Origin
Flagstaff, AZ
Afternoon in Flagstaff on Sunday
Local time
2:58 PM
MST
Current temp
30°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Flagstaff, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
63 mi
101 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Flagstaff, AZ
Mark Direen
Cottonwood, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ covers 63 miles and takes about 1h 17m 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, East Cornville Road, South Milton Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.5 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.54 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
31.5 miles from Flagstaff, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 17m drive with frequent turns across 63 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 9 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 46.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Milton Road.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ is easy. At 1h 17m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Milton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 48.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.6 miles (CR 30 / East Cornville Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Milton Road
Turn slight left onto South Milton Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
48.4 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward Rimrock, McGuiveville, Lake Montesuma Well, Cornville Road, Dry Beaver Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Rimrock, McGuiveville, Lake Montesuma We...
4
48.6 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
CR 30 / East Cornville Road
Turn left onto CR 30 / East Cornville Road
Navigation decision point
3
63 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
US 89A Historic / South Main Street
Turn left onto US 89A Historic / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
Between Flagstaff, AZ and Cottonwood, AZ, road signs point toward Rimrock, Mcguiveville, Lake Montesuma Well and Dry Beaver Creek.
Rimrock
48.4 mi in
|
~51m
Mcguiveville
48.4 mi in
|
~51m
Lake Montesuma Well
48.4 mi in
|
~51m
Dry Beaver Creek
48.4 mi in
|
~51m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Veterans Highway | 46.5 mi | 47m |
| East Cornville Road | 12.6 mi | 21m |
| South Milton Road | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| Mingus Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| East Mingus Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Historic Route 66 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Arizona Veterans Highway
— 46.5 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Flagstaff, AZ and Cottonwood, AZ.
1
Start on US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist
500 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Historic Route 66
2
Turn slight left onto South Milton Road
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
South Milton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on I 17; AZ 79
46 mi
·
47 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward Rimrock, McGuiveville, Lake Montesuma Well, Cornville Road, Dry Beaver Creek
5
Turn left onto CR 30
13 mi
·
21 min
·
East Cornville Road
6
Continue on Mingus Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Mingus Avenue
7
Continue on East Mingus Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Mingus Avenue
8
Turn left onto US 89A Historic
121 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Main Street
9
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 31.5 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, or about 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.5 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 63 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 31.5 miles or 34m 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
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 Flagstaff, 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 Flagstaff, AZ
This is one driving day of about 63 miles and 1h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Flagstaff, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Arizona Veterans Highway for about 46.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.5 mi from Flagstaff, AZ · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.5 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$12.54 one way
$25.08 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $13.24 | $26.48 |
| premium | $5.59 | $13.86 | $27.72 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $14.00 | $27.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.61 | $3.02 |
| Efficient EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.51 | $2.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.2 | 0 | $8.82 | $4.03 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Cottonwood, AZ
Afternoon in Cottonwood on Sunday
Local time
2:58 PM
MST
Current temp
46°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
16 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 17m 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 Flagstaff, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ covers 63 miles and takes about 1h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Arizona Veterans Highway, East Cornville Road, South Milton Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.5 miles from Flagstaff, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.54 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.
The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ is easy. At 1h 17m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Milton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 48.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.6 miles (CR 30 / East Cornville Road): Navigation decision point.
Between Flagstaff, AZ and Cottonwood, AZ, road signs point toward Rimrock, Mcguiveville, Lake Montesuma Well and Dry Beaver Creek.
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