How far is Chinle, AZ from Surprise, AZ?

The driving distance from Chinle, AZ to Surprise, AZ is about 316.3 miles (509.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 18m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 235 miles (378.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 36m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
316.36 mi
05h 18m
Flight
235.01 mi
378.21 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chinle.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
235.01 mi
Kilometers
378.21 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
316.36 mi
Kilometers
509.13 km
Drive Time
05h 18m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 18m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Surprise
Thu, Apr 23, 6:35 AM MST
Return by in Chinle
Thu, Apr 23, 12:53 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chinle
2026-04-23T02:16
Arrive Surprise
Thu, Apr 23, 7:35 AM MDT
Route Timing
05h 18m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:18 AM to 12:18 PM MST

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:24 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chinle
9:00 PM MDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Leupp
AZ

Census-designated place in Coconino County, Arizona

From Chinle
174.5 mi
02h 39m
To Surprise
141.9 mi
02h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 14 mph SW
Destination
88°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MST
Wind
0 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Chinle and Surprise.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chinle and Surprise.

  1. 1

    Start on 4th Avenue

    45 m · 12 sec · 4th Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Main Street

    1208 ft · 54 sec · Main Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Navajo Route 7

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Navajo Route 7

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Chambers-Mexican Water Highway

    30.3 mi · 45 min · Chambers-Mexican Water Highway

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    9 m · 1 sec

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout

    536 ft · 7 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Arizona State Highway 264

    56.7 mi · 1 hr 5 min · Arizona State Highway 264

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Winslow–Kayenta Highway

    16.7 mi · 19 min · Winslow–Kayenta Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on AZ 87

    4.1 mi · 5 min · AZ 87

  10. 10

    Continue on Winslow–Kayenta Highway

    38.8 mi · 45 min · Winslow–Kayenta Highway

  11. 11

    Take the ramp right

    2575 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

    61.2 mi · 1 hr 2 min · Purple Heart Trail

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 17 South, AZ 89A North: Phoenix, Flagstaff

    907 ft · 17 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 17, AZ 89A South: Sedona, Phoenix

    1 mi · 2 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Arizona Veterans Highway

    93 mi · 1 hr 33 min · Arizona Veterans Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway

    5.8 mi · 6 min · Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Black Canyon Freeway

    10.5 mi · 10 min · Black Canyon Freeway

  18. 18

    Continue on North Black Canyon Highway

    3.2 mi · 3 min · North Black Canyon Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on Black Canyon Freeway

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Black Canyon Freeway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward AZ 303 Loop South

    2524 ft · 38 sec

  21. 21

    Turn right

    3181 ft · 1 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right

    1 km · 46 sec

  23. 23

    Continue straight

    125 m · 7 sec

  24. 24

    Keep slight left

    1628 ft · 21 sec

  25. 25

    Merge slight left onto Bob Stump Memorial Parkway

    948 ft · 12 sec · Bob Stump Memorial Parkway

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right

    1.1 km · 48 sec

  27. 27

    Continue straight

    1459 ft · 19 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left onto Bob Stump Memorial Parkway

    12.1 mi · 14 min · Bob Stump Memorial Parkway

  29. 29

    Take the exit slight right toward El Mirage Road

    1488 ft · 1 min

  30. 30

    Continue on El Mirage Road

    1088 ft · 1 min

  31. 31

    Turn left onto North El Mirage Road

    5.1 mi · 9 min · North El Mirage Road

  32. 32

    Turn right onto West Paradise Lane

    2632 ft · 2 min · West Paradise Lane

  33. 33

    Turn left onto North Nash Street

    27 m · 3 sec · North Nash Street

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Nash Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Chinle and Surprise.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
34 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
5 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Arizona Veterans Highway
93 mi · 29%
Purple Heart Trail
61.2 mi · 19%
Arizona State Highway 264
56.7 mi · 18%
Winslow–Kayenta Highway
56 mi · 18%
Chambers-Mexican Water Highway
30.4 mi · 10%
Black Canyon Freeway
13.9 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Arizona Veterans Highway

Merge slight left onto Arizona Veterans Highway

93 mi · 01h 34m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 18m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+81.3 mi
235 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Leupp
02h 39m from Chinle
Leave By
6:24 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Chinle and Sunny near Surprise.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Chinle to Surprise?

The road trip is about 316.3 miles (509.1 km) and usually takes 05h 18m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Leupp is a useful midpoint, sitting about 174.5 miles from Chinle and 141.9 miles from Surprise.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 235 miles (378.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 81.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:24 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $55.25 one way or $110.51 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.2 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Chinle and Surprise, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Chinle and Sunny near Surprise.

Stop Ideas Near Leupp

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Leupp, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Leupp.

RAIL

Winslow

42 mi away
501 East Second Street
BUS

Flagstaff (Greyhound), Arizona

60 mi away
399 S. Malpais Ln.
RAIL

Flagstaff Station

60 mi away
1 East Route 66
BUS

Sedona (Center Bus Stop), Arizona

83 mi away
300 North Highway 89A

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chinle and Surprise. Straight-line distance: 235.01 mi (378.21 km).

Chinle

#1 Chinle

Census designated place in Apache County, Arizona, United States

Population4,518
Coordinates36.1544500, -109.5526100
Altitude1683
CountryUnited States
Surprise

#2 Surprise

The seventh most populous city in Arizona.

Population147,965
Coordinates33.6305900, -112.3332200
Altitude358
CountryUnited States
Start: 4th Avenue (-109.553148, 36.154111)
End: North Nash Street (-112.333445, 33.630589)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 509 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.16 gal
42.26 L · about $55.25
Round trip
$110.51
22.32 gal · 84.52 L
Estimated CO2
99.2 kg one way
Round trip: 198.4 kg / 437 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $55.25 $110.51
Mid-grade $5.34 $59.57 $119.14
Premium $5.57 $62.12 $124.23
Diesel $6.37 $71.04 $142.09

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Arizona · Apr 23, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Chinle, AZ and Surprise, AZ. The current time in Chinle is 02:16:49, although it is 01:16:49 in Surprise.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.