Trip from Chandler, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ

Drive Time

2h 32m

Distance

169.6 mi

273 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 22m ★
6 AM
2h 32m
8 AM
2h 53m
10 AM
2h 39m
12 PM
2h 37m
3 PM
2h 40m
5 PM
2h 52m
8 PM
2h 26m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Chandler, AZ, AZ

Chandler, AZ

Abhishek Navlakha

Downtown Flagstaff, AZ, AZ

Flagstaff, AZ

Mark Direen

Trip Overview

Traveling from Chandler to Flagstaff covers a distance of 169.6 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 32 minutes of drive time. Because the total duration is relatively short, you can easily complete this trip in a single day, making it a convenient excursion within the Desert Southwest. Expect to budget approximately $33 for fuel to cover the journey. While you will be navigating local roads like East Chandler Boulevard, West Chandler Boulevard, and South Price Road, the route is straightforward enough that an overnight stay is entirely optional. It serves as an efficient way to transition between these two Arizona locations without requiring a complex multi-day itinerary.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

84.8 miles from Chandler, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a high-speed interstate cruise, this 0% highway-share route keeps you on surface streets, requiring constant engagement with local traffic patterns. You will find no long, uninterrupted stretches of road, as the longest segment on East Chandler Boulevard measures 0 miles. This character creates a driving experience defined by frequent turns and transitions rather than long-distance highway cruising. Navigating these local roads requires you to stay alert to the changing street conditions as you move through the region.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Chandler Boulevard is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Chandler, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ is easy. At 2h 32m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chandler, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East Chandler Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing
West Chandler Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing
South Price Road Unavailable Refreshing
AZ 101 Unavailable Refreshing
Price Freeway Unavailable Refreshing
US 60 West Unavailable Refreshing
Superstition Freeway Unavailable Refreshing
I 10 North Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: East Chandler Boulevard — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chandler, AZ and Flagstaff, AZ.

1

Start on East Chandler Boulevard

0.1 mi · 42 sec · East Chandler Boulevard
2

Continue on East Chandler Boulevard

0.2 mi · 17 sec · East Chandler Boulevard
3

Continue on West Chandler Boulevard

3.0 mi · 5 min · West Chandler Boulevard
4

Turn right onto South Price Road

322 ft · 6 sec · South Price Road
5

Take the ramp straight toward AZ 101 Loop North

0.3 mi · 43 sec · AZ 101 Loop North
6

Merge slight left onto Price Freeway

4.8 mi · 5 min · Price Freeway
7

Take the exit slight right toward US 60 West, US 60 East: Phoenix, Globe

0.2 mi · 22 sec · US 60 West, US 60 East: Phoenix, Globe
8

Keep slight left to continue on US 60 West: Phoenix

0.7 mi · 1 min · US 60 West: Phoenix
9

Merge slight left onto Superstition Freeway

3.7 mi · 4 min · Superstition Freeway
10

Keep slight left to continue on I 10 North

0.6 mi · 38 sec · I 10 North
11

Merge slight left onto Maricopa Freeway

4.9 mi · 5 min · Maricopa Freeway
12

Keep slight right to continue on Maricopa Freeway

4.2 mi · 4 min · Maricopa Freeway
13

Continue on Black Canyon Freeway

41 mi · 45 min · Black Canyon Freeway
14

Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway

8.9 mi · 9 min · Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
15

Continue on Arizona Veterans Highway

13 mi · 13 min · Arizona Veterans Highway
16

Keep slight left to continue on Arizona Veterans Highway

77 mi · 1 hr 17 min · Arizona Veterans Highway
17

Continue on Prescott–Flagstaff Highway

0.6 mi · 44 sec · Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
18

Continue on Arizona Veterans Highway

0.5 mi · 42 sec · Arizona Veterans Highway
19

Continue on South Milton Road

1.8 mi · 4 min · South Milton Road
20

Continue on West Historic Route 66

449 ft · 14 sec · West Historic Route 66
21

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Since your trip is scheduled for a single day, prioritize a morning departure to maximize your time once you reach your destination. Plan for at least one stop along the way to break up the 169.6-mile journey and ensure you stay refreshed. Because this route relies entirely on local roads, keep a close eye on your navigation to handle the frequent turns efficiently. Given the $33 fuel budget, it is smart to check your gas levels before leaving Chandler to avoid unnecessary stops in busy local areas. Maintaining a steady pace will help you manage the technical nature of the drive while keeping your arrival time predictable.

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 84.8 miles from Chandler, AZ, or about 1h 16m into the drive.

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 80 miles or 1h 11m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 84.8 miles or 1h 16m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Flagstaff, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Chandler, 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 Chandler, AZ

This is one driving day of about 169.6 miles and 2h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chandler, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 84.8 mi from Chandler, AZ · 1h 16m into the drive

Downtown Surprise, AZ, AZ

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Surprise, AZ

85 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Surprise, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Surprise, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 84.8 miles from Chandler, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Flagstaff, AZ

The final approach into Flagstaff, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Flagstaff, AZ.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$33.75 one way

$67.51 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 59 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.34 $35.64 $71.29
premium $5.59 $37.31 $74.61
diesel $5.64 $37.68 $75.36

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 59.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 50.9 0 $17.81 $8.14
Efficient EV 42.4 0 $14.84 $6.78
EV Truck/SUV 67.8 0 $23.74 $10.85

Gas CO2

59 kg

EV CO2

20 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Chandler, AZ

Afternoon in Chandler on Sunday

Local time

2:55 PM

MST

Current temp

91°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Flagstaff, AZ

Afternoon in Flagstaff on Sunday

Local time

2:55 PM

MST

Current temp

30°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

61 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

2h 32m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Chandler, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ covers 169.6 miles and takes about 2h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Chandler Boulevard, West Chandler Boulevard, South Price Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.8 miles from Chandler, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.75 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Chandler, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ is easy. At 2h 32m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chandler, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Chandler, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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