Origin
Phoenix, AZ
Evening in Phoenix on Sunday
Local time
5:51 PM
MST
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Phoenix, AZ to Prescott Valley, AZ
Drive Time
1h 46m
Distance
91.4 mi
147 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 38m
★
6 AM
1h 46m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 50m
3 PM
1h 52m
5 PM
2h 1m
8 PM
1h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Phoenix, AZ
Carter Marchant
Prescott Valley, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
If you are looking to escape the heat and transition from the low desert of Phoenix to the higher elevation of Prescott Valley, this 91.4-mile journey is a straightforward trek. You can easily complete the drive in about 1 hour and 46 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $18 on fuel for the trip, which keeps the costs manageable for a quick getaway. The route primarily utilizes West Washington Street, West Adams Street, and I-17 North to navigate out of the city. Since both your start and end points are located within the Desert Southwest, the transition is smooth and familiar. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that gets you to your destination efficiently.
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
45.7 miles from Phoenix, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate your way out of the metropolitan area before transitioning onto the interstate. While the route covers 91.4 miles, it features a 0% highway share, meaning your focus will be on local roads rather than long, monotonous stretches of freeway. You won't find any extended straightaways here, as the longest uninterrupted stretch on West Washington Street is 0 miles. The experience behind the wheel is hands-on and requires your full attention due to the frequent turns. Prepare for a dynamic driving experience that prioritizes maneuvering through local streets over sustained high-speed cruising.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Washington Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 46m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Washington Street
Depart onto West Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
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.
6
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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, Prescott
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Phoenix, AZ to Prescott Valley, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Prescott along the way.
Prescott
63.8 mi in
|
~1h 11m
|
via AZ 69
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Black Canyon Freeway | 39.4 mi | 43m |
| AZ 69 | 25.6 mi | 30m |
| Arizona Veterans Highway | 13.4 mi | 13m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 8.9 mi | 9m |
| North Robert Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| West Washington Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| West Adams Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Spouse Drive | 0.3 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 Valley, 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
26 mi
·
30 min
·
AZ 69
Toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, Prescott
9
Turn right onto North Robert Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Robert Road
10
Turn right onto East Spouse Drive
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
East Spouse Drive
11
Arrive at destination
East Spouse Drive
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With the drive clocking in under two hours, you don't need to worry about complex stop planning or rest breaks, as you can easily make the trek in one go. Keep your $18 fuel budget in mind and ensure your tank is ready for the climb in elevation. Because this is a turn-heavy route, try to avoid departing during peak local traffic hours to ensure a smoother, more predictable experience. Staying alert is key, as the lack of long, straight highway stretches means you will be actively engaged with the road for the entire 91.4 miles.
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 45.7 miles from Phoenix, AZ, or about 52m 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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.7 miles or 52m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Prescott Valley, 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 91.4 miles and 1h 46m.
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 45.7 mi from Phoenix, AZ · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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 45.7 miles from Phoenix, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Prescott Valley, AZ
The final approach into Prescott Valley, 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 Valley, 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
$18.19 one way
$36.38 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $19.21 | $38.42 |
| premium | $5.59 | $20.10 | $40.21 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $20.31 | $40.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.60 | $4.39 |
| Efficient EV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.00 | $3.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.6 | 0 | $12.80 | $5.85 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Destination
Prescott Valley, AZ
Evening in Prescott Valley on Sunday
Local time
5:51 PM
MST
Current temp
41°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
20 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 46m 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 Valley, AZ covers 91.4 miles and takes about 1h 46m 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 45.7 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 $18.19 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 is a straightforward 1h 46m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; 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.
On the drive from Phoenix, AZ to Prescott Valley, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Prescott along the way.
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