Origin
Cottonwood, AZ
Afternoon in Cottonwood on Sunday
Local time
4:47 PM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cottonwood, AZ to Surprise, AZ
Drive Time
5h 16m
Distance
300.9 mi
484 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$60
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 3m
★
6 AM
5h 16m
8 AM
5h 43m
10 AM
5h 25m
12 PM
5h 23m
3 PM
5h 27m
5 PM
5h 42m
8 PM
5h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cottonwood, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Surprise, AZ
Kostiantyn Zavhorodnii
Trip Overview
The drive from Cottonwood, AZ to Surprise, AZ covers 300.9 miles and takes about 5h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Route 4, Route 65, Route 60 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $59.88 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
150.5 miles from Cottonwood, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 38m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 16m drive with frequent turns across 300.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Route 4 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 16m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cottonwood, AZ to Surprise, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Route 4 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Route 65 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Route 60 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 264 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Winslow–Kayenta Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| AZ 87 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Purple Heart Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 17 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Route 4
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cottonwood, AZ and Surprise, AZ.
1
Start on the route
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
the route
2
Continue straight
499 ft
·
27 sec
3
Turn left onto Navajo Route 4
6.4 mi
·
15 min
·
Navajo Route 4
4
Continue on Indian Route 4
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Indian Route 4
5
Continue on Navajo Route 4
4.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Navajo Route 4
6
Turn left onto Navajo Route 65
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Navajo Route 65
7
Continue on Indian Route 65
2.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Indian Route 65
8
Continue on Navajo Route 65
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Navajo Route 65
9
Continue on Hopi Route 65
8.4 mi
·
20 min
·
Hopi Route 65
10
Continue on Indian Route 60
6.6 mi
·
16 min
·
Indian Route 60
11
Turn right onto Arizona State Highway 264
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Arizona State Highway 264
12
Turn left onto Winslow–Kayenta Highway
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Winslow–Kayenta Highway
13
Continue on AZ 87
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
AZ 87
14
Continue on Winslow–Kayenta Highway
39 mi
·
44 min
·
Winslow–Kayenta Highway
15
Take the ramp right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
16
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
61 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
17
Take the exit slight right toward I 17 South, AZ 89A North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 17 South, AZ 89A North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
18
Keep slight left to continue on I 17, AZ 89A South: Sedona, Phoenix
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
I 17, AZ 89A South: Sedona, Phoenix
19
Merge slight left onto Arizona Veterans Highway
93 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
20
Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
21
Continue on Black Canyon Freeway
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
22
Continue on North Black Canyon Highway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Black Canyon Highway
23
Continue on Black Canyon Freeway
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
24
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 303 Loop South
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
AZ 303 Loop South
25
Turn right
0.6 mi
·
1 min
26
Take the exit slight right
0.6 mi
·
46 sec
27
Continue straight
410 ft
·
7 sec
28
Keep slight left
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
29
Merge slight left onto Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
30
Take the exit slight right
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
31
Continue straight
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
32
Merge slight left onto Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
33
Take the exit slight right toward El Mirage Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
El Mirage Road
34
Continue on El Mirage Road
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
El Mirage Road
35
Turn left onto North El Mirage Road
5.1 mi
·
9 min
·
North El Mirage Road
36
Turn right onto West Paradise Lane
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Paradise Lane
37
Turn left onto North Nash Street
89 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Nash Street
38
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 150.5 miles from Cottonwood, AZ, or about 2h 38m 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 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.5 miles or 2h 38m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Surprise, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cottonwood, 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 Cottonwood, AZ
This is one driving day of about 300.9 miles and 5h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cottonwood, 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 150.5 mi from Cottonwood, AZ · 2h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
150 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 150.5 miles from Cottonwood, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Surprise, AZ
The final approach into Surprise, 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 Surprise, 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
$59.88 one way
$119.77 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
105 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $63.24 | $126.47 |
| premium | $5.59 | $66.19 | $132.37 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $66.85 | $133.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 90.3 | 1 | $31.59 | $14.44 |
| Efficient EV | 75.2 | 0 | $26.33 | $12.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 120.4 | 1 | $42.13 | $19.26 |
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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.
Destination
Surprise, AZ
Afternoon in Surprise on Sunday
Local time
3:47 PM
MST
Current temp
56°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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
16 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 16m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cottonwood, AZ to Surprise, AZ covers 300.9 miles and takes about 5h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Route 4, Route 65, Route 60. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 150.5 miles from Cottonwood, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $59.88 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 straightforward 5h 16m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cottonwood, AZ to Surprise, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cottonwood, AZ to Surprise, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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