Tonto National Monument
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...
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Create accountDrive Time
3h 56m
Distance
189.8 mi
305 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Snowflake, AZ
www.kaboompics.com
Avondale, AZ
Atlantic Ambience
The drive from Snowflake, AZ to Avondale, AZ covers 189.8 miles and takes about 3h 56m 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, East 3rd Street North, Payson-Show Low Highway 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 $37.77 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
94.9 miles from Snowflake, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 2m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 56m drive with frequent turns across 189.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 157.2 miles in.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 189.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 157.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 157.5 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward AZ 202 Loop West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Dysart Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Beeline Highway | 73.1 mi | 1h 26m |
| East 3rd Street North | 28.8 mi | 34m |
| Payson-Show Low Highway | 24.2 mi | 30m |
| Papago Freeway | 16.2 mi | 18m |
| Hwy 260 | 15.9 mi | 22m |
| Payson-Heber Highway | 12.7 mi | 17m |
| Red Mountain Freeway | 12 mi | 13m |
| Highway 277 | 1.9 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Snowflake, AZ and Avondale, AZ.
Start on East 3rd Street North
Continue on Highway 277
At the end of the road, turn right onto Highway 260
Continue on Hwy 260
Continue on Payson-Heber Highway
Continue on Payson-Show Low Highway
Turn left onto South Beeline Highway
Continue on North Country Club Drive
Take the exit right toward AZ 202 Loop West
Merge slight left onto Red Mountain Freeway
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 West
Merge slight right onto Papago Freeway
Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
Continue on Papago Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Dysart Road
Turn left onto North Dysart Road
Turn right onto East Western Avenue
Turn right onto North Central Avenue
Turn right
Arrive at your 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 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.9 miles or 2h 2m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Avondale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Snowflake, 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 Snowflake, AZ
This is one driving day of about 189.8 miles and 3h 56m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 94.9 mi from Snowflake, AZ · 2h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
95 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 94.9 miles from Snowflake, 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 Avondale, 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 Avondale, 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 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
$37.77 one way
$75.55 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $39.89 | $79.78 |
| premium | $5.59 | $41.75 | $83.50 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $42.17 | $84.33 |
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: 66.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.9 | 0 | $19.93 | $9.11 |
| Efficient EV | 47.5 | 0 | $16.61 | $7.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 75.9 | 0 | $26.57 | $12.15 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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 Snowflake on Monday
Local time
4:42 AM
MST
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Avondale on Monday
Local time
4:42 AM
MST
Current temp
57°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
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.
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