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Trip from Surprise, AZ to Clarkdale, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

2h 5m

Distance

103.7 mi

167 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 57m ★
6 AM
2h 6m
8 AM
2h 24m
10 AM
2h 12m
12 PM
2h 10m
3 PM
2h 13m
5 PM
2h 23m
8 PM
2h 1m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Surprise, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

town in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States

Clarkdale, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Surprise, AZ to Clarkdale, AZ covers 103.7 miles and takes about 2h 5m 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 $20.66 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

51.8 miles from Surprise, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 5m drive with frequent turns across 103.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Surprise, AZ to Clarkdale, AZ is easy. At 2h 5m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Surprise, AZ to Clarkdale, 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 Clarkdale, 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

25 mi · 24 min · Arizona Veterans Highway
12

Take the exit slight right toward Finnie Flat, 260 to 89a, Cottonwood, Payson, Jerome

0.4 mi · 1 min · Finnie Flat, 260 to 89a, Cottonwood, Payson, Jerome
13

Turn left onto Finnie Flat Road

420 ft · 12 sec · Finnie Flat Road
14

Continue on Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

0.5 mi · 59 sec · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
15

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

167 ft · 8 sec · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
16

Exit the roundabout onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
17

Keep slight right to continue on Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

0.8 mi · 1 min · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
18

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway

171 ft · 7 sec · Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway
19

Exit the rotary onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

1.1 mi · 1 min · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
20

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

171 ft · 3 sec · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
21

Exit the roundabout onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

1.0 mi · 1 min · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
22

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway

144 ft · 6 sec · Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway
23

Exit the rotary onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

0.8 mi · 1 min · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
24

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

167 ft · 7 sec · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
25

Exit the roundabout onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

2.1 mi · 2 min · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
26

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway

144 ft · 6 sec · Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway
27

Exit the rotary onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

0.8 mi · 1 min · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
28

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

187 ft · 8 sec · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
29

Exit the roundabout onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

4.7 mi · 7 min · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
30

Continue on South Main Street

420 ft · 12 sec · South Main Street
31

Continue on South Main Street

2.0 mi · 3 min · South Main Street
32

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Main Street

102 ft · 2 sec · North Main Street
33

Exit the roundabout onto North Main Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
34

Continue on South Broadway

1.6 mi · 2 min · South Broadway
35

Continue on Main Street

0.3 mi · 26 sec · Main Street
36

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51.8 miles from Surprise, AZ, or about 1h 3m 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 23 miles or 27m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 51.8 miles or 1h 3m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarkdale, 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 103.7 miles and 2h 5m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Surprise, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 51.8 mi from Surprise, AZ · 1h 3m into the drive

census designated place in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Black Canyon City, AZ

52 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

Sun City, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Black Canyon City, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 51.8 miles from Surprise, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Clarkdale, AZ

The final approach into Clarkdale, 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 Clarkdale, 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

$20.66 one way

$41.32 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $21.86 $43.73
premium $5.59 $22.83 $45.65
diesel $5.61 $22.90 $45.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 36.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 31.1 0 $10.89 $4.98
Efficient EV 25.9 0 $9.07 $4.15
EV Truck/SUV 41.5 0 $14.52 $6.64

Gas CO2

36 kg

EV CO2

12 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Surprise, AZ

Afternoon in Surprise on Wednesday

Local time

3:56 PM

MST

Current temp

88°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clarkdale, AZ

Afternoon in Clarkdale on Wednesday

Local time

3:56 PM

MST

Current temp

49°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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

39 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

2h 5m 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 Surprise, AZ to Clarkdale, AZ covers 103.7 miles and takes about 2h 5m 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 51.8 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 $20.66 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.
The drive from Surprise, AZ to Clarkdale, AZ is easy. At 2h 5m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Surprise, AZ to Clarkdale, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Surprise, AZ to Clarkdale, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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