Origin
San Tan Valley, AZ
Late night in San Tan Valley on Friday
Local time
3:37 AM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Tan Valley, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 1m
Distance
193.1 mi
311 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 50m
★
6 AM
3h 1m
8 AM
3h 24m
10 AM
3h 9m
12 PM
3h 7m
3 PM
3h 11m
5 PM
3h 23m
8 PM
2h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Tan Valley, AZ
Mark Direen
Flagstaff, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from San Tan Valley, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ covers 193.1 miles and takes about 3h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Schnepf Road, East Combs Road, North Gantzel Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.47 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
96.6 miles from San Tan Valley, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 1m. Total distance: 193.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 1m drive with frequent turns across 193.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Schnepf Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from San Tan Valley, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ is easy. At 3h 1m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Tan Valley, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Schnepf Road | — | — |
| East Combs Road | — | — |
| North Gantzel Road | — | — |
| North Ironwood Road | — | — |
| Gateway Expressway | — | — |
| Gateway Freeway | — | — |
| AZ 202 | — | — |
| Santan Freeway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Schnepf Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Tan Valley, AZ and Flagstaff, AZ.
1
Start on East Skyline Drive
151 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Skyline Drive
2
Continue on North Schnepf Road
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North Schnepf Road
3
Turn left onto East Combs Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East Combs Road
4
Turn right onto North Gantzel Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Gantzel Road
5
Continue on North Ironwood Road
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
North Ironwood Road
6
Turn left onto Gateway Expressway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Gateway Expressway
7
Continue straight
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
8
Continue straight
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
9
Continue on Gateway Freeway
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Gateway Freeway
10
Continue straight
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
11
Continue straight
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
12
Continue on Gateway Freeway
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
Gateway Freeway
13
Continue straight
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
14
Continue straight
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
15
Continue on Gateway Freeway
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Gateway Freeway
16
Keep slight right to continue on AZ 202 Loop North
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
AZ 202 Loop North
17
Merge slight left onto Santan Freeway
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Santan Freeway
18
Take the exit slight right toward US 60 West: Phoenix
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
US 60 West: Phoenix
19
Merge slight left onto Superstition Freeway
17 mi
·
20 min
·
Superstition Freeway
20
Keep slight left to continue on I 10 North
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 10 North
21
Merge slight left onto Maricopa Freeway
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
22
Keep slight right to continue on Maricopa Freeway
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
23
Continue on Black Canyon Freeway
41 mi
·
45 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
24
Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
8.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
25
Continue on Arizona Veterans Highway
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
26
Keep slight left to continue on Arizona Veterans Highway
77 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
27
Continue on Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
28
Continue on Arizona Veterans Highway
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
29
Continue on South Milton Road
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
South Milton Road
30
Continue on West Historic Route 66
449 ft
·
14 sec
·
West Historic Route 66
31
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 96.6 miles from San Tan Valley, AZ, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
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 42 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.6 miles or 1h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Flagstaff, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Tan Valley, 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 San Tan Valley, AZ
This is one driving day of about 193.1 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from San Tan Valley, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 96.6 mi from San Tan Valley, AZ · 1h 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 96.6 miles from San Tan Valley, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Flagstaff, 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
$38.47 one way
$76.94 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $40.71 | $81.42 |
| premium | $5.59 | $42.50 | $85.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.63 | $85.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.9 | 0 | $20.28 | $9.27 |
| Efficient EV | 48.3 | 0 | $16.90 | $7.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.2 | 0 | $27.03 | $12.36 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Flagstaff, AZ
Late night in Flagstaff on Friday
Local time
3:37 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
26 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
3h 1m 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 San Tan Valley, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ covers 193.1 miles and takes about 3h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Schnepf Road, East Combs Road, North Gantzel Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 96.6 miles from San Tan Valley, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.47 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from San Tan Valley, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ is easy. At 3h 1m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Tan Valley, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from San Tan Valley, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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