Origin
Maricopa, AZ
Morning in Maricopa on Monday
Local time
9:42 AM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maricopa, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ
Drive Time
6h 59m
Distance
343.7 mi
553 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$68
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 48m
★
6 AM
7h 0m
8 AM
7h 22m
10 AM
7h 8m
12 PM
7h 5m
3 PM
7h 9m
5 PM
7h 21m
8 PM
6h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maricopa, AZ
Tom Fisk
Cottonwood, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Maricopa, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ covers 343.7 miles and takes about 6h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North John Wayne Parkway, Maricopa Road, West Queen Creek Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $68.40 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
171.9 miles from Maricopa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 29m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 59m drive with frequent turns across 343.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North John Wayne Parkway 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
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 59m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Maricopa, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North John Wayne Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Maricopa Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Queen Creek Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 10 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Maricopa Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Black Canyon Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North John Wayne Parkway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maricopa, AZ and Cottonwood, AZ.
1
Start on North John Wayne Parkway
125 ft
·
4 sec
·
North John Wayne Parkway
2
Continue on North John Wayne Parkway
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North John Wayne Parkway
3
Continue on Maricopa Road
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Maricopa Road
4
Continue on West Queen Creek Road
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Queen Creek Road
5
Turn left onto I 10 West: Phoenix
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10 West: Phoenix
6
Merge slight left onto Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
7
Continue on Maricopa Freeway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
8
Keep slight right to continue on Maricopa Freeway
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
9
Continue on Black Canyon Freeway
41 mi
·
45 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
10
Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
8.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
11
Continue on Arizona Veterans Highway
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
12
Keep slight left to continue on Arizona Veterans Highway
77 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
13
Continue on Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
14
Take the exit slight right toward I 40 East, Albuquerque
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 40 East, Albuquerque
15
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
61 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
16
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 87 North: Second Mesa
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
AZ 87 North: Second Mesa
17
Turn left onto Winslow–Kayenta Highway
39 mi
·
45 min
·
Winslow–Kayenta Highway
18
Continue on AZ 87
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
AZ 87
19
Continue on Winslow–Kayenta Highway
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Winslow–Kayenta Highway
20
At the end of the road, turn right onto Arizona State Highway 264
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Arizona State Highway 264
21
Turn left onto Indian Route 60
6.6 mi
·
16 min
·
Indian Route 60
22
Continue on Hopi Route 65
8.4 mi
·
20 min
·
Hopi Route 65
23
Continue on Navajo Route 65
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Navajo Route 65
24
Continue on Indian Route 65
2.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Indian Route 65
25
Continue on Navajo Route 65
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Navajo Route 65
26
At the end of the road, turn right onto Navajo Route 4
4.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Navajo Route 4
27
Continue on Indian Route 4
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Indian Route 4
28
Continue on Navajo Route 4
6.4 mi
·
15 min
·
Navajo Route 4
29
Turn right
0.3 mi
·
1 min
30
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 171.9 miles from Maricopa, AZ, or about 3h 29m 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 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 171.9 miles or 3h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cottonwood, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Maricopa, 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 Maricopa, AZ
This is one driving day of about 343.7 miles and 6h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Maricopa, 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 171.9 mi from Maricopa, AZ · 3h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
172 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 171.9 miles from Maricopa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cottonwood, AZ
The final approach into Cottonwood, 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 Cottonwood, 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
$68.40 one way
$136.80 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
120 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $72.23 | $144.46 |
| premium | $5.59 | $75.60 | $151.20 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $76.36 | $152.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$68
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$93–$118
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 103.1 | 1 | $36.09 | $16.50 |
| Efficient EV | 85.9 | 0 | $30.07 | $13.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 137.5 | 1 | $48.12 | $22.00 |
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% 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
Cottonwood, AZ
Morning in Cottonwood on Monday
Local time
10:42 AM
MDT
Current temp
40°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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
14 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
6h 59m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Maricopa, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ covers 343.7 miles and takes about 6h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North John Wayne Parkway, Maricopa Road, West Queen Creek Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 171.9 miles from Maricopa, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $68.40 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 59m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Maricopa, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Maricopa, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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