Trip from Phoenix, AZ to Ganado, AZ

Drive Time

5h 39m

Distance

271.6 mi

437 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$54

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 27m ★

6 AM

5h 40m

8 AM

6h 6m

10 AM

5h 49m

12 PM

5h 47m

3 PM

5h 51m

5 PM

6h 5m

8 PM

5h 32m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Phoenix, AZ

Carter Marchant

Ganado, AZ

Denitsa Kireva

Trip Overview

Traveling from Phoenix to Ganado covers 271.6 miles and requires approximately 5 hours and 39 minutes of time behind the wheel. Given the duration, this route is best suited for a single-day trip, though you should prepare for a significant amount of seat time. Budgeting around $53 for fuel will help you keep your logistics on track. You will navigate through the Desert Southwest, transitioning from the Phoenix metro area toward the interior of Arizona. Because the route involves turn-heavy local driving, it demands more focus than a simple interstate cruise. Planning for at least one stop will ensure you stay alert throughout this desert transition.

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

135.8 miles from Phoenix, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a route that feels like a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate sprint. You will spend time on North 7th Avenue and I-10 East, including a passage through the Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel, but the lack of a high highway percentage defines the experience. There is no significant longest stretch on this journey, meaning you will be managing frequent adjustments rather than settling into a monotonous cruise. As you depart the city, the road demands your constant attention due to its technical nature. This is an active driving experience that requires you to stay engaged with the road conditions from start to finish.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Beeline Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 68.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near North 7th Avenue.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 271.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (North 7th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.7 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | North 7th Avenue

Turn right onto North 7th Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

3.6 mi into trip | ~5m in | Red Mountain Freeway

Take the exit onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 147 Toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East

3.7 mi into trip | ~6m in | Red Mountain Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 202 Loop East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 147A Toward AZ 202 Loop East

4 mi into trip | ~6m in | Red Mountain Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 202 Loop East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 147A Toward AZ 202 Loop East

16.5 mi into trip | ~21m in

Take the exit toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Payson

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 13 Toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Payson

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Phoenix, AZ to Ganado, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Payson along the way.

Payson

16.5 mi in | ~21m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Beeline Highway	68.4 mi	1h 20m
AZ 260	53 mi	1h 11m
Purple Heart Trail	45.7 mi	45m
Chambers-Mexican Water Highway	37.9 mi	56m
Heber Road	30.9 mi	36m
Red Mountain Freeway	12.9 mi	15m
West 3rd Street North	4.9 mi	6m
North Beeline Highway	4.5 mi	5m

Longest stretch: Beeline Highway — 68.4 mi, about 1h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Phoenix, AZ and Ganado, AZ.

Start on West Washington Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Washington Street

Use the straight / left lanes.

Turn right onto North 7th Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · North 7th Avenue

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 46 sec

Toward I 10 East: Tucson

Merge onto I 10

0.5 mi · 31 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

Continue on I 10

1.4 mi · 1 min · Papago Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto Red Mountain Freeway

0.1 mi · 7 sec · Red Mountain Freeway

Exit 147 Toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Red Mountain Freeway

Exit 147A Toward AZ 202 Loop East

Keep slight left at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway

12 mi · 14 min · Red Mountain Freeway

Exit 147A Toward AZ 202 Loop East Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec

Exit 13 Toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Payson Use the slight right lane.

Turn left onto AZ 87

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Country Club Drive

Continue on AZ 87

4.5 mi · 5 min · North Beeline Highway

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Continue on AZ 87

68 mi · 1 hr 20 min · Beeline Highway

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto AZ 260

53 mi · 1 hr 11 min · AZ 260

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto AZ 277

1.9 mi · 3 min · Highway 277

Continue on AZ 277

4.9 mi · 6 min · West 3rd Street North

Turn left onto AZ 377

2.9 mi · 3 min · Heber-Holbrook Highway

Turn straight onto AZ 377

31 mi · 36 min · Heber Road

Turn left onto AZ 77

1.6 mi · 2 min · Show Low-Holbrook Highway

Continue on US 180; AZ 77

0.5 mi · 56 sec · Holbrook-Springerville Highway

Continue on US 180; AZ 77

0.9 mi · 1 min · Navajo Boulevard

Take the exit onto AZ 77

0.6 mi · 1 min · AZ 77

Merge onto I 40; AZ 77

46 mi · 45 min · Purple Heart Trail

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 38 sec

Toward US 191 North: Ganado

Turn left onto US 191

38 mi · 56 min · Chambers-Mexican Water Highway

Continue on N9021

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Post Office Road

Arrive at destination

N9021

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 5-hour and 39-minute journey, try to depart early in the morning to beat the initial traffic congestion of Phoenix. Since the drive is quite long, plan at least one strategic stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep your $53 fuel budget in mind as you move away from urban gas pricing toward more remote areas. Because this is a turn-heavy route, be prepared for a slower pace than you might expect on major interstate highways. Prioritize comfort and hydration, as the dry climate of the Desert Southwest can be taxing even on shorter drives.

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 135.8 miles from Phoenix, AZ, or about 2h 50m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.4 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 80 miles or 1h 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 135.8 miles or 2h 50m 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 31m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ganado, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Phoenix, 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 Phoenix, AZ

This is one driving day of about 271.6 miles and 5h 39m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Phoenix, 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 Beeline Highway for about 68.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 135.8 mi from Phoenix, AZ · 2h 50m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Payson, AZ

136 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

Payson, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Payson, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 135.8 miles from Phoenix, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Beeline Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68.4 miles.

Arriving in Ganado, AZ

The final approach into Ganado, 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 Ganado, 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

$54.05 one way

$108.11 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 95 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.34	$57.08	$114.16
premium	$5.59	$59.74	$119.48
diesel	$5.64	$60.34	$120.68

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$54

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$79–$104

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 95 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	81.5	1	$28.52	$13.04
Efficient EV	67.9	0	$23.77	$10.86
EV Truck/SUV	108.6	1	$38.02	$17.38

Gas CO2

95 kg

EV CO2

32 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Phoenix, AZ

Afternoon in Phoenix on Sunday

Local time

3:33 PM

MST

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ganado, AZ

Afternoon in Ganado on Sunday

Local time

4:33 PM

MDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

43°F

Payson, AZ

136 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

1 hour later

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

23 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

5h 39m 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 Phoenix, AZ to Ganado, AZ covers 271.6 miles and takes about 5h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Beeline Highway, AZ 260, Purple Heart Trail. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 135.8 miles from Phoenix, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $54.05 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.