Origin
Flagstaff, AZ
Morning in Flagstaff on Thursday
Local time
10:54 AM
MST
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Flagstaff, AZ to Nogales, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 41m
Distance
320.6 mi
516 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$64
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 28m
★
6 AM
5h 41m
8 AM
6h 8m
10 AM
5h 51m
12 PM
5h 48m
3 PM
5h 52m
5 PM
6h 7m
8 PM
5h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Flagstaff, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Nogales, AZ
András Nyemczovszky
Trip Overview
The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Nogales, AZ covers 320.6 miles and takes about 5h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Route 66, South Milton Road, Arizona Veterans Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $63.87 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
160.3 miles from Flagstaff, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 41m. Total distance: 320.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 41m drive with frequent turns across 320.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Route 66 is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 41m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Nogales, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Route 66 | — | — |
| South Milton Road | — | — |
| Arizona Veterans Highway | — | — |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | — | — |
| Black Canyon Freeway | — | — |
| North Black Canyon Highway | — | — |
| Maricopa Freeway | — | — |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Route 66
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Flagstaff, AZ and Nogales, AZ.
1
Start on West Historic Route 66
502 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Historic Route 66
2
Turn slight left onto South Milton Road
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
South Milton Road
3
Continue on Arizona Veterans Highway
94 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
4
Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5
Continue on Black Canyon Freeway
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
6
Continue on North Black Canyon Highway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Black Canyon Highway
7
Continue on Black Canyon Freeway
28 mi
·
32 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
8
Continue on Maricopa Freeway
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
9
Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
10
Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
55 mi
·
55 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
11
Continue on North Freeway
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
North Freeway
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 19 South: Nogales
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 19 South: Nogales
13
Continue on Nogales–Tucson Highway
58 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
Nogales–Tucson Highway
14
Take the exit slight left toward I 19 Business: Grand Avenue
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 19 Business: Grand Avenue
15
Turn left
128 ft
·
8 sec
16
Turn right onto North Morley Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Morley Avenue
17
Turn left onto North Wayside Drive
92 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Wayside Drive
18
Arrive at your 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 160.3 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
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 71 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.3 miles or 2h 50m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nogales, 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 320.6 miles and 5h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Flagstaff, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 160.3 mi from Flagstaff, AZ · 2h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
160 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 71 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 160.3 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Nogales, AZ
The final approach into Nogales, 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 Nogales, 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
$63.87 one way
$127.74 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
112 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $67.59 | $135.18 |
| premium | $5.59 | $70.57 | $141.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $70.78 | $141.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$64
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$89–$114
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 96.2 | 1 | $33.66 | $15.39 |
| Efficient EV | 80.2 | 0 | $28.05 | $12.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 128.2 | 1 | $44.88 | $20.52 |
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
38 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.
Destination
Nogales, AZ
Morning in Nogales on Thursday
Local time
10:54 AM
MST
Current temp
94°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
30 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
5h 41m 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 Flagstaff, AZ to Nogales, AZ covers 320.6 miles and takes about 5h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Route 66, South Milton Road, Arizona Veterans Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 160.3 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 $63.87 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 is a straightforward 5h 41m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Nogales, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Flagstaff, AZ to Nogales, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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