The drive from Prescott Valley, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ covers 87.3 miles and takes about 1h 38m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Arizona Veterans Highway, Dewey-Copper Canyon Highway, Cordes Junction-Prescott Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 60.9 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.39 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.7 miles from Prescott Valley, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Flagstaff is a city of over 75,000 people (2019) near the San Francisco Peaks mountain range of northern Arizona and the Grand Canyon. At an altitude of 6,990 ft (2,130 m), Flagstaff and much of the surrounding region are substantially cooler than the low desert that dominates the southern part of the state. Though still dry by east coast standards, enough rain and snow falls in the area to allow a forest of ponderosa pine trees to cover the landscape. Winters tend to be cold, and heavy snowfall is expected on an annual basis.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 38m drive with frequent turns across 87.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Arizona Veterans Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 60.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near North Robert Road.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Prescott Valley, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ is easy. At 1h 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (North Robert Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.3 miles (AZ 169 / Dewey-Copper Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 23.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|North Robert Road
Turn left onto North Robert Road
Navigation decision point
3
8.3 mi into trip|~13m in|AZ 169 / Dewey-Copper Canyon Highway
Turn left onto AZ 169 / Dewey-Copper Canyon Highway
Navigation decision point
4
23.5 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
23.9 mi into trip|~31m in|I 17 / Arizona Veterans Highway
The midpoint is around 43.7 miles from Prescott Valley, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Arizona Veterans Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.9 miles.
Arriving in Flagstaff, AZ
The final approach into Flagstaff, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
National Monument
Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff...
Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived and traveled throughout Walnut Canyon’s dynamic landscape. Vibrant communities built their homes in the cliffs and farmed along the canyon’s rim. T...
The lava flow lies on the land like a dream, a wonderland of rock. A thousand years ago the ground was torn open and lava erupted into the sky, forever changing the landscape and the lives of the peop...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
$25
near mile 87.3
Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs that well up from the ancient sedimentary ro...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
$10
near mile 36.1
Nestled between the Painted Desert and ponderosa highlands of northern Arizona, Wupatki National Monument is an unlikely landscape for a thriving community. The early 1100's marked a time of cooler an...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
$25
near mile 87.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.39 one way
$34.78 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$18.41
$36.81
premium
$5.59
$19.22
$38.43
diesel
$5.61
$19.27
$38.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.2
0
$9.17
$4.19
Efficient EV
21.8
0
$7.64
$3.49
EV Truck/SUV
34.9
0
$12.22
$5.59
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Prescott Valley, AZ
Late night
in Prescott Valley on Saturday
Local time
2:52 AM
MST
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Flagstaff, AZ
Late night
in Flagstaff on Saturday
Local time
2:52 AM
MST
Current temp
64°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
6 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 38m 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 Prescott Valley, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ covers 87.3 miles and takes about 1h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Arizona Veterans Highway, Dewey-Copper Canyon Highway, Cordes Junction-Prescott Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.7 miles from Prescott Valley, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.39 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.
The drive from Prescott Valley, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ is easy. At 1h 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (North Robert Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.3 miles (AZ 169 / Dewey-Copper Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 23.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Prescott Valley, AZ to Flagstaff, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
