Traveling from Surprise to Cornville is a straightforward 101-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 59 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance and duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $20 on fuel for the trek, which remains entirely within the Desert Southwest region. The trip utilizes a combination of the Arizona Veterans Highway, the Black Canyon Freeway, and the Bob Stump Memorial Parkway. Navigating this path offers a practical transition between these two Arizona locations, providing a reliable itinerary for those looking to move efficiently through the high desert landscape.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.5 miles from Surprise, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Arizona Veterans Highway
44.4 mi
44m
Black Canyon Freeway
16.4 mi
16m
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
14.8 mi
17m
East Cornville Road
9.2 mi
16m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
8.9 mi
9m
North El Mirage Road
5 mi
8m
West Paradise Lane
0.5 mi
1m
North Nash Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Arizona Veterans Highway
— 44.4 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Surprise, AZ and Cornville, AZ.
1
Start on North Nash Street
88 ft·5 sec·North Nash Street
2
Turn right onto West Paradise Lane
0.5 mi·1 min·West Paradise Lane
3
At end of road, turn left onto North El Mirage Road
5.0 mi·8 min·North El Mirage Road
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·2 min
Toward AZ 303 Loop North
5
Merge onto AZ 303 Loop
15 mi·17 min·Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
6
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 17 North: FlagstaffUse the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
8
Merge onto I 17
16 mi·16 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
31 mi·31 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Toward Rimrock, McGuiveville, Lake Montesuma Well, Cornville Road, Dry Beaver Creek
13
Turn left onto CR 30
9.2 mi·16 min·East Cornville Road
14
Arrive at destination
CR 30
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule without worrying about complex multi-day logistics. Given the 101-mile distance, you likely will not need to plan for formal stops, but keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise given the $20 estimated cost. Try to avoid peak traffic hours when transitioning onto the Black Canyon Freeway to ensure your travel time stays close to the two-hour mark. If you are prone to fatigue, take advantage of the fact that there are no mandatory stops and pull over whenever you feel the need for a quick reset. A great strategy for this route is to verify your fuel levels before hitting the Arizona Veterans Highway to ensure you can complete the 44.4-mile stretch without any interruptions.
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 50.5 miles from Surprise, AZ, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.4 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 22 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.5 miles or 1h 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cornville, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Surprise, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Surprise, AZ
This is one driving day of about 101 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Surprise, 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 44.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 21.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|North El Mirage Road
At end of road, turn left onto North El Mirage Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
5.5 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the ramp toward AZ 303 Loop North
Navigation decision point
Toward AZ 303 Loop North
6
20.8 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
5
21.7 mi into trip|~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
5
21.9 mi into trip|~31m in|I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge onto I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.12 one way
$40.24 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$21.29
$42.59
premium
$5.59
$22.23
$44.46
diesel
$5.61
$22.30
$44.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.3
0
$10.60
$4.85
Efficient EV
25.3
0
$8.84
$4.04
EV Truck/SUV
40.4
0
$14.14
$6.46
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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 20, 2026
Origin
Surprise, AZ
Late night
in Surprise on Tuesday
Local time
5:41 AM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cornville, AZ
Late night
in Cornville on Tuesday
Local time
5:41 AM
MST
Current temp
44°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
15 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 59m 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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed-character experience, balancing fast-paced highway segments with more localized road travel. You will spend about 31% of your journey on major highways, which helps maintain steady progress during the initial stages. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 44.4-mile segment along the Arizona Veterans Highway, providing a consistent rhythm to your drive. As you transition between the various parkways and freeways, the road's personality shifts from high-speed transit to the more varied conditions typical of the region. Expect a drive that requires your attention as the infrastructure changes, ensuring you stay focused behind the wheel throughout the nearly two-hour transit.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.4 mi on Arizona Veterans Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near North El Mirage Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 101 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.5 miles (North El Mirage Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 20.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Surprise, AZ and Cornville, AZ, road signs point toward Rimrock, Mcguiveville, Lake Montesuma Well and Dry Beaver Creek.
Sun City is a suburb 20 miles (30km) northwest of downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It was built as a planned retirement community in Maricopa County in the 1960s. An adjacent retirement community Sun City West was built in the late 1970s; there is also a Sun City Grand. Directly northwest of the three "Sun City" suburbs is Surprise, Arizona.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 101 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.4 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Cornville, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: at 0.5 miles (North El Mirage Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 20.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Montezuma Castle National Monument and Tuzigoot 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 Cornville, AZ before heading back.
