The drive from Holbrook, AZ to Avondale, AZ covers 202.2 miles and takes about 4h 12m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Beeline Highway, Heber Road, Payson-Show Low Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.1 miles on South Beeline Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.28 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
101.1 miles from Holbrook, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 12m. Total distance: 202.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 12m drive with frequent turns across 202.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Beeline Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 73.1 miles.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,554 ft973 ft
Total Climb
2,476 ft
Total Descent
6,581 ft
Highest Point
7,554 ft
~57.8 mi in
Elevation Range
6,581 ft
Notable High Points
7,554 ft at ~57.8 miles+1,007 ft prominence
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 169.5 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 202.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 169.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 169.9 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 181.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
169.5 mi into trip|~3h 32m in
Take the exit toward AZ 202 Loop West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
5
169.9 mi into trip|~3h 33m in|AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
181.9 mi into trip|~3h 47m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 10 West
5
182.9 mi into trip|~3h 48m in|I 10 / Papago Freeway
Merge onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
199.7 mi into trip|~4h 7m in
Take the exit toward Dysart Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 129
Toward Dysart Road
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Beeline Highway
73.1 mi
1h 26m
Heber Road
30.9 mi
36m
Payson-Show Low Highway
24.2 mi
30m
Papago Freeway
16.2 mi
18m
Hwy 260
15.9 mi
22m
Payson-Heber Highway
12.7 mi
17m
Red Mountain Freeway
12 mi
13m
West 3rd Street North
4.9 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
South Beeline Highway
— 73.1 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Holbrook, AZ and Avondale, AZ.
1
Start on I 40 Bus; AZ 77; US 66 Hist
0.2 mi·21 sec·North Navajo Boulevard
2
Continue on US 180; AZ 77
0.5 mi·56 sec·Holbrook-Springerville Highway
3
Continue on AZ 77
1.6 mi·2 min·Show Low-Holbrook Highway
4
Turn right onto AZ 377
31 mi·36 min·Heber Road
5
Turn straight onto AZ 377
2.9 mi·3 min·Heber-Holbrook Highway
6
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 277
4.9 mi·6 min·West 3rd Street North
7
Continue on AZ 277
1.9 mi·3 min·Highway 277
8
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 260
0.2 mi·19 sec·Highway 260
9
Continue on AZ 260
16 mi·22 min·Hwy 260
10
Continue on AZ 260
13 mi·17 min·Payson-Heber Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on AZ 260
24 mi·30 min·Payson-Show Low Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn left onto AZ 87
73 mi·1 hr 26 min·South Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on AZ 87
0.5 mi·47 sec·North Country Club Drive
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
15
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
12 mi·13 min·Red Mountain Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 WestUse the slight left lane.
17
Merge onto I 10
1.3 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
19
Continue on I 10
15 mi·17 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 129Toward Dysart RoadUse the slight right lane.
21
Turn left onto North Dysart Road
1.6 mi·2 min·North Dysart Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Turn right onto East Western Avenue
0.5 mi·56 sec·East Western Avenue
23
Turn right onto North Central Avenue
89 ft·5 sec·North Central Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn right
27 ft·1 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 101.1 miles from Holbrook, AZ, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.1 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 44 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.1 miles or 2h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Avondale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Holbrook, 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 Holbrook, AZ
This is one driving day of about 202.2 miles and 4h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Holbrook, 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 South Beeline Highway for about 73.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 101.1 mi from Holbrook, AZ
· 2h 11m into the drive
The midpoint is around 101.1 miles from Holbrook, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before South Beeline Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.1 miles.
Arriving in Avondale, AZ
The final approach into Avondale, 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 Avondale, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Petrified Forest National Park
National Park
A landscape where deep time lies fully on display, Petrified Forest National Park blends colorful badlands, vast grasslands, and one of the world’s largest and most vivid collections of petrified wood...
Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...
23 mi from route
~59 min detour
$10
near mile 139.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.28 one way
$80.56 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$42.63
$85.26
premium
$5.59
$44.51
$89.02
diesel
$5.61
$44.64
$89.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.7
0
$21.23
$9.71
Efficient EV
50.6
0
$17.69
$8.09
EV Truck/SUV
80.9
1
$28.31
$12.94
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Holbrook, AZ
Evening
in Holbrook on Friday
Local time
8:27 PM
MST
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Avondale, AZ
Evening
in Avondale on Friday
Local time
8:27 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Payson, AZ
101 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
14 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
4h 12m 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 Holbrook, AZ to Avondale, AZ covers 202.2 miles and takes about 4h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Beeline Highway, Heber Road, Payson-Show Low Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 101.1 miles from Holbrook, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.28 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 202.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 169.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 169.9 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 181.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Holbrook, AZ to Avondale, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs. The route ranges from 973 ft to 7,554 ft elevation with about 2,476 ft of total climbing. There is 1 notable high point along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Petrified Forest National Park and Tonto National Monument.
