Origin
Snowflake, AZ
Morning in Snowflake on Friday
Local time
10:13 AM
MST
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Snowflake, AZ to Penzance, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
34.6 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Snowflake, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Penzance, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
Snowflake, AZ to Penzance, AZ is 34.6 miles and takes about 43 minutes via Show Low-Holbrook Highway, Purple Heart Trail, and Arizona State Highway 77, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward trip between two points in Arizona. It's a practical option if you're looking for a quick connection between these locations without a significant time commitment. Given its brevity, it's ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 43m. Total distance: 34.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' indicating a dynamic driving experience rather than a monotonous stretch. With only a 6% highway share, expect a more engaged journey on local roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is 24.7 miles along the Show Low-Holbrook Highway, offering a brief period of consistent travel before navigating more turns. The combination of the Purple Heart Trail and Arizona State Highway 77 suggests a varied landscape, likely involving more frequent adjustments to your steering and speed as you transition between different road types.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Show Low-Holbrook Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 24.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AZ 77 / Show Low-Holbrook Highway.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 34.6 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (AZ 77 / Show Low-Holbrook Highway): Navigation decision point; at 27.4 miles (US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist / West Hopi Drive): Navigation decision point; at 33.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AZ 77 / Show Low-Holbrook Highway
Turn right onto AZ 77 / Show Low-Holbrook Highway
Navigation decision point
4
27.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist / West Hopi Drive
Turn left onto US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist / West Hopi Drive
Navigation decision point
5
33.1 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward Hunt Road, Geronimo Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Hunt Road, Geronimo Road
4
33.6 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
Main Street
Keep slight left at fork onto Main Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
33.7 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Show Low-Holbrook Highway | 24.7 mi | 28m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Arizona State Highway 77 | 2 mi | 2m |
| West Hopi Drive | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Holbrook-Springerville Highway | 1 mi | 2m |
| Navajo Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 3rd Street North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Show Low-Holbrook Highway
— 24.7 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Snowflake, AZ and Penzance, AZ.
1
Start on East 3rd Street North
157 ft
·
8 sec
·
East 3rd Street North
2
Turn right onto AZ 77
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
Show Low-Holbrook Highway
3
Continue on AZ 77
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Arizona State Highway 77
4
Continue on AZ 77
24 mi
·
28 min
·
Show Low-Holbrook Highway
5
Continue on US 180; AZ 77
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Holbrook-Springerville Highway
6
Continue on US 180; AZ 77
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Navajo Boulevard
7
Turn left onto US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Hopi Drive
8
Take the ramp onto US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Holbrook-Springerville Highway
9
Merge onto I 40; US 180
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Hunt Road, Geronimo Road
11
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
12
Keep slight left at fork onto Main Street
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
Main Street
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
14
Merge onto I 40; US 180
0.7 mi
·
39 sec
·
Purple Heart Trail
15
Arrive at destination
I 40; US 180
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.89 one way
$13.79 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $7.29 | $14.59 |
| premium | $5.59 | $7.62 | $15.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.64 | $15.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.03 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Penzance, AZ
Morning in Penzance on Friday
Local time
10:13 AM
MST
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
43m 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 Snowflake, AZ to Penzance, AZ covers 34.6 miles and takes about 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Show Low-Holbrook Highway, Purple Heart Trail, Arizona State Highway 77. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.3 miles from Snowflake, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.89 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 34.6 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AZ 77 / Show Low-Holbrook Highway): Navigation decision point; at 27.4 miles (US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist / West Hopi Drive): Navigation decision point; at 33.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Snowflake, AZ to Penzance, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Petrified Forest National Park.
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.
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