How far is Cottonwood, AZ from Chinle, AZ?

The driving distance from Cottonwood, AZ to Chinle, AZ is about 23.5 miles (37.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 19.8 miles (31.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
23.49 mi
00h 45m
Flight
19.78 mi
31.83 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cottonwood.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
19.78 mi
Kilometers
31.83 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
23.49 mi
Kilometers
37.81 km
Drive Time
00h 45m

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 00h 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chinle
Sat, Apr 18, 11:15 PM MDT
Return by in Cottonwood
Sun, Apr 19, 12:00 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cottonwood
2026-04-18T22:29
Arrive Chinle
Sat, Apr 18, 11:15 PM MDT
Route Timing
00h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:45 AM to 7:45 PM MDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:00 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Cottonwood
10:00 PM MDT
Flexible departure

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
Many Farms
AZ

Census-designated place in Apache County, Arizona

From Cottonwood
11.7 mi
00h 22m
To Chinle
11.7 mi
00h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 7:00 AM MDT
Wind
10 mph NE
Destination
61°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
9 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    962 ft · 42 sec

  2. 2

    Continue straight

    152 m · 24 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Navajo Route 4

    15.3 mi · 31 min · Navajo Route 4

  4. 4

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

    6.1 mi · 9 min · Chambers-Mexican Water Highway

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Navajo Route 7

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Navajo Route 7

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Main Street

    1208 ft · 55 sec · Main Street

  7. 7

    At the end of the road, turn right onto 4th Avenue

    45 m · 7 sec · 4th Avenue

  8. 8

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 4th Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
8 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
34 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Navajo Route 4
15.3 mi · 65%
Chambers-Mexican Water Highway
6.08 mi · 26%
Navajo Route 7
1.61 mi · 7%
Main Street
0.23 mi · 1%
4th Avenue
0.03 mi
Longest Stretch

Navajo Route 4

Turn right onto Navajo Route 4

15.3 mi · 00h 31m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 45m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.7 mi
19.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Many Farms
00h 22m from Cottonwood
Leave By
7:00 PM MDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Cottonwood and Sunny near Chinle.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 23.5 miles (37.8 km) and usually takes 00h 45m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Many Farms is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.7 miles from Cottonwood and 11.7 miles from Chinle.

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

The direct path is about 19.8 miles (31.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.7 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:00 PM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.11 one way or $8.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cottonwood and Chinle. Straight-line distance: 19.78 mi (31.83 km).

Cottonwood

#1 Cottonwood

City in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States

Population12,762
Coordinates36.0730600, -109.8923400
Altitude1850
CountryUnited States
Chinle

#2 Chinle

Census designated place in Apache County, Arizona, United States

Population4,518
Coordinates36.1544500, -109.5526100
Altitude1683
CountryUnited States
Start: Cottonwood (-109.89234, 36.07306)
End: Chinle (-109.55261, 36.15445)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 38 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.83 gal
3.14 L · about $4.11
Round trip
$8.22
1.66 gal · 6.28 L
Estimated CO2
7.4 kg one way
Round trip: 14.8 kg / 33 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $4.11 $8.22
Mid-grade $5.34 $4.43 $8.86
Premium $5.57 $4.62 $9.24
Diesel $6.37 $5.28 $10.57

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Cottonwood and Chinle. The current time is 22:29:57.

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.