How far is Fort Defiance, AZ from Window Rock, AZ?

The driving distance from Fort Defiance, AZ to Window Rock, AZ is about 6.7 miles (10.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 4.6 miles (7.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 20m 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
6.68 mi
00h 10m
Flight
4.61 mi
7.42 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fort Defiance.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
4.61 mi
Kilometers
7.42 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
6.68 mi
Kilometers
10.75 km
Drive Time
00h 10m

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 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Window Rock
Thu, Apr 23, 12:39 AM MDT
Return by in Fort Defiance
Thu, Apr 23, 12:49 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fort Defiance
2026-04-23T00:29
Arrive Window Rock
Thu, Apr 23, 12:39 AM MDT
Route Timing
00h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:10 AM to 7:10 PM MDT

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

Leave by
8:10 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Fort Defiance
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
Saint Michaels
AZ

Town in Talbot County, Maryland, United States

From Fort Defiance
3.4 mi
00h 05m
To Window Rock
3.4 mi
00h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
60°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 7:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 16 mph W
Destination
64°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 7:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 18 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Fort Defiance and Window Rock.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Defiance and Window Rock.

  1. 1

    Start on Old Red Lake Road

    17 m · 8 sec · Old Red Lake Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Kit Carson Drive

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Kit Carson Drive

  3. 3

    Continue on Navajo Route 12

    4.5 mi · 7 min · Navajo Route 12

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Window Rock Boulevard

    1399 ft · 38 sec · Window Rock Boulevard

  5. 5

    Continue on Navajo Route 100

    2168 ft · 51 sec · Navajo Route 100

  6. 6

    Turn sharp left onto Morgan Boulevard

    136 m · 22 sec · Morgan Boulevard

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Tribal Hill Drive

    1210 ft · 56 sec · Tribal Hill Drive

  8. 8

    Turn left

    38 m · 9 sec

  9. 9

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fort Defiance and Window Rock.

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
9 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
134.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Navajo Route 12
4.48 mi · 67%
Kit Carson Drive
1.2 mi · 18%
Navajo Route 100
0.41 mi · 6%
Window Rock Boulevard
0.27 mi · 4%
Tribal Hill Drive
0.23 mi · 3%
Morgan Boulevard
0.08 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Navajo Route 12

Continue on Navajo Route 12

4.48 mi · 00h 07m

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 10m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.1 mi
4.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Saint Michaels
00h 05m from Fort Defiance
Leave By
8:10 PM MDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Fort Defiance and Sunny near Window Rock.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fort Defiance to Window Rock?

The road trip is about 6.7 miles (10.8 km) and usually takes 00h 10m 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?

Saint Michaels is a useful midpoint, sitting about 3.4 miles from Fort Defiance and 3.4 miles from Window Rock.

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

The direct path is about 4.6 miles (7.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.1 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 8:10 PM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.19 one way or $2.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 2.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Fort Defiance and Sunny near Window Rock.

Stop Ideas Near Saint Michaels

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Saint Michaels, 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 Saint Michaels.

RAIL

Gallup station

35 mi away
201 East Highway 66

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fort Defiance and Window Rock. Straight-line distance: 4.61 mi (7.42 km).

Fort Defiance

#1 Fort Defiance

Census designated place in Apache County, Arizona, United States

Population4,061
Coordinates35.7444600, -109.0764800
Altitude2083
CountryUnited States
Window Rock

#2 Window Rock

Census designated place in Apache County, Arizona, United States

Population2,712
Coordinates35.6805700, -109.0525900
Altitude2100
CountryUnited States
Start: Old Red Lake Road (-109.076557, 35.7445)
End: Tribal Hill Drive (-109.052189, 35.68059)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 11 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.24 gal
0.89 L · about $1.19
Round trip
$2.38
0.48 gal · 1.78 L
Estimated CO2
2.1 kg one way
Round trip: 4.3 kg / 9 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $1.19 $2.38
Mid-grade $5.34 $1.28 $2.56
Premium $5.57 $1.34 $2.67
Diesel $6.37 $1.53 $3.06

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

There is no time difference between Fort Defiance and Window Rock. The current time is 00:29:12.

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.