Origin
Deer Valley, AZ
Afternoon in Deer Valley on Thursday
Local time
3:33 PM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Deer Valley, AZ to Blackwater, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
70.9 mi
114 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Deer Valley, AZ
Line Knipst
Blackwater, AZ
Yanming Guo
Trip Overview
The drive from Deer Valley, AZ to Blackwater, AZ covers 70.9 miles and takes about 1h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Black Canyon Freeway, Maricopa Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 23.1 miles on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.12 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 70.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Deer Valley, AZ to Blackwater, AZ covers 70.9 miles and takes about 1h 25m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 23.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Deer Valley Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.9 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Deer Valley Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Deer Valley Road
Turn left onto West Deer Valley Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
North Black Canyon Highway
Turn right onto North Black Canyon Highway
Navigation decision point
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge onto I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
58.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward AZ 187, AZ 387: Casa Grande, Coolidge
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 185
Toward AZ 187, AZ 387: Casa Grande, Coolidge
6
59 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward AZ 187 North, AZ 387 North: Coolidge, Florence, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AZ 187 North, AZ 387 North: Coolidge, Fl...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Deer Valley, AZ and Blackwater, AZ, road signs point toward Coolidge, Florence and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
Coolidge
58.7 mi in
|
~1h 6m
Florence
59 mi in
|
~1h 6m
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
59 mi in
|
~1h 6m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 23.1 mi | 23m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 17.1 mi | 19m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 16.3 mi | 18m |
| AZ 387 | 6.9 mi | 9m |
| Blackwater School Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| West Deer Valley Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Junction I-10-Mesa Highway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Black Canyon Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
— 23.1 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Deer Valley, AZ and Blackwater, AZ.
1
Start on North 35th Avenue
37 ft
·
8 sec
·
North 35th Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Deer Valley Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Deer Valley Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto North Black Canyon Highway
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
North Black Canyon Highway
4
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
this road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 17
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
6
Continue on I 17; US 60
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 10
23 mi
·
23 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 185
Toward AZ 187, AZ 387: Casa Grande, Coolidge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
298 ft
·
14 sec
Toward AZ 187 North, AZ 387 North: Coolidge, Florence, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
10
Turn left onto AZ 387
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway
11
Turn right onto AZ 387
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
AZ 387
12
Turn left onto AZ 87
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
13
Turn right onto Blackwater School Road
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Blackwater School Road
14
Arrive at destination
Blackwater School Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.4 mi from Deer Valley, AZ · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.4 miles from Deer Valley, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Blackwater, AZ
The final approach into Blackwater, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.12 one way
$28.25 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $14.95 | $29.90 |
| premium | $5.59 | $15.61 | $31.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.65 | $31.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.44 | $3.40 |
| Efficient EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.20 | $2.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.93 | $4.54 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Blackwater, AZ
Afternoon in Blackwater on Thursday
Local time
3:33 PM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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
1h 25m 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 Deer Valley, AZ to Blackwater, AZ covers 70.9 miles and takes about 1h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Black Canyon Freeway, Maricopa Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.4 miles from Deer Valley, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.12 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.9 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Deer Valley Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Deer Valley, AZ and Blackwater, AZ, road signs point toward Coolidge, Florence and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
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