Origin
Surprise, AZ
Afternoon in Surprise on Wednesday
Local time
3:55 PM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Surprise, AZ to Chinle, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
6h 37m
Distance
349.7 mi
563 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$70
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 25m
★
6 AM
6h 38m
8 AM
7h 2m
10 AM
6h 46m
12 PM
6h 44m
3 PM
6h 47m
5 PM
7h 0m
8 PM
6h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Surprise, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Chinle, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Surprise, AZ to Chinle, AZ covers 349.7 miles and takes about 6h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Paradise Lane, North El Mirage Road, AZ 303 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $69.66 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
174.9 miles from Surprise, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 37m drive with frequent turns across 349.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Paradise Lane 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 37m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Surprise, AZ to Chinle, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Paradise Lane | — | — |
| North El Mirage Road | — | — |
| AZ 303 | — | — |
| Bob Stump Memorial Parkway | — | — |
| I 17 North | — | — |
| Black Canyon Freeway | — | — |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | — | — |
| Arizona Veterans Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Paradise Lane
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Surprise, AZ and Chinle, AZ.
1
Start on North Nash Street
89 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Nash Street
2
Turn right onto West Paradise Lane
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Paradise Lane
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto North El Mirage Road
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
North El Mirage Road
4
Take the ramp right toward AZ 303 Loop North
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
AZ 303 Loop North
5
Merge slight left onto Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
6
Take the exit slight left toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 17 North: Flagstaff
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 17 North: Flagstaff
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 17 North: Flagstaff
8
Merge slight left onto Black Canyon Freeway
16 mi
·
16 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
9
Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
8.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
10
Continue on Arizona Veterans Highway
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
11
Keep slight left to continue on Arizona Veterans Highway
77 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
12
Continue on Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 40 East, Albuquerque
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 40 East, Albuquerque
14
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
61 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
15
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 87 North: Second Mesa
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
AZ 87 North: Second Mesa
16
Turn left onto Winslow–Kayenta Highway
39 mi
·
45 min
·
Winslow–Kayenta Highway
17
Continue on AZ 87
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
AZ 87
18
Continue on Winslow–Kayenta Highway
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Winslow–Kayenta Highway
19
At the end of the road, turn right onto Arizona State Highway 264
57 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
Arizona State Highway 264
20
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Chambers-Mexican Water Highway
292 ft
·
4 sec
·
Chambers-Mexican Water Highway
21
Exit the roundabout onto Chambers-Mexican Water Highway
30 mi
·
45 min
·
Chambers-Mexican Water Highway
22
Turn right onto Navajo Route 7
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Navajo Route 7
23
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
·
Main Street
24
At the end of the road, turn right onto 4th Avenue
148 ft
·
7 sec
·
4th Avenue
25
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 174.9 miles from Surprise, AZ, or about 3h 18m 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 77 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 174.9 miles or 3h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chinle, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Surprise, 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 Surprise, AZ
This is one driving day of about 349.7 miles and 6h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 miles from Surprise, 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 174.9 mi from Surprise, AZ · 3h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
175 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 77 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 174.9 miles from Surprise, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Chinle, AZ
The final approach into Chinle, 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 Chinle, 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
$69.66 one way
$139.33 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
122 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $73.73 | $147.45 |
| premium | $5.59 | $76.98 | $153.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $77.21 | $154.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 104.9 | 1 | $36.72 | $16.79 |
| Efficient EV | 87.4 | 0 | $30.60 | $13.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 139.9 | 1 | $48.96 | $22.38 |
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Chinle, AZ
Afternoon in Chinle on Wednesday
Local time
4:55 PM
MDT
Current temp
39°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
49 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
6h 37m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Surprise, AZ to Chinle, AZ covers 349.7 miles and takes about 6h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Paradise Lane, North El Mirage Road, AZ 303. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 174.9 miles from Surprise, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $69.66 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 37m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Surprise, AZ to Chinle, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Surprise, AZ to Chinle, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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