Origin
Flagstaff, AZ
Afternoon in Flagstaff on Saturday
Local time
1:17 PM
MST
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Flagstaff, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 51m
Distance
329 mi
530 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$66
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 39m
★
6 AM
5h 52m
8 AM
6h 18m
10 AM
6h 1m
12 PM
5h 58m
3 PM
6h 2m
5 PM
6h 17m
8 PM
5h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Flagstaff, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Sierra Vista, AZ
Leslie del Moral
Trip Overview
The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ covers 329 miles and takes about 5h 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, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Tucson-Benson Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 93.9 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $65.54 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
164.5 miles from Flagstaff, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 54m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Veterans Highway | 93.9 mi | 1h 34m |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.6 mi | 55m |
| Tucson-Benson Highway | 41.4 mi | 43m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 38.4 mi | 42m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 37.8 mi | 38m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 16.3 mi | 18m |
| State Route 90 | 14.9 mi | 17m |
| Huachuca Boulevard | 9.1 mi | 10m |
Longest stretch:
Arizona Veterans Highway
— 93.9 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Flagstaff, AZ and Sierra Vista, 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
94 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
4
Continue on I 17
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 17
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on I 17
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
7
Continue on I 17
28 mi
·
32 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 17; US 60
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
55 mi
·
55 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 10
41 mi
·
43 min
·
Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 302
Toward AZ 90 East: Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista
14
Turn right onto AZ 90
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South State Highway 90
15
Continue on AZ 90
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Huachuca Boulevard
16
Continue on AZ 90
12 mi
·
14 min
·
State Route 90
17
Continue on AZ 90
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Huachuca Boulevard
18
Continue on AZ 90
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 90
19
Continue on Buffalo Soldier Trail
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Buffalo Soldier Trail
20
Continue on Buffalo Solder Trail
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Buffalo Solder Trail
21
Turn straight onto Buffalo Soldier Trail
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Buffalo Soldier Trail
22
Turn left onto West Fry Boulevard
380 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Fry Boulevard
23
Continue on West Fry Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
West Fry Boulevard
24
Turn left
59 ft
·
4 sec
25
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 164.5 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, or about 2h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.9 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 72 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.5 miles or 2h 54m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sierra Vista, 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 329 miles and 5h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 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.
The longest stretch is on Arizona Veterans Highway for about 93.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
165 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 72 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 164.5 miles from Flagstaff, 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 93.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 329 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
6
299.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 13m in
Take the exit toward AZ 90 East: Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 302
Toward AZ 90 East: Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista
3
300 mi into trip
|
~5h 15m in
|
AZ 90 / South State Highway 90
Turn right onto AZ 90 / South State Highway 90
Navigation decision point
4
328.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 51m in
|
West Fry Boulevard
Turn left onto West Fry Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
329 mi into trip
|
~5h 51m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$65.54 one way
$131.08 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
115 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $69.36 | $138.72 |
| premium | $5.59 | $72.42 | $144.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $72.64 | $145.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 98.7 | 1 | $34.55 | $15.79 |
| Efficient EV | 82.3 | 0 | $28.79 | $13.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 131.6 | 1 | $46.06 | $21.06 |
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 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
Sierra Vista, AZ
Afternoon in Sierra Vista on Saturday
Local time
1:17 PM
MST
Current temp
51°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
5h 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
$10
near mile 45.4
Caution: High Levels of Visitation
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
$25
View on nps.gov
Saguaro National Park
National Park
Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are pr...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
$25
near mile 272.3
View on nps.gov
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 192.9
View on nps.gov
Coronado National Memorial
National Memorial
It was a journey of conquest filled with exploration, wonder - and cruelty. Inspired by tales of vast cities of gold, 339 European soldiers and over a thousand Aztec allies embarked on an epic journey...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 329
View on nps.gov
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...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
$25
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
329 mi in 5h 51m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.9 mi on Arizona Veterans Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Milton Road.
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 51m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Milton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 299.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 300 miles (AZ 90 / South State Highway 90): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,900 ft
1,058 ft
Total Climb
3,580 ft
Total Descent
5,843 ft
Highest Point
6,900 ft
Elevation Range
5,843 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Flagstaff, AZ
Full guide →Flagstaff is a city of over 75,000 people (2019) near the San Francisco Peaks mountain range of northern Arizona and the Grand Canyon. At an altitude of 6,990 ft (2,130 m), Flagstaff and much of the surrounding region are substantially cooler than the low desert that dominates the southern part of the state. Though still dry by east coast standards, enough rain and snow falls in the area to allow a forest of ponderosa pine trees to cover the landscape. Winters tend to be cold, and heavy snowfall is expected on an annual basis.
Arriving in Sierra Vista, AZ
Full guide →Sierra Vista (Spanish: Mountain View) is a city in Southeast Arizona and the commercial hub of the region, making it a convenient base from which to explore the area. It is perhaps best known for historic Fort Huachuca, established in 1877 during the Apache Wars. Although still an active U.S. Army military base, its two military museums and historic cemetery are open to the general public. The landscape around the city is typical for the Southwestern United States, and the nearby mountains and canyons can be explored on foot, by bike, or on horseback. Because it is a major stopover point on avian migration routes, the area is popular with avid birdwatchers and naturalists, and is known as the "Hummingbird Capital of America".
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 51m. Total distance: 329 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (23%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.9 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Milton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 299.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 300 miles (AZ 90 / South State Highway 90): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Montezuma Castle National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument and Saguaro National Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sierra Vista, AZ before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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