Traveling from Avondale to Cottonwood covers 319.9 miles and typically takes about 6 hours and 32 minutes of drive time. Because this journey stays entirely within the Desert Southwest, you will experience a consistent regional climate while transitioning between these two Arizona hubs. Budget roughly $64 for fuel to cover the distance, which is entirely manageable as a single-day trip if you prefer a direct push. While the route is straightforward, the duration makes it a full day of travel, so be prepared to spend a significant portion of your time behind the wheel. Choosing to tackle this in one day offers a great sense of accomplishment, but you should factor in the necessary time for at least one planned stop to keep your energy levels up.
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
159.9 miles from Avondale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 32m. Total distance: 319.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 32m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This trip features a mixed drive profile, requiring you to navigate a blend of major transit corridors and local roads. You will spend about 30% of your time on highways, utilizing the Arizona Veterans Highway, the Purple Heart Trail, and the Winslow–Kayenta Highway to make progress. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Arizona Veterans Highway, where you will cover 90.6 miles of roadway at a time. Expect the road's personality to shift as you transition from the faster, high-capacity highway segments to the more varied conditions of the local routes. Staying alert is essential, as the changing road types require you to constantly adjust your driving style throughout the 319.9-mile journey.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Arizona Veterans Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 90.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near South Dysart Road.
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 20 significant decision points across 319.9 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 0.5 miles (South Dysart Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|South Dysart Road
At end of road, turn left onto South Dysart Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 East: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 10 East: Phoenix
6
5.6 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 133B
8
27.1 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the exit toward I 17 North, I 17 South: Flagstaff, Phoenix
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23
Toward I 17 North, I 17 South: Flagstaff, Phoen...
8
27.3 mi into trip|~33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 17 North, I 17 South: Flagstaff, Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 17 North, I 17 South: Flagstaff, Phoen...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Avondale, AZ and Cottonwood, AZ, road signs point toward Phoenix and Albuquerque.
Step-by-step road directions between Avondale, AZ and Cottonwood, AZ.
1
Start on this road
27 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto North Central Avenue
89 ft·9 sec·North Central Avenue
3
Turn left onto East Western Avenue
0.5 mi·57 sec·East Western Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
At end of road, turn left onto South Dysart Road
1.5 mi·2 min·South Dysart Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 10 East: PhoenixUse the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 10
3.2 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 133BUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
20 mi·23 min·Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 23Toward I 17 North, I 17 South: Flagstaff, PhoenixUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 17 North, I 17 South: Flagstaff, PhoenixUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi·1 min
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·33 sec
13
Merge onto I 17
23 mi·24 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 17
8.9 mi·9 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 17
13 mi·13 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 17
77 mi·1 hr 17 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
17
Continue on I 17; AZ 89A
0.6 mi·43 sec·Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 East, Albuquerque
19
Merge onto I 40
61 mi·1 hr 2 min·Purple Heart Trail
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward AZ 87 North: Second Mesa
21
Turn left onto AZ 87; US 66 Hist
39 mi·45 min·Winslow–Kayenta Highway
22
Continue on AZ 87
4.1 mi·4 min·AZ 87
23
Continue on AZ 87
17 mi·19 min·Winslow–Kayenta Highway
24
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 264
12 mi·14 min·Arizona State Highway 264
25
Turn left onto Indian Route 60
6.6 mi·16 min·Indian Route 60
26
Continue on H65
8.4 mi·20 min·Hopi Route 65
27
Continue on N65
1.3 mi·3 min·Navajo Route 65
28
Continue on Indian Route 65
2.8 mi·6 min·Indian Route 65
29
Continue on N65
1.9 mi·4 min·Navajo Route 65
30
At end of road, turn right onto N4
4.0 mi·9 min·Navajo Route 4
31
Continue on Indian Route 4
1.8 mi·4 min·Indian Route 4
32
Continue on N4
6.4 mi·15 min·Navajo Route 4
33
Turn right
0.3 mi·1 min
34
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 6-hour and 32-minute drive, plan to depart early in the morning to avoid the heat of the day and maximize your daylight hours. Since the trip includes one recommended stop, use that break to stretch your legs and refuel your vehicle, keeping your $64 fuel budget in mind. Pay close attention to the transitions between the Arizona Veterans Highway and the Winslow–Kayenta Highway, as navigating these shifts efficiently will keep your pace steady. Because this route is designed as a one-day trip, your primary advantage is flexibility; you can easily adjust your pace to accommodate traffic or weather conditions. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the 90.6-mile stretch on the Arizona Veterans Highway, as service intervals may be spaced further apart than on local roads.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 159.9 miles from Avondale, AZ, or about 2h 51m 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 70 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.9 miles or 2h 51m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cottonwood, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Avondale, 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 Avondale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 319.9 miles and 6h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Avondale, 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 159.9 mi from Avondale, AZ
· 2h 51m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Walnut Canyon National Monument
National Monument
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...
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10
near mile 110.3
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
$25
near mile 165.5
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
~40 min detour
$10
near mile 99.3
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
$25
near mile 165.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.73 one way
$127.46 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$67.44
$134.89
premium
$5.59
$70.42
$140.83
diesel
$5.61
$70.63
$141.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$64
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$89–$114
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96
1
$33.59
$15.36
Efficient EV
80
0
$27.99
$12.80
EV Truck/SUV
128
1
$44.79
$20.47
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Avondale, AZ
Late night
in Avondale on Saturday
Local time
1:18 AM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cottonwood, AZ
Late night
in Cottonwood on Saturday
Local time
2:18 AM
MDT
Current temp
69°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
21 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
6h 32m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Avondale, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ covers 319.9 miles and takes about 6h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Arizona Veterans Highway, Purple Heart Trail, Winslow–Kayenta Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 159.9 miles from Avondale, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $63.73 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 319.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (South Dysart Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Avondale, AZ and Cottonwood, AZ, road signs point toward Phoenix and Albuquerque.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Walnut Canyon National Monument, Montezuma Castle National Monument and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
