The drive from Cottonwood, AZ to Buckeye, AZ covers 333.7 miles and takes about 6h 48m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Arizona Veterans Highway, Purple Heart Trail, Winslow–Kayenta Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 93 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $66.48 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
166.9 miles from Cottonwood, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 48m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 48m. Total distance: 333.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 48m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 48m drive with frequent turns across 333.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 39 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 93 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 166.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 333.7 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 166.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 283.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 284.1 miles (AZ 303 Loop): 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.
6
166.7 mi into trip|~3h 48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 17, AZ 89A South: Sedona, Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 17, AZ 89A South: Sedona, Phoenix
7
283.7 mi into trip|~5h 47m in
Take the exit toward AZ 303 Loop South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 221
Toward AZ 303 Loop South
6
284.1 mi into trip|~5h 47m in|AZ 303 Loop
Turn right onto AZ 303 Loop
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
7
318.9 mi into trip|~6h 28m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 104B
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
7
328.5 mi into trip|~6h 39m in
Take the exit toward Buckeye
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 114
Toward Buckeye
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cottonwood, AZ and Buckeye, AZ, road signs point toward Flagstaff and Phoenix.
The midpoint is around 166.9 miles from Cottonwood, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Arizona Veterans Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93 miles.
Arriving in Buckeye, AZ
The final approach into Buckeye, 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 Buckeye, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
$10
near mile 218.6
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...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
$25
near mile 161.1
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
$25
near mile 161.1
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...
15 mi from route
~39 min detour
$10
near mile 218.6
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
~63 min detour
$25
near mile 149.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$66.48 one way
$132.95 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg117 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$70.35
$140.71
premium
$5.59
$73.45
$146.91
diesel
$5.61
$73.68
$147.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
100.1
1
$35.04
$16.02
Efficient EV
83.4
0
$29.20
$13.35
EV Truck/SUV
133.5
1
$46.72
$21.36
Gas CO2
117 kg
EV CO2
39 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
Cottonwood, AZ
Morning
in Cottonwood on Thursday
Local time
11:59 AM
MDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Buckeye, AZ
Morning
in Buckeye on Thursday
Local time
10:59 AM
MST
Current temp
89°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
20 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
6h 48m 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 Cottonwood, AZ to Buckeye, AZ covers 333.7 miles and takes about 6h 48m 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 166.9 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 $66.48 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 333.7 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 166.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 283.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 284.1 miles (AZ 303 Loop): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Cottonwood, AZ and Buckeye, AZ, road signs point toward Flagstaff and Phoenix.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Montezuma Castle National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.
