Drive Time
2h 28m
Distance
155.2 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
The drive from Fountain Hills, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ covers 155.2 miles and takes about 2h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East La Montana Drive, North la Montana Drive, North La Montana Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.25 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
77.6 miles from Fountain Hills, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 28m drive with frequent turns across 155.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East La Montana Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North la Montana Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North La Montana Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Arroyo Vista Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Fountain Hills Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Shea Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Pima Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Fountain Hills, AZ and Flagstaff, AZ.
Start on North Hamilton Drive
Turn right onto East La Montana Drive
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North la Montana Drive
Exit the roundabout onto North la Montana Drive
Continue on North La Montana Drive
At the end of the road, turn right onto East Arroyo Vista Drive
At the end of the road, turn left onto North Fountain Hills Boulevard
Turn right onto East Shea Boulevard
Turn right onto North Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard
Turn right onto North Pima Road
Take the ramp straight toward AZ 101 Loop North
Merge slight left onto Pima Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
Keep slight right to continue on I 17 North: Flagstaff
Keep slight left
Merge slight left onto Black Canyon Freeway
Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Continue on Arizona Veterans Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Arizona Veterans Highway
Continue on Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
Continue on Arizona Veterans Highway
Continue on South Milton Road
Continue on West Historic Route 66
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.6 miles or 1h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Flagstaff, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Fountain Hills, 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 Fountain Hills, AZ
This is one driving day of about 155.2 miles and 2h 28m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 77.6 mi from Fountain Hills, AZ · 1h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
78 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 77.6 miles from Fountain Hills, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Flagstaff, 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 Flagstaff, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$30.25 one way
$60.50 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $32.62 | $65.23 |
| premium | $5.57 | $34.01 | $68.02 |
| diesel | $6.37 | $38.90 | $77.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.6 | 0 | $16.30 | $7.45 |
| Efficient EV | 38.8 | 0 | $13.58 | $6.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.1 | 0 | $21.73 | $9.93 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Fountain Hills on Saturday
Local time
5:21 AM
MST
Current temp
57°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Flagstaff on Saturday
Local time
5:21 AM
MST
Current temp
30°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
56°F
Surprise, AZ
78 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Fountain Hills, AZ or browse trips ending in Flagstaff, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.
Explore maps for Fountain Hills, AZ or Flagstaff, AZ on MapSof.net.