Origin
Deer Valley, AZ
Afternoon in Deer Valley on Sunday
Local time
3:47 PM
MST
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Deer Valley, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ
Drive Time
5h 58m
Distance
292.1 mi
470 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$58
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 46m
★
6 AM
5h 59m
8 AM
6h 25m
10 AM
6h 8m
12 PM
6h 5m
3 PM
6h 9m
5 PM
6h 23m
8 PM
5h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Deer Valley, AZ
Line Knipst
Cottonwood, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
The drive from Deer Valley, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ covers 292.1 miles and takes about 5h 58m 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 90.6 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $58.13 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
146 miles from Deer Valley, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 58m drive with frequent turns across 292.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 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 90.6 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 13 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.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 292.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 13 key pointsThese 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 none lane.
5
124.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 40 East, Albuquerque
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 East, Albuquerque
5
246.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 23m in
|
AZ 264 / Arizona State Highway 264
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 264 / Arizona State Highway 264
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Deer Valley, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Albuquerque along the way.
Albuquerque
124.6 mi in
|
~2h 9m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Veterans Highway | 90.6 mi | 1h 31m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 61.4 mi | 1h 2m |
| Winslow–Kayenta Highway | 55.8 mi | 1h 4m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 21.9 mi | 22m |
| Arizona State Highway 264 | 11.7 mi | 14m |
| Navajo Route 4 | 10.4 mi | 25m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 8.9 mi | 9m |
| Hopi Route 65 | 8.4 mi | 20m |
Longest stretch:
Arizona Veterans Highway
— 90.6 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Deer Valley, AZ and Cottonwood, 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 none lane.
6
Continue on I 17
8.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the none / 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
77 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
9
Continue on I 17; AZ 89A
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 40 East, Albuquerque
11
Merge onto I 40
61 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward AZ 87 North: Second Mesa
13
Turn left onto AZ 87; US 66 Hist
39 mi
·
45 min
·
Winslow–Kayenta Highway
14
Continue on AZ 87
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
AZ 87
15
Continue on AZ 87
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Winslow–Kayenta Highway
16
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 264
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Arizona State Highway 264
17
Turn left onto Indian Route 60
6.6 mi
·
16 min
·
Indian Route 60
18
Continue on H65
8.4 mi
·
20 min
·
Hopi Route 65
19
Continue on N65
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Navajo Route 65
20
Continue on Indian Route 65
2.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Indian Route 65
21
Continue on N65
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Navajo Route 65
22
At end of road, turn right onto N4
4.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Navajo Route 4
23
Continue on Indian Route 4
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Indian Route 4
24
Continue on N4
6.4 mi
·
15 min
·
Navajo Route 4
25
Turn right
0.3 mi
·
1 min
26
Arrive at 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 146 miles from Deer Valley, AZ, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.6 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 80 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146 miles or 2h 31m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cottonwood, 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.
+
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 Deer Valley, AZ
This is one driving day of about 292.1 miles and 5h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Deer Valley, 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.
The longest stretch is on Arizona Veterans Highway for about 90.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 146 mi from Deer Valley, AZ · 2h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
146 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 146 miles from Deer Valley, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Arizona Veterans Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 90.6 miles.
Arriving in Cottonwood, AZ
The final approach into Cottonwood, 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 Cottonwood, 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
$58.13 one way
$116.27 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
102 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $61.39 | $122.77 |
| premium | $5.59 | $64.25 | $128.50 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $64.89 | $129.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87.6 | 1 | $30.67 | $14.02 |
| Efficient EV | 73 | 0 | $25.56 | $11.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 116.8 | 1 | $40.89 | $18.69 |
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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
Cottonwood, AZ
Afternoon in Cottonwood on Sunday
Local time
4:47 PM
MDT
Current temp
40°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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
18 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
5h 58m 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 Deer Valley, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ covers 292.1 miles and takes about 5h 58m 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 146 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 $58.13 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 292.1 miles you will encounter 13 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.
On the drive from Deer Valley, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Albuquerque along the way.
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