Origin
Phoenix, AZ
Evening in Phoenix on Sunday
Local time
5:49 PM
MST
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Phoenix, AZ to Prescott, AZ
Drive Time
2h 4m
Distance
101.6 mi
164 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 56m
★
6 AM
2h 5m
8 AM
2h 23m
10 AM
2h 11m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 12m
5 PM
2h 22m
8 PM
2h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Phoenix, AZ
Carter Marchant
Prescott, AZ
Hans D.
Trip Overview
Traveling from Phoenix to Prescott covers 99.6 miles and takes approximately 1 hour and 49 minutes to complete. This journey is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to easily transition from the desert heat of the valley to the higher elevation of the mountains. You will primarily navigate via West Washington Street, West Adams Street, and I-17 North. Budgeting around $19 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire trip. Since the drive is relatively short, you can comfortably complete it in one go without the need for an overnight stay. Both ends of the trip remain firmly within the Desert Southwest, providing a consistent regional feel as you head north.
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
50.8 miles from Phoenix, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention compared to a standard interstate cruise. Although you utilize I-17 North to gain distance, the route is characterized by technical maneuvering rather than long, monotonous highway stretches. Interestingly, the highway share is 0%, meaning you will spend your time navigating local infrastructure rather than sustained high-speed lanes. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on West Washington Street, highlighting the frequent turns you will encounter. Transitioning from the city streets to the winding path toward Prescott keeps the driving experience engaging and dynamic throughout the nearly two-hour journey.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 39.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Black Canyon Freeway and AZ 69. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near West Washington Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 101.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 1 miles (West Washington Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles (I 17; US 60 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
West Washington Street
Keep slight right at fork onto West Washington Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 17 North, US 60 West: Flagstaff
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 17 North, US 60 West: Flagstaff
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 17; US 60 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge onto I 17; US 60 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
63.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
AZ 69
Keep slight right at fork onto AZ 69 toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, Prescott
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, Prescott
5
101.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m in
|
East Goodwin Street
Turn right onto East Goodwin Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Black Canyon Freeway | 39.4 mi | 43m |
| AZ 69 | 31.9 mi | 41m |
| Arizona Veterans Highway | 13.4 mi | 13m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 8.9 mi | 9m |
| Prescott Lakes Parkway | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Prescott–Ash Fork Highway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| West Washington Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| East Gurley Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Black Canyon Freeway
— 39.4 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Phoenix, AZ and Prescott, AZ.
1
Start on West Washington Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
2
Keep slight right at fork onto West Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
West Washington Street
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on West Adams Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Adams Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 17 North, US 60 West: Flagstaff
5
Merge onto I 17; US 60
39 mi
·
43 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 17
8.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 17
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto AZ 69
32 mi
·
41 min
·
AZ 69
Toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, Prescott
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto Prescott Lakes Parkway
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Prescott Lakes Parkway
10
Enter roundabout onto Prescott Lakes Parkway
138 ft
·
2 sec
·
Prescott Lakes Parkway
11
Continue on Prescott Lakes Parkway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Prescott Lakes Parkway
12
Turn left onto AZ 89
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Prescott–Ash Fork Highway
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
1 min
14
Turn straight onto AZ 89
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Gurley Street
15
Turn left onto South Marina Street
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
South Marina Street
16
Turn right onto East Goodwin Street
345 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Goodwin Street
17
Arrive at destination
East Goodwin Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact 99.6-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility when planning your departure time. Aim to leave Phoenix during off-peak hours to avoid heavy traffic on local city streets like West Washington and West Adams, which could otherwise inflate your 1 hour and 49 minute travel time. Because the drive is short, you likely won't need to plan for scheduled stops, but keep your $19 fuel budget in mind for a quick top-off before you leave the city. Focus on the frequent turns ahead, as the lack of long highway stretches means you will be actively steering for the duration of the trip. Enjoy the ease of a quick getaway that gets you to your destination without the fatigue of a multi-day haul.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.8 miles from Phoenix, AZ, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.4 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 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.8 miles or 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Prescott, 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 101.6 miles and 2h 4m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Black Canyon Freeway for about 39.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50.8 mi from Phoenix, AZ · 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 50.8 miles from Phoenix, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Prescott, AZ
The final approach into Prescott, 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 Prescott, 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
$20.22 one way
$40.44 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $21.35 | $42.70 |
| premium | $5.59 | $22.35 | $44.70 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $22.57 | $45.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.5 | 0 | $10.67 | $4.88 |
| Efficient EV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.89 | $4.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.6 | 0 | $14.22 | $6.50 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
Prescott, AZ
Evening in Prescott on Sunday
Local time
5:49 PM
MST
Current temp
42°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
19 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
2h 4m 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 Phoenix, AZ to Prescott, AZ covers 101.6 miles and takes about 2h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Black Canyon Freeway, AZ 69, Arizona Veterans Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.8 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 $20.22 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 101.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 1 miles (West Washington Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles (I 17; US 60 / Black Canyon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Phoenix, AZ to Prescott, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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