The drive from Deer Valley, AZ to Clarkdale, AZ covers 89.9 miles and takes about 1h 45m 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, Black Canyon Freeway, Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.2 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.91 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.9 miles from Deer Valley, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 89.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 45m drive with frequent turns across 89.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 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 38.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near West Pinnacle Peak Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 89.9 miles you will encounter 16 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: at 1 miles (West Pinnacle Peak Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (North Black Canyon Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
1 mi into trip|~1m in|West Pinnacle Peak Road
At end of road, turn right onto West Pinnacle Peak Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in|North Black Canyon Highway
Turn left onto North Black Canyon Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.6 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 straight / slight right lanes.
5
71.6 mi into trip|~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward Finnie Flat, 260 to 89a, Cottonwood, Payson, Jerome
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Finnie Flat, 260 to 89a, Cottonwood, Pay...
5
86.5 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|US 89A Historic / North Main Street
Enter roundabout onto US 89A Historic / North Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
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 Clarkdale, AZ, road signs point toward Finnie Flat, 260 To 89A, Cottonwood, Payson and Jerome.
Finnie Flat
71.6 mi in|~1h 15m
260 To 89A
71.6 mi in|~1h 15m
Cottonwood
71.6 mi in|~1h 15m
Payson
71.6 mi in|~1h 15m
Jerome
71.6 mi in|~1h 15m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Arizona Veterans Highway
38.2 mi
38m
Black Canyon Freeway
21.9 mi
22m
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
12.3 mi
18m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
8.9 mi
9m
South Main Street
2.1 mi
3m
South Broadway
1.6 mi
2m
North Main Street
1.5 mi
2m
West Pinnacle Peak Road
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Arizona Veterans Highway
— 38.2 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Deer Valley, AZ and Clarkdale, AZ.
1
Start on North 35th Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·North 35th Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto West Pinnacle Peak Road
1.3 mi·2 min·West Pinnacle Peak Road
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto North Black Canyon Highway
0.1 mi·13 sec·North Black Canyon Highway
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward I 17 North
5
Merge onto I 17
22 mi·22 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 17
8.9 mi·9 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 17
13 mi·13 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 17
25 mi·24 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward Finnie Flat, 260 to 89a, Cottonwood, Payson, Jerome
10
Turn left onto AZ 260
421 ft·11 sec·Finnie Flat Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on AZ 260
0.5 mi·58 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
169 ft·7 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
13
Continue on AZ 260
0.4 mi·41 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto AZ 260
0.8 mi·1 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
15
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
171 ft·7 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
16
Continue on AZ 260
1.1 mi·1 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
17
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
171 ft·2 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
18
Continue on AZ 260
1.0 mi·1 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
19
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
145 ft·6 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
20
Continue on AZ 260
0.8 mi·1 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
21
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
169 ft·7 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
22
Continue on AZ 260
2.1 mi·2 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
23
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
144 ft·6 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
24
Continue on AZ 260
0.8 mi·1 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
25
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
188 ft·8 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
26
Continue on AZ 260
4.7 mi·7 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
27
Continue on AZ 260
420 ft·12 sec·South Main Street
28
Continue on AZ 89A
2.0 mi·3 min·South Main Street
29
Enter roundabout onto US 89A Historic
100 ft·2 sec·North Main Street
30
Continue on US 89A Historic
1.5 mi·2 min·North Main Street
31
Continue on US 89A Historic
1.6 mi·2 min·South Broadway
32
Continue on US 89A Historic
0.3 mi·26 sec·Main Street
33
Arrive at destination
US 89A Historic
Trip Plan
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.9 miles from Deer Valley, AZ, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.2 miles.
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 20 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.9 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarkdale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Deer Valley, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Deer Valley, AZ
This is one driving day of about 89.9 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Deer Valley, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Arizona Veterans Highway for about 38.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.9 mi from Deer Valley, AZ
· 49m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Tuzigoot National Monument
National Monument
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.91 one way
$35.82 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$18.95
$37.91
premium
$5.59
$19.79
$39.58
diesel
$5.61
$19.85
$39.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27
0
$9.44
$4.32
Efficient EV
22.5
0
$7.87
$3.60
EV Truck/SUV
36
0
$12.59
$5.75
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (65% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Deer Valley, AZ
Night
in Deer Valley on Thursday
Local time
11:19 PM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clarkdale, AZ
Night
in Clarkdale on Thursday
Local time
11:19 PM
MST
Current temp
49°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
39 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
1h 45m 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 Clarkdale, AZ covers 89.9 miles and takes about 1h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Arizona Veterans Highway, Black Canyon Freeway, Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.9 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 $17.91 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 89.9 miles you will encounter 16 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: at 1 miles (West Pinnacle Peak Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (North Black Canyon Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Deer Valley, AZ and Clarkdale, AZ, road signs point toward Finnie Flat, 260 To 89A, Cottonwood, Payson and Jerome.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Tuzigoot National Monument and Montezuma Castle National Monument.
