Origin
Fort Defiance, AZ
Evening in Fort Defiance on Sunday
Local time
5:11 PM
MDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Defiance, AZ to Peoria, AZ
Drive Time
5h 2m
Distance
330.1 mi
531 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$66
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 49m
★
6 AM
5h 3m
8 AM
5h 30m
10 AM
5h 12m
12 PM
5h 10m
3 PM
5h 14m
5 PM
5h 28m
8 PM
4h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Defiance, AZ
Mark Direen
Peoria, AZ
Boris Hamer
Trip Overview
The drive from Fort Defiance, AZ to Peoria, AZ covers 330.1 miles and takes about 5h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Kit Carson Drive, Route 12, Highway 264 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $65.70 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
165.1 miles from Fort Defiance, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 2m drive with frequent turns across 330.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Kit Carson Drive 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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 2m 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 Fort Defiance, AZ to Peoria, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kit Carson Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Route 12 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 264 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Purple Heart Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 17 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 17 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Arizona Veterans Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Kit Carson Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Defiance, AZ and Peoria, AZ.
1
Start on Old Red Lake Road
56 ft
·
8 sec
·
Old Red Lake Road
2
Turn left onto Kit Carson Drive
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Kit Carson Drive
3
Continue on Navajo Route 12
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Navajo Route 12
4
Turn right onto Arizona State Highway 264
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Arizona State Highway 264
5
Turn left onto Navajo Route 12
24 mi
·
33 min
·
Navajo Route 12
6
Take the ramp right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
7
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
161 mi
·
2 hr 42 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 17 South, AZ 89A North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 17 South, AZ 89A North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 17, AZ 89A South: Sedona, Phoenix
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
I 17, AZ 89A South: Sedona, Phoenix
10
Merge slight left onto Arizona Veterans Highway
93 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
11
Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
12
Continue on Black Canyon Freeway
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
13
Continue on North Black Canyon Highway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Black Canyon Highway
14
Continue on Black Canyon Freeway
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
15
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 101 Loop West, AZ 101 Loop East
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
AZ 101 Loop West, AZ 101 Loop East
16
Keep slight right to continue on AZ 101 Loop West
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
AZ 101 Loop West
17
Merge slight left onto Agua Fria Freeway
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Agua Fria Freeway
18
Take the exit slight right toward 91st Avenue, Grand Avenue, Cactus Road, Surprise
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
91st Avenue, Grand Avenue, Cactus Road, Surprise
19
Continue on North 91st Avenue
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
North 91st Avenue
20
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Grand Avenue
21
Turn right onto North 83rd Avenue
230 ft
·
37 sec
·
North 83rd Avenue
22
Continue on North 83rd Avenue
79 ft
·
3 sec
·
North 83rd Avenue
23
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 165.1 miles from Fort Defiance, AZ, or about 2h 31m 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 80 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 165.1 miles or 2h 31m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Peoria, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Defiance, 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 Fort Defiance, AZ
This is one driving day of about 330.1 miles and 5h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fort Defiance, 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 165.1 mi from Fort Defiance, AZ · 2h 31m into the drive
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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 165.1 miles from Fort Defiance, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Peoria, AZ
The final approach into Peoria, 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 Peoria, 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
$65.70 one way
$131.39 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
116 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $69.37 | $138.75 |
| premium | $5.59 | $72.61 | $145.22 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $73.34 | $146.67 |
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: 115.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 99 | 1 | $34.66 | $15.84 |
| Efficient EV | 82.5 | 0 | $28.88 | $13.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 132 | 1 | $46.21 | $21.13 |
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
39 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
Peoria, AZ
Afternoon in Peoria on Sunday
Local time
4:11 PM
MST
Current temp
59°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
25 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 2m 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 Fort Defiance, AZ to Peoria, AZ covers 330.1 miles and takes about 5h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kit Carson Drive, Route 12, Highway 264. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 165.1 miles from Fort Defiance, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $65.70 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 2m 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 Fort Defiance, AZ to Peoria, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fort Defiance, AZ to Peoria, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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