Origin
Cottonwood, AZ
Afternoon in Cottonwood on Wednesday
Local time
4:17 PM
MST
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cottonwood, AZ to Surprise, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 40m
Distance
99.6 mi
160 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 33m
★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 56m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 47m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cottonwood, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Surprise, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cottonwood, AZ to Surprise, AZ covers 99.6 miles and takes about 1h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Main Street, Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway, Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.84 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
49.8 miles from Cottonwood, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 40m drive with frequent turns across 99.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Main Street 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 Cottonwood, AZ to Surprise, AZ is easy. At 1h 40m 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 Cottonwood, AZ to Surprise, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Main Street | — | — |
| Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway | — | — |
| Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway | — | — |
| Arizona Veterans Highway | — | — |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | — | — |
| Black Canyon Freeway | — | — |
| North Black Canyon Highway | — | — |
| AZ 303 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cottonwood, AZ and Surprise, AZ.
1
Start on South Main Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
2
Continue on South Main Street
420 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Main Street
3
Continue on Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
4.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
4
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
167 ft
·
7 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
5
Exit the roundabout onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway
157 ft
·
7 sec
·
Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway
7
Exit the rotary onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
190 ft
·
8 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
9
Exit the roundabout onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway
200 ft
·
8 sec
·
Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway
11
Exit the rotary onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
151 ft
·
2 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
13
Exit the roundabout onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
14
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway
105 ft
·
5 sec
·
Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway
15
Exit the rotary onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
154 ft
·
7 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
17
Exit the roundabout onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
18
Take the exit right
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
19
Merge slight left onto Arizona Veterans Highway
41 mi
·
40 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
20
Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
21
Continue on Black Canyon Freeway
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
22
Continue on North Black Canyon Highway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Black Canyon Highway
23
Continue on Black Canyon Freeway
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
24
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 303 Loop South
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
AZ 303 Loop South
25
Turn right
0.6 mi
·
1 min
26
Take the exit slight right
0.6 mi
·
46 sec
27
Continue straight
410 ft
·
7 sec
28
Keep slight left
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
29
Merge slight left onto Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
30
Take the exit slight right
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
31
Continue straight
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
32
Merge slight left onto Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
33
Take the exit slight right toward El Mirage Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
El Mirage Road
34
Continue on El Mirage Road
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
El Mirage Road
35
Turn left onto North El Mirage Road
5.1 mi
·
9 min
·
North El Mirage Road
36
Turn right onto West Paradise Lane
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Paradise Lane
37
Turn left onto North Nash Street
89 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Nash Street
38
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 49.8 miles from Cottonwood, AZ, or about 50m 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 22 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.8 miles or 50m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Surprise, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cottonwood, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cottonwood, AZ
This is one driving day of about 99.6 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Cottonwood, 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 49.8 mi from Cottonwood, AZ · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49.8 miles from Cottonwood, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Surprise, AZ
The final approach into Surprise, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.84 one way
$39.68 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $21.00 | $42.00 |
| premium | $5.59 | $21.92 | $43.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.99 | $43.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.9 | 0 | $10.46 | $4.78 |
| Efficient EV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.71 | $3.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.94 | $6.37 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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
Surprise, AZ
Afternoon in Surprise on Wednesday
Local time
4:17 PM
MST
Current temp
88°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
7 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 40m 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 Cottonwood, AZ to Surprise, AZ covers 99.6 miles and takes about 1h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Main Street, Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway, Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49.8 miles from Cottonwood, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.84 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 Cottonwood, AZ to Surprise, AZ is easy. At 1h 40m 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 Cottonwood, AZ to Surprise, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cottonwood, AZ to Surprise, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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