Petrified Forest National Park
National Park
A landscape where deep time lies fully on display, Petrified Forest National Park blends colorful badlands, vast grasslands, and one of the world’s largest and most vivid collections of petrified wood...
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5h 36m
Distance
274 mi
441 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$70
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
11 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chandler, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
The drive from Saint Michaels, AZ to Chandler, AZ covers 274 miles and takes about 5h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Beeline Highway, Purple Heart Trail, Heber Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.1 miles on South Beeline Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $69.56 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
137 miles from Saint Michaels, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 36m drive with frequent turns across 274 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near N12 / Navajo Route 12.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 36m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (N12 / Navajo Route 12): Navigation decision point; at 92.8 miles (AZ 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 130.3 miles (AZ 277 / West 3rd Street North): Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto N12 / Navajo Route 12
Navigation decision point
Take the exit onto AZ 77 toward I 40 Business, AZ 77 South, AZ 377 South, US 180 East: Show Low, Heber
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 277 / West 3rd Street North
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 260 / Highway 260
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway
Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Saint Michaels, AZ to Chandler, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Heber along the way.
Heber
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Beeline Highway | 73.1 mi | 1h 26m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 69.9 mi | 1h 9m |
| Heber Road | 30.9 mi | 36m |
| Payson-Show Low Highway | 24.2 mi | 30m |
| Navajo Route 12 | 22.6 mi | 31m |
| Hwy 260 | 15.9 mi | 22m |
| Payson-Heber Highway | 12.7 mi | 17m |
| North Country Club Drive | 6.8 mi | 12m |
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Michaels, AZ and Chandler, AZ.
Start on this road
Turn right onto N12
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 40
Take the exit onto AZ 77
Turn left onto I 40 Bus; AZ 77; US 66 Hist
Continue on US 180; AZ 77
Continue on AZ 77
Turn right onto AZ 377
Turn straight onto AZ 377
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 277
Continue on AZ 277
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 260
Continue on AZ 260
Continue on AZ 260
Continue on AZ 260
Turn left onto AZ 87
Continue on AZ 87
Continue on AZ 87
Turn left onto East Chandler Boulevard
Arrive at destination
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.
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 137 miles or 2h 39m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chandler, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Saint Michaels, 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 Saint Michaels, AZ
This is one driving day of about 274 miles and 5h 36m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 137 mi from Saint Michaels, AZ · 2h 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 137 miles from Saint Michaels, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South Beeline Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.1 miles.
The final approach into Chandler, 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 Chandler, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Park
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$69.56 one way
$139.11 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $73.45 | $146.90 |
| premium | $5.59 | $76.88 | $153.75 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $77.65 | $155.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
EV Charging Along Route
11 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Burger King Holbrook - Tesla Supercharger
Holbrook, AZ
12 DCFC
Payson Village - Tesla Supercharger
Payson, AZ
12 DCFC
Camelback Miller Plaza - Tesla Supercharger
Scottsdale, AZ
12 DCFC
Holbrook, AZ
Holbrook, AZ
6 DCFC
Ridgeview Plaza (PHX)
Mesa, AZ
6 DCFC
APS - Payson (Payson, AZ)
Payson, AZ
4 DCFC
CircleK - Payson
Payson, AZ
4 DCFC
CHAPMAN FORD POWER LINK N
Scottsdale, AZ
2 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.2 | 1 | $28.77 | $13.15 |
| Efficient EV | 68.5 | 0 | $23.97 | $10.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.6 | 1 | $38.36 | $17.54 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Saint Michaels on Monday
Local time
8:26 AM
MDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Chandler on Monday
Local time
7:26 AM
MST
Current temp
91°F
Unavailable
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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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