Origin
Glendale, AZ
Afternoon in Glendale on Thursday
Local time
12:21 PM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Glendale, AZ to Cordes Lakes, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
62.6 mi
101 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Glendale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Cordes Lakes, AZ
Emilio Sánchez Hernández
Trip Overview
This straightforward 62.6-mile drive from Glendale, AZ to Cordes Lakes, AZ takes about 1 hour and 16 minutes. It's a perfect day trip, easily completed in a single outing with no need to split the journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $12, making it an economical option for exploring the Desert Southwest. The route primarily utilizes major roadways, offering a consistent driving experience throughout. With no scheduled stops, you can complete this trip quickly and efficiently, focusing on your destination.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 62.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with 52% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on the Black Canyon Freeway, Arizona Veterans Highway, and Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway. The longest uninterrupted drive is 32 miles on the Black Canyon Freeway, providing a good opportunity to settle in. The road character is generally consistent, without significant shifts between different types of terrain or road surfaces.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Black Canyon Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 32 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near West Myrtle Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.6 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (West Myrtle Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.5 miles (North 59th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (West Northern Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Myrtle Avenue
Turn sharp right onto West Myrtle Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North 59th Avenue
Turn left onto North 59th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
West Northern Avenue
Turn right onto West Northern Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
5.9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge onto I 17 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
60.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
AZ 69
Keep slight right at fork onto AZ 69 toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, Prescott
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, Prescott
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Black Canyon Freeway | 32 mi | 34m |
| Arizona Veterans Highway | 13.4 mi | 13m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 8.9 mi | 9m |
| West Northern Avenue | 4.2 mi | 8m |
| Stagecoach Trail | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| North 59th Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Black Mountain Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Grand Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Black Canyon Freeway
— 32 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glendale, AZ and Cordes Lakes, AZ.
1
Start on US 60
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Grand Avenue
2
Turn sharp right onto West Myrtle Avenue
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
West Myrtle Avenue
3
Turn left onto North 59th Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North 59th Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto West Northern Avenue
4.2 mi
·
8 min
·
West Northern Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Turn slight left
439 ft
·
18 sec
6
Turn straight onto North Black Canyon Highway
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
North Black Canyon Highway
7
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
8
Merge onto I 17
32 mi
·
34 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 17
8.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 17
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto AZ 69
0.3 mi
·
16 sec
·
AZ 69
Toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, Prescott
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward Cordes Lakes Rd
13
Enter roundabout onto Cordes Lakes Road
1 ft
·
0 sec
·
Cordes Lakes Road
14
Continue on Cordes Lakes Road
366 ft
·
12 sec
·
Cordes Lakes Road
15
Turn right onto Stagecoach Trail
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Stagecoach Trail
16
Turn right onto South Black Mountain Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Black Mountain Road
17
Turn left onto East Ash Creek Road
137 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Ash Creek Road
18
Arrive at destination
East Ash Creek Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.3 mi from Glendale, AZ · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.3 miles from Glendale, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cordes Lakes, AZ
The final approach into Cordes Lakes, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.47 one way
$24.94 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $13.20 | $26.40 |
| premium | $5.59 | $13.78 | $27.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.82 | $27.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.57 | $3.00 |
| Efficient EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.48 | $2.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25 | 0 | $8.76 | $4.01 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Cordes Lakes, AZ
Afternoon in Cordes Lakes on Thursday
Local time
12:21 PM
MST
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
12 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
1h 16m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Glendale, AZ to Cordes Lakes, AZ covers 62.6 miles and takes about 1h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Black Canyon Freeway, Arizona Veterans Highway, Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.3 miles from Glendale, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.47 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.6 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (West Myrtle Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.5 miles (North 59th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (West Northern Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Glendale, AZ to Cordes Lakes, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Montezuma Castle National Monument.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Cordes Lakes, AZ
More trips to Cordes Lakes, AZ
Explore more options from Glendale, AZ or browse trips ending in Cordes Lakes, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.
Explore maps for Glendale, AZ or Cordes Lakes, AZ on MapSof.net.