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...
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 40m
Distance
174.9 mi
282 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scottsdale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Holbrook, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Holbrook, AZ covers 174.9 miles and takes about 3h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Beeline Highway, AZ 260, Heber Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 68.4 miles on Beeline Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.09 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
87.5 miles from Scottsdale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Scottsdale is a city in the state of Arizona. Scottsdale is home to many galleries, high quality resorts, and golf courses. It is also one of the wealthier parts of the Phoenix Metro Area.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 40m. Total distance: 174.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
The drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Holbrook, AZ covers 174.9 miles and takes about 3h 40m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 40m 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 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (East McDowell Road): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp toward AZ 101 Loop South
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward McDowell Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto East McDowell Road
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto AZ 87 / North Beeline Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto AZ 260
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Beeline Highway | 68.4 mi | 1h 20m |
| AZ 260 | 53 mi | 1h 11m |
| Heber Road | 30.9 mi | 36m |
| West 3rd Street North | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| North Beeline Highway | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| Heber-Holbrook Highway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| East McDowell Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Pima Freeway | 2.3 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsdale, AZ and Holbrook, AZ.
Start on this road
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
Take the exit
Turn left onto East McDowell Road
Turn left onto AZ 87
Continue on AZ 87
Turn right onto AZ 260
Turn left onto AZ 277
Continue on AZ 277
Turn left onto AZ 377
Turn straight onto AZ 377
Turn left onto AZ 77
Continue on US 180; AZ 77
Continue on US 180; AZ 77
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 38 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.5 miles or 1h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Holbrook, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Scottsdale, 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 Scottsdale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 174.9 miles and 3h 40m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 87.5 mi from Scottsdale, AZ · 1h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 87.5 miles from Scottsdale, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Holbrook, 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 Holbrook, 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
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...
National Monument
Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$34.09 one way
$68.18 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $36.76 | $73.51 |
| premium | $5.57 | $38.33 | $76.65 |
| diesel | $6.37 | $43.84 | $87.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.5 | 0 | $18.36 | $8.40 |
| Efficient EV | 43.7 | 0 | $15.30 | $7.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70 | 0 | $24.49 | $11.19 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Scottsdale on Saturday
Local time
5:57 AM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Holbrook on Saturday
Local time
5:57 AM
MST
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
44°F
Payson, AZ
87 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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