Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Deer Valley, AZ to Saint Johns, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 51m

Distance

272.7 mi

439 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$54

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 38m ★
6 AM
4h 52m
8 AM
5h 19m
10 AM
5h 1m
12 PM
4h 59m
3 PM
5h 3m
5 PM
5h 17m
8 PM
4h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Deer Valley, AZ, AZ

Deer Valley, AZ

Line Knipst

Downtown Saint Johns, AZ, AZ

Saint Johns, AZ

SHAHBAZ ZAMAN

Trip Overview

The drive from Deer Valley, AZ to Saint Johns, AZ covers 272.7 miles and takes about 4h 51m 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, Holbrook-Springerville 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 $54.33 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

136.3 miles from Deer Valley, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 51m. Total distance: 272.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (10%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 51m drive with frequent turns across 272.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 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 12 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 Effort 5/10

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 272.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 12 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
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
214.1 mi into trip | ~3h 40m in | US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist / Holbrook-Springerville Highway

Take the exit onto US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist / Holbrook-Springerville Highway toward I 40 Business East, US 180, AZ 77 South: Petrified Forest National Park, Show Low

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 40 Business East, US 180, AZ 77 South:...

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 Saint Johns, AZ, road signs point toward Albuquerque and Show Low.

Albuquerque

124.6 mi in | ~2h 9m

Show Low

214.1 mi in | ~3h 40m | via US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Arizona Veterans Highway 90.6 mi 1h 31m
Purple Heart Trail 89 mi 1h 29m
Holbrook-Springerville Highway 51.9 mi 1h 1m
Black Canyon Freeway 21.9 mi 22m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway 8.9 mi 9m
US 180 4.7 mi 6m
West Hopi Drive 1.5 mi 2m
West Pinnacle Peak Road 1.3 mi 2m
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 Saint Johns, 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

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

89 mi · 1 hr 29 min · Purple Heart Trail
12

Take the exit onto US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist

0.4 mi · 52 sec · Holbrook-Springerville Highway
Toward I 40 Business East, US 180, AZ 77 South: Petrified Forest National Park, Show Low
13

Turn right onto US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist

1.5 mi · 2 min · West Hopi Drive
14

Turn right onto US 180; AZ 77

0.2 mi · 13 sec · Navajo Boulevard
15

Continue on US 180; AZ 77

0.5 mi · 1 min · Holbrook-Springerville Highway
16

Continue on US 180

51 mi · 59 min · Holbrook-Springerville Highway
17

At end of road, turn left onto US 180; AZ 61

4.7 mi · 6 min · US 180; AZ 61
18

Turn straight onto US 180; AZ 61

0.2 mi · 43 sec · Commercial Street
19

Turn right onto US 180; US 191

73 ft · 1 sec · White Mountain Drive
20

Arrive at destination

US 180; US 191

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 136.3 miles from Deer Valley, AZ, or about 2h 21m 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 60 miles or 1h 4m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 136.3 miles or 2h 21m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 52m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Johns, 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 272.7 miles and 4h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 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 136.3 mi from Deer Valley, AZ · 2h 21m into the drive

city in Yavapai and Coconino counties in Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sedona, AZ

136 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

Flagstaff, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Flagstaff, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 136.3 miles from Deer Valley, 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 90.6 miles.

Arriving in Saint Johns, AZ

The final approach into Saint Johns, 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 Saint Johns, 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

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...

2 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 near mile 75.2
Caution: High Levels of Visitation
View on nps.gov
Walnut Canyon National Monument

Walnut Canyon National Monument

National Monument

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 ~12 min detour $25 near mile 131.6
View on nps.gov
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

National Monument

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 ~27 min detour $25 near mile 131.6
View on nps.gov
Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park

National Park

A landscape where deep time lies fully on display, Petrified Forest National Park blends colorful badlands, vast grasslands, and one of the world’s largest and most vivid collections of petrified wood...

14 mi from route ~36 min detour $25 near mile 235.1
View on nps.gov
Tuzigoot National Monument

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...

15 mi from route ~37 min detour $10 near mile 75.2
View on nps.gov
Wupatki National Monument

Wupatki National Monument

National Monument

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 ~62 min detour $25 near mile 141
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$54.33 one way

$108.65 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 95 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $57.49 $114.98
premium $5.59 $60.03 $120.05
diesel $5.61 $60.21 $120.42

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$54

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$79–$104

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 95.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 81.8 1 $28.63 $13.09
Efficient EV 68.2 0 $23.86 $10.91
EV Truck/SUV 109.1 1 $38.18 $17.45

Gas CO2

95 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (66% 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

Deer Valley, AZ

Afternoon in Deer Valley on Thursday

Local time

1:27 PM

MST

Current temp

88°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Saint Johns, AZ

Afternoon in Saint Johns on Thursday

Local time

1:27 PM

MST

Current temp

75°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

13 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

4h 51m 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 Saint Johns, AZ covers 272.7 miles and takes about 4h 51m 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, Holbrook-Springerville Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 136.3 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 $54.33 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 272.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 Saint Johns, AZ, road signs point toward Albuquerque and Show Low.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Saint Johns, AZ

Glendale, AZ 229.6 mi · 4h 57m

More from Deer Valley, AZ

Fredonia, AZ 321 mi · 6h 19m Fort Defiance, AZ 318.5 mi · 5h 40m Cottonwood, AZ 292.1 mi · 5h 58m Douglas, AZ 256.3 mi · 4h 53m Naco, AZ 238.8 mi · 4h 33m Bullhead City, AZ 210 mi · 4h 21m

More trips to Saint Johns, AZ

Fort Defiance, AZ 102.7 mi
Overnight trips from Deer Valley, AZ Scenic drives in AZ

Explore more options from Deer Valley, AZ or browse trips ending in Saint Johns, AZ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.

Explore maps for Deer Valley, AZ or Saint Johns, AZ on MapSof.net.