McDowell Mountain Ranch Park & Aquatic Center
Near the end, short detour
Scottsdale, Arizona
Hours: 6 am–7:30 pm
+14803126677
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 51m
Distance
226.5 mi
364 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Springerville, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Deer Valley, AZ
Line Knipst
The drive from Springerville, AZ to Deer Valley, AZ covers 226.5 miles and takes about 4h 51m 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, Payson-Show Low Highway, Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.8 miles on South Beeline Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.12 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
113.2 miles from Springerville, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 27m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 51m. Total distance: 226.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (13%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Expect a 4h 51m drive with frequent turns across 226.5 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 48 miles in near AZ 260 / South Clark Road.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 51m 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 48 miles (AZ 260 / South Clark Road): Navigation decision point; at 197.2 miles (East Shea Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 210.3 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto AZ 260 / South Clark Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto East Shea Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward 27th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto North 35th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Beeline Highway | 61.8 mi | 1h 13m |
| Payson-Show Low Highway | 55.8 mi | 1h 10m |
| Main Street | 43.7 mi | 50m |
| Hwy 260 | 15.9 mi | 22m |
| Pima Freeway | 13.5 mi | 15m |
| Payson-Heber Highway | 12.7 mi | 17m |
| East Shea Boulevard | 7.8 mi | 12m |
| North Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard | 4.9 mi | 8m |
Step-by-step road directions between Springerville, AZ and Deer Valley, AZ.
Start on this road
Turn left onto US 60; US 180; US 191
Continue on US 60
Turn right onto AZ 260
Continue on AZ 260
Continue on AZ 260
Continue on AZ 260
Continue on AZ 260
Turn left onto AZ 87
Turn right onto East Shea Boulevard
Turn right onto North Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard
Turn right onto North Pima Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
Take the exit
Turn straight onto West Beardsley Road
Turn right onto North 35th Avenue
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 50 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.2 miles or 2h 27m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Deer Valley, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Springerville, 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 Springerville, AZ
This is one driving day of about 226.5 miles and 4h 51m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 113.2 mi from Springerville, AZ · 2h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 113.2 miles from Springerville, 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 61.8 miles.
The final approach into Deer Valley, 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 Deer Valley, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Near the end, short detour
Scottsdale, Arizona
Hours: 6 am–7:30 pm
+14803126677
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Glendale, Arizona
Hours: Closed
+16232012000
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Fountain Hills, Arizona
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
+14808373966
Visit websiteNear the end, ~12 min detour
Scottsdale, Arizona
Hours: 12–8 pm
+19283610038
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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
$45.12 one way
$90.24 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $47.75 | $95.50 |
| premium | $5.59 | $49.86 | $99.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $50.01 | $100.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68 | 0 | $23.78 | $10.87 |
| Efficient EV | 56.6 | 0 | $19.82 | $9.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.6 | 1 | $31.71 | $14.50 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Afternoon in Springerville on Friday
Local time
1:28 PM
MST
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Deer Valley on Friday
Local time
1:28 PM
MST
Current temp
88°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
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.
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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