How far is Fort Defiance, AZ from Phoenix, AZ?
The driving distance from Fort Defiance, AZ to Phoenix, AZ is about 287.4 miles (462.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 50m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 232.8 miles (374.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 40m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT.
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 04h 50m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Town in Arizona - United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Fort Defiance and Phoenix.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Defiance and Phoenix.
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1
Start on Old Red Lake Road
17 m · 8 sec · Old Red Lake Road
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2
Turn left onto Kit Carson Drive
1.2 mi · 2 min · Kit Carson Drive
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3
Continue on Navajo Route 12
5 mi · 8 min · Navajo Route 12
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4
Turn right onto Arizona State Highway 264
1.9 mi · 3 min · Arizona State Highway 264
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5
Turn left onto Navajo Route 12
23.6 mi · 33 min · Navajo Route 12
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6
Take the ramp right
1153 ft · 28 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
69.9 mi · 1 hr 10 min · Purple Heart Trail
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8
Take the exit slight right toward I 40 Business, AZ 77 South, AZ 377 South, US 180 East: Show Low, Heber
1930 ft · 50 sec
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9
Turn left onto Navajo Boulevard
1.2 mi · 2 min · Navajo Boulevard
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10
Continue on Holbrook-Springerville Highway
2841 ft · 57 sec · Holbrook-Springerville Highway
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11
Continue on Show Low-Holbrook Highway
1.6 mi · 2 min · Show Low-Holbrook Highway
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12
Turn right onto Heber Road
30.9 mi · 36 min · Heber Road
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13
Turn straight onto Heber-Holbrook Highway
2.9 mi · 4 min · Heber-Holbrook Highway
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14
At the end of the road, turn right onto West 3rd Street North
4.9 mi · 7 min · West 3rd Street North
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15
Continue on Highway 277
1.9 mi · 3 min · Highway 277
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16
At the end of the road, turn right onto Highway 260
1036 ft · 20 sec · Highway 260
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17
Continue on Hwy 260
15.9 mi · 22 min · Hwy 260
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18
Continue on Payson-Heber Highway
12.7 mi · 18 min · Payson-Heber Highway
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19
Continue on Payson-Show Low Highway
24.2 mi · 31 min · Payson-Show Low Highway
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20
Turn left onto South Beeline Highway
73.1 mi · 1 hr 27 min · South Beeline Highway
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21
Continue on North Country Club Drive
2377 ft · 48 sec · North Country Club Drive
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22
Take the exit right toward AZ 202 Loop West
1930 ft · 49 sec
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23
Merge slight left onto Red Mountain Freeway
12 mi · 14 min · Red Mountain Freeway
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24
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 West
1 mi · 1 min
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25
Merge slight right onto Papago Freeway
1.2 km · 50 sec · Papago Freeway
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26
Take the exit slight right toward 7th Street
1587 ft · 39 sec
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27
Keep slight left to continue on 7th Street South, Downtown Cultural/Sports Facilitles
635 ft · 18 sec
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28
Turn straight onto North 7th Street
1.5 km · 2 min · North 7th Street
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29
Turn right onto East Washington Street
2695 ft · 2 min · East Washington Street
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30
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West Washington Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Fort Defiance and Phoenix.
Interchange-aware route
The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.
South Beeline Highway
Turn left onto South Beeline Highway
73.1 mi · 01h 27m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Fort Defiance and Sunny near Phoenix.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Fort Defiance to Phoenix?
The road trip is about 287.4 miles (462.6 km) and usually takes 04h 50m 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?
Taylor is a useful midpoint, sitting about 144.3 miles from Fort Defiance and 143.1 miles from Phoenix.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 232.8 miles (374.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 54.6 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 7:20 AM MDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $50.20 one way or $100.41 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 90.1 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Fort Defiance and Phoenix, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Fort Defiance and Sunny near Phoenix.
Stop Ideas Near Taylor
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 Taylor.
Winslow
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Fort Defiance and Phoenix. Straight-line distance: 232.86 mi (374.75 km).
#1 Fort Defiance
Census designated place in Apache County, Arizona, United States
| Population | 4,061 |
| Coordinates | 35.7444600, -109.0764800 |
| Altitude | 2083 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Phoenix
The fifth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Phoenix metropolitan area.
| Population | 1,708,127 |
| Coordinates | 33.4483800, -112.0740400 |
| Altitude | 331 |
| Country | United States |
End: West Washington Street (-112.074064, 33.448223)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 463 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 34m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 11m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 44m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 47m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 06m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 35m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.95 | $50.20 | $100.41 |
| Mid-grade | $5.34 | $54.13 | $108.25 |
| Premium | $5.57 | $56.44 | $112.88 |
| Diesel | $6.37 | $64.55 | $129.10 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.