How far is Lake Montezuma, AZ from Surprise, AZ?

The driving distance from Lake Montezuma, AZ to Surprise, AZ is about 90.7 miles (145.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 76.1 miles (122.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 07m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MST.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
90.66 mi
01h 33m
Flight
76.14 mi
122.54 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake Montezuma.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
76.14 mi
Kilometers
122.54 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
90.66 mi
Kilometers
145.91 km
Drive Time
01h 33m

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 01h 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Surprise
Wed, Apr 22, 9:40 PM MST
Return by in Lake Montezuma
Wed, Apr 22, 11:13 PM MST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Montezuma
2026-04-22T20:06
Arrive Surprise
Wed, Apr 22, 9:40 PM MST
Route Timing
01h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:34 AM to 11:34 AM MST

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:22 PM MST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lake Montezuma
9:30 PM MST
Morning start is best

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
Black Canyon City
AZ

Census designated place

From Lake Montezuma
47.6 mi
00h 46m
To Surprise
43.1 mi
00h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MST
Wind
9 to 22 mph S
Destination
87°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MST
Wind
0 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Montezuma and Surprise.

  1. 1

    Start on North Montezuma Avenue

    1.2 mi · 3 min · North Montezuma Avenue

  2. 2

    Keep slight left to continue on North Montezuma Avenue

    100 m · 9 sec · North Montezuma Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn straight onto East Beaver Creek Road

    1.9 mi · 5 min · East Beaver Creek Road

  4. 4

    Continue on East Cornville Road

    655 ft · 17 sec · East Cornville Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp left

    1494 ft · 38 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Arizona Veterans Highway

    47.2 mi · 47 min · Arizona Veterans Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway

    5.8 mi · 6 min · Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Black Canyon Freeway

    10.5 mi · 10 min · Black Canyon Freeway

  9. 9

    Continue on North Black Canyon Highway

    3.2 mi · 3 min · North Black Canyon Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Black Canyon Freeway

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Black Canyon Freeway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward AZ 303 Loop South

    2524 ft · 38 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right

    3181 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right

    1 km · 46 sec

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    125 m · 7 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    1628 ft · 21 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Bob Stump Memorial Parkway

    948 ft · 12 sec · Bob Stump Memorial Parkway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right

    1.1 km · 48 sec

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    1459 ft · 19 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Bob Stump Memorial Parkway

    12.1 mi · 14 min · Bob Stump Memorial Parkway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward El Mirage Road

    1488 ft · 1 min

  21. 21

    Continue on El Mirage Road

    1088 ft · 1 min

  22. 22

    Turn left onto North El Mirage Road

    5.1 mi · 9 min · North El Mirage Road

  23. 23

    Turn right onto West Paradise Lane

    2632 ft · 2 min · West Paradise Lane

  24. 24

    Turn left onto North Nash Street

    27 m · 3 sec · North Nash Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Nash Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
25 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
27.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Arizona Veterans Highway
47.2 mi · 52%
Black Canyon Freeway
13.9 mi · 15%
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
13.3 mi · 15%
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5.85 mi · 6%
North El Mirage Road
5.08 mi · 6%
North Black Canyon Highway
3.25 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Arizona Veterans Highway

Merge slight left onto Arizona Veterans Highway

47.2 mi · 00h 47m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 33m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14.6 mi
76.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Black Canyon City
00h 46m from Lake Montezuma
Leave By
3:22 PM MST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Lake Montezuma and Mostly Sunny near Surprise.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lake Montezuma to Surprise?

The road trip is about 90.7 miles (145.9 km) and usually takes 01h 33m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Black Canyon City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 47.6 miles from Lake Montezuma and 43.1 miles from Surprise.

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

The direct path is about 76.1 miles (122.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:22 PM MST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $15.84 one way or $31.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 28.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Lake Montezuma and Mostly Sunny near Surprise.

Stop Ideas Near Black Canyon City

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Black Canyon City, 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 Black Canyon City.

BUS

Phoenix (Metro Center Transit Station), Arizona

57 mi away
9617 North Metro Parkway West
BUS

Camp Verde, Arizona

66 mi away
1613 Finnie Flats Rd
BUS

Phoenix (Greyhound), Arizona

71 mi away
2115 East Buckeye Road
BUS

Phoenix (Airport), Arizona

72 mi away
3400 East Sky Harbor Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Montezuma and Surprise. Straight-line distance: 76.14 mi (122.54 km).

Lake Montezuma

#1 Lake Montezuma

Census-designated place in Yavapai County, Arizona

Population4,706
Coordinates34.6322400, -111.7779300
Altitude1052
CountryUnited States
Surprise

#2 Surprise

The seventh most populous city in Arizona.

Population147,965
Coordinates33.6305900, -112.3332200
Altitude358
CountryUnited States
Start: North Montezuma Avenue (-111.77797, 34.632249)
End: North Nash Street (-112.333438, 33.630589)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 146 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 07m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.2 gal
12.11 L · about $15.84
Round trip
$31.69
6.4 gal · 24.22 L
Estimated CO2
28.4 kg one way
Round trip: 56.9 kg / 125 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $15.84 $31.69
Mid-grade $5.34 $17.08 $34.16
Premium $5.57 $17.81 $35.62
Diesel $6.37 $20.37 $40.74

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 Lake Montezuma and Surprise. The current time is 20:06:11.

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.