Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
54.2 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Show Low, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Penzance, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Show Low to Penzance is 54.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 10 minutes via Show Low-Holbrook Highway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward, same-day trip. Expect a local feel with a mix of road types as you navigate between these two points. Given its short duration, this route is ideal for a relaxed travel day, allowing for spontaneous stops if you choose.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Show Low-Holbrook Highway | 37.1 mi | 44m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| North Penrod Road | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| South Main Street | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Arizona State Highway 77 | 2 mi | 2m |
| West Hopi Drive | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Holbrook-Springerville Highway | 1 mi | 2m |
| East Deuce of Clubs | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Show Low, AZ and Penzance, AZ.
Start on US 60; AZ 77; AZ 260
Turn left onto AZ 77
Continue on AZ 77
Continue on AZ 77
Continue on AZ 77
Continue on AZ 77
Continue on AZ 77
Continue on AZ 77
Continue on AZ 77
Continue on US 180; AZ 77
Continue on US 180; AZ 77
Turn left onto US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist
Take the ramp onto US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist
Merge onto I 40; US 180
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Keep slight left at fork onto Main Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 40; US 180
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.1 miles from Show Low, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 53.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto AZ 77 / North Penrod Road
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist / West Hopi Drive
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward Hunt Road, Geronimo Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto Main Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$11.07 one way
$22.14 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.52 | $11.77 | $23.55 |
| premium | $5.72 | $12.20 | $24.41 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $11.42 | $22.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.69 | $2.60 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.59 | $3.47 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Show Low on Wednesday
Local time
2:10 PM
MST
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Penzance on Wednesday
Local time
2:10 PM
MST
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This is a turn-heavy local drive, with a significant portion on local roads rather than high-speed highways. Only 4% of this route is on highways, meaning you'll be navigating more through community areas. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 37.1 miles along the Show Low-Holbrook Highway. As you progress, the roads will transition, so be prepared for varied driving conditions and potentially more frequent turns as you approach your destination.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near AZ 77 / North Penrod Road.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.2 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (AZ 77 / North Penrod Road): Navigation decision point; at 47 miles (US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist / West Hopi Drive): Navigation decision point; at 52.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
Total Climb
145 ft
Total Descent
1,359 ft
Highest Point
6,370 ft
~3.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,275 ft
Notable High Points
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 54.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (4%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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