Trip from Colorado City, AZ to Phoenix, AZ

Drive Time

6h 16m

Distance

370.8 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Long day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Colorado City, AZ to Phoenix, AZ covers 370.8 miles and takes about 6h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West Township Avenue, South Central Street, Short Creek–Fredonia Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $72.28 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

185.4 miles from Colorado City, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 6h 16m drive with frequent turns across 370.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

West Township Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
West Township Avenue	0 mi	0m
South Central Street	0 mi	0m
Short Creek–Fredonia Highway	0 mi	0m
West Pratt Street	0 mi	0m
South Main Street	0 mi	0m
Bitter Springs–Fredonia Highway	0 mi	0m
Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway	0 mi	0m
US 89	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: West Township Avenue — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on Heritage Lane

2

Turn right onto West Township Avenue

3

Turn right onto South Central Street

4

At the end of the road, turn left onto Short Creek–Fredonia Highway

5

Continue on West Pratt Street

6

Turn right onto South Main Street

7

Continue on Bitter Springs–Fredonia Highway

8

At the end of the road, turn right onto Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway

9

Continue on US 89

10

Continue on Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway

11

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Cameron–Bitter Springs Highway

12

Exit the rotary onto Flagstaff-Cameron Highway

13

Continue on US Highway 89

14

Continue on Flagstaff-Cameron Highway

15

Turn left onto Country Club Drive

16

Take the exit right

17

Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

18

Take the exit slight right toward I 17 South, AZ 89A North: Phoenix, Flagstaff

19

Keep slight left to continue on I 17, AZ 89A South: Sedona, Phoenix

20

Merge slight left onto Arizona Veterans Highway

21

Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway

22

Continue on Black Canyon Freeway

23

Continue on North Black Canyon Highway

24

Continue on Black Canyon Freeway

25

Take the exit slight right toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Central Phoenix, Los Angeles

26

Keep slight left to continue on I 10 East: Central Phoenix, Tucson

27

Merge slight left onto Papago Freeway

28

Take the exit slight right toward 7th Avenue

29

Keep slight right to continue on 7th Avenue South, Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix Campus, Downtown Cultural/Sport Facilities

30

Turn straight onto North 7th Avenue

31

Turn left onto West Roosevelt Street

32

Turn right onto North 1st Avenue

33

Keep slight right to continue on North 1st Avenue

34

Turn left onto West Adams Street

35

Turn right onto North 1st Street

36

Turn right onto East Washington Street

37

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 185.4 miles from Colorado City, AZ.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 82 miles

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

Halfway reset

Around 185.4 miles

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

Final approach

Last hour of driving

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Colorado City, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Colorado City, AZ

This is one driving day of about 370.8 miles and 6h 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Colorado City, 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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Flagstaff, AZ

185 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.

Popular next leg

Flagstaff, AZ to Phoenix, AZ

144.9 mi · 2h 10m

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Phoenix, 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 Phoenix, AZ.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 185.4 mi from Colorado City, AZ

Page, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Flagstaff, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 185.4 miles from Colorado City, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$4.95	$72.28	$144.55
midgrade	$5.34	$77.93	$155.85
premium	$5.57	$81.25	$162.51
diesel	$6.37	$92.93	$185.87

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 129.7 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Colorado City, AZ to Phoenix, AZ covers 370.8 miles and takes about 6h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are West Township Avenue, South Central Street, Short Creek–Fredonia Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 185.4 miles from Colorado City, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $72.28 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.