Origin
Phoenix, AZ
Morning in Phoenix on Friday
Local time
11:31 AM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Phoenix, AZ to Black Canyon City, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
46 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Phoenix, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Black Canyon City, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Phoenix, AZ to Black Canyon City, AZ covers 46 miles and takes about 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Black Canyon Freeway, Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway, South Old Black Canyon Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 39.4 miles on Black Canyon Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.16 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 46 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 54m highway drive covering 46 miles, with most of the trip on Black Canyon Freeway and Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 39.4 miles on Black Canyon Freeway.
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 Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near West Washington Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 46 miles you will encounter 8 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 8 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
44.1 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward Rock Springs, Black Canyon City
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 242
Toward Rock Springs, Black Canyon City
5
44.4 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
Rock Springs Road
Turn left onto Rock Springs Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Black Canyon Freeway | 39.4 mi | 43m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 2.6 mi | 2m |
| South Old Black Canyon Highway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West Washington Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| West Adams Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Rock Springs Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Palm Lane | 0.1 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 Black Canyon City, 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
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 242
Toward Rock Springs, Black Canyon City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto Rock Springs Road
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Rock Springs Road
9
At end of road, turn right onto South Old Black Canyon Highway
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Old Black Canyon Highway
10
Turn right onto East Palm Lane
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Palm Lane
11
Arrive at destination
East Palm Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23 mi from Phoenix, AZ · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23 miles from Phoenix, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Black Canyon City, AZ
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Black Canyon City, AZ if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.16 one way
$18.33 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $9.70 | $19.40 |
| premium | $5.59 | $10.13 | $20.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.16 | $20.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.44 | $2.94 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Black Canyon City, AZ
Morning in Black Canyon City on Friday
Local time
11:31 AM
MST
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
35 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
54m 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 Black Canyon City, AZ covers 46 miles and takes about 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Black Canyon Freeway, Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway, South Old Black Canyon 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 23 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 $9.16 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 46 miles you will encounter 8 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 Black Canyon City, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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