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Trip from Flagstaff, AZ to Tanque Verde, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 55m

Distance

269.3 mi

433 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 42m ★
6 AM
4h 56m
8 AM
5h 23m
10 AM
5h 5m
12 PM
5h 3m
3 PM
5h 7m
5 PM
5h 22m
8 PM
4h 48m

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

city in and county seat of Coconino County, Arizona, United States

Flagstaff, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Tanque Verde, AZ, AZ

Tanque Verde, AZ

Hans D.

Trip Overview

The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Tanque Verde, AZ covers 269.3 miles and takes about 4h 55m 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 $53.65 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

134.6 miles from Flagstaff, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 27m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 55m. Total distance: 269.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 55m 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 4h 55m drive with frequent turns across 269.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 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 4h 55m 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 Tanque Verde, 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 Tanque Verde, 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

1.5 mi · 1 min · North Freeway
12

Take the exit slight right toward Grant Road

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Grant Road
13

Continue on North Freeway Road

482 ft · 10 sec · North Freeway Road
14

Turn left onto West Grant Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · West Grant Road
15

Continue on East Grant Road

7.2 mi · 14 min · East Grant Road
16

Turn left onto East Tanque Verde Road

7.0 mi · 12 min · East Tanque Verde Road
17

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 134.6 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, or about 2h 27m 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 59 miles or 1h 4m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 134.6 miles or 2h 27m 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 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tanque Verde, 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 269.3 miles and 4h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 134.6 mi from Flagstaff, AZ · 2h 27m into the drive

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Surprise, AZ

135 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

Prescott Valley, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Surprise, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 134.6 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Tanque Verde, AZ

The final approach into Tanque Verde, 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 Tanque Verde, 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

$53.65 one way

$107.30 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 94 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $56.78 $113.55
premium $5.59 $59.28 $118.56
diesel $5.61 $59.46 $118.92

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: 94.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 80.8 0 $28.28 $12.93
Efficient EV 67.3 0 $23.56 $10.77
EV Truck/SUV 107.7 1 $37.70 $17.24

Gas CO2

94 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

Flagstaff, AZ

Afternoon in Flagstaff on Thursday

Local time

1:05 PM

MST

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tanque Verde, AZ

Afternoon in Tanque Verde on Thursday

Local time

1:05 PM

MST

Current temp

54°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

10 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 55m 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 Tanque Verde, AZ covers 269.3 miles and takes about 4h 55m 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 134.6 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 $53.65 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 4h 55m 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 Tanque Verde, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Flagstaff, AZ to Tanque Verde, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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