$32.99 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$17.46
$34.91
premium
$5.59
$18.23
$36.45
diesel
$5.61
$18.28
$36.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.8
0
$8.69
$3.97
Efficient EV
20.7
0
$7.24
$3.31
EV Truck/SUV
33.1
0
$11.59
$5.30
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Scottsdale, AZ
Night
in Scottsdale on Saturday
Local time
9:25 PM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Star Valley, AZ
Night
in Star Valley on Saturday
Local time
9:25 PM
MST
Current temp
41°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
51 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 41m 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.
Tonto National Monument
National Monument
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...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
$10
near mile 34.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on surface roads, with only about 8% of the 82.8 miles on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a main road, Beeline Highway, covers 68.4 miles. Expect a gradual transition as you leave the denser urban environment of Scottsdale, moving onto more open stretches as you head towards Star Valley. The profile indicates a route that primarily utilizes local roads after the initial highway portion.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.4 mi on Beeline 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 East Chaparral Road.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Star Valley, AZ is easy. At 1h 41m with 8% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Chaparral Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.3 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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68.4 miles on Beeline 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 (East Chaparral Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Tonto 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 Star Valley, AZ before heading back.
