How far is Cottonwood, AZ from Ponderay, ID?
The driving distance from Cottonwood, AZ to Ponderay, ID is about 1315.4 miles (2117 km), with a travel time of about 23h 18m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 965.7 miles (1554.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 46h 36m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MST.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 23h 18m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Box Elder County, Utah, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Clear
Mostly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Cottonwood and Ponderay.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cottonwood and Ponderay.
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1
Start on South Main Street
37 m · 7 sec · South Main Street
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2
Turn right onto East Mingus Avenue
2689 ft · 1 min · East Mingus Avenue
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3
Continue on Mingus Avenue Extension Bridge
1.4 mi · 3 min · Mingus Avenue Extension Bridge
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4
Continue on East Cornville Road
12.7 mi · 22 min · East Cornville Road
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5
Take the ramp left
653 ft · 16 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Arizona Veterans Highway
45.8 mi · 46 min · Arizona Veterans Highway
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7
Continue on Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
1 km · 44 sec · Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward I 40 East, Albuquerque
2458 ft · 1 min
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9
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
5.1 mi · 6 min · Purple Heart Trail
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10
Take the exit slight right toward US 89 North: Page
1412 ft · 36 sec
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11
Turn left onto Country Club Drive
2753 ft · 51 sec · Country Club Drive
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12
Turn right onto Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
2.3 mi · 3 min · Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
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13
Continue on US Highway 89
6.4 mi · 9 min · US Highway 89
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14
Continue on Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
37.8 mi · 45 min · Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
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15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Cameron–Bitter Springs Highway
47 m · 3 sec · Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway
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16
Exit the rotary onto Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway
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17
Continue on US 89
1419 ft · 27 sec · US 89
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18
Continue on Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway
56.6 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway
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19
Continue on US 89
14.8 mi · 19 min · US 89
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20
Continue on Bitter Springs-Utah State Line Highway
8 mi · 10 min · Bitter Springs-Utah State Line Highway
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21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US 89 North
52 m · 3 sec
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22
Exit the roundabout onto US 89 North
1.6 mi · 3 min
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23
Continue on Highway South
725 ft · 14 sec · Highway South
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24
Continue on Bitter Springs-Utah State Line Highway
72.4 mi · 1 hr 27 min · Bitter Springs-Utah State Line Highway
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25
Turn right onto 100 East
1828 ft · 52 sec · 100 East
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26
Continue on Center Street
2103 ft · 1 min · Center Street
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27
Continue on 300 West
66.7 mi · 1 hr 25 min · 300 West
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28
Turn right onto North Main Street
1.4 km · 2 min · North Main Street
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29
Continue straight
9.2 mi · 11 min
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30
Turn left
20.4 mi · 25 min
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31
Take the exit right toward I 15 North
2452 ft · 26 sec
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32
Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Highway
229.1 mi · 3 hr 50 min · Veterans Memorial Highway
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33
Keep slight left to continue on Veterans Memorial Highway
55.3 mi · 56 min · Veterans Memorial Highway
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34
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Highway
338.3 mi · 5 hr 19 min · Veterans Memorial Highway
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35
Take the exit slight left toward I 90 West: Missoula
2808 ft · 1 min
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36
Merge slight left onto I 90 West: Missoula
278.5 mi · 4 hr 42 min
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37
Take the exit slight right
1277 ft · 35 sec
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38
Turn right
44.3 mi · 55 min
-
39
Take the exit slight right
1667 ft · 51 sec
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40
Turn right onto Railroad Avenue
1.2 mi · 2 min · Railroad Avenue
-
41
Turn right onto 5th Street
68 m · 15 sec · 5th Street
-
42
Turn left onto Birch Avenue
18 m · 3 sec · Birch Avenue
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43
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Birch Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Cottonwood and Ponderay.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Veterans Memorial Highway
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Highway
338 mi · 05h 19m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Mostly Clear leaving Cottonwood and Mostly Cloudy near Ponderay.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Cottonwood to Ponderay?
The road trip is about 1315.4 miles (2117 km) and usually takes 23h 18m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Garland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 650.9 miles from Cottonwood and 664.4 miles from Ponderay.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 965.7 miles (1554.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 349.7 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MST. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $214.46 one way or $428.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 412.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around Cottonwood and Mostly Cloudy near Ponderay.
Stop Ideas Near Garland
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Garland.
Ogden, Utah
Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub
Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Cottonwood and Ponderay. Straight-line distance: 965.66 mi (1554.08 km).
#1 Cottonwood
City in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
| Population | 11,818 |
| Coordinates | 34.7391900, -112.0098800 |
| Altitude | 1014 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Ponderay
City in Bonner County, Idaho, United States
| Population | 1,157 |
| Coordinates | 48.3054800, -116.5338000 |
| Altitude | 648 |
| Country | United States |
End: Ponderay (-116.5338, 48.30548)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 2117 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 43h 49m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 32h 53m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 26h 18m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 21h 55m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 18h 47m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 16h 24m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.62 | $214.46 | $428.92 |
| Mid-grade | $4.97 | $230.80 | $461.60 |
| Premium | $5.30 | $245.98 | $491.96 |
| Diesel | $6.38 | $296.35 | $592.69 |
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 · Oct 19, 2026