How far is Ponderay, ID from Cottonwood, AZ?
The driving distance from Ponderay, ID to Cottonwood, AZ is about 1314.3 miles (2115.2 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 PDT.
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 Cloudy
Mostly Clear
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Ponderay and Cottonwood.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ponderay and Cottonwood.
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1
Start on Birch Avenue
18 m · 5 sec · Birch Avenue
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2
Turn right onto 5th Street
68 m · 10 sec · 5th Street
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3
Turn left onto Railroad Avenue
1.3 mi · 3 min · Railroad Avenue
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4
Take the exit left
1293 ft · 36 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Sand Creek Byway
44.4 mi · 56 min · Sand Creek Byway
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6
Turn left
278 mi · 4 hr 40 min
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7
Take the exit slight right toward I 15 South: Dillon, Idaho Falls
2694 ft · 1 min
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8
Merge slight left
376.7 mi · 5 hr 57 min
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9
Keep slight left to continue on Veterans Memorial Highway
27.4 mi · 29 min · Veterans Memorial Highway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Veterans Memorial Highway
8.2 mi · 9 min · Veterans Memorial Highway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Veterans Memorial Highway
210.4 mi · 3 hr 30 min · Veterans Memorial Highway
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12
Take the exit slight right toward SR 20: Panguitch, Kanab
1922 ft · 55 sec
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13
Turn left
20.5 mi · 25 min
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14
At the end of the road, turn right
9.2 mi · 11 min
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15
Continue straight
1.4 km · 2 min
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16
Turn left onto Center Street
6.8 mi · 8 min · Center Street
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17
Keep slight right
23.3 mi · 28 min
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18
Continue straight
37 mi · 50 min
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19
Continue on 100 East
1828 ft · 59 sec · 100 East
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20
Turn left onto 300 South
72.4 mi · 1 hr 27 min · 300 South
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21
Continue on Highway South
1.7 mi · 3 min · Highway South
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22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US 89 South
49 m · 3 sec
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23
Exit the roundabout onto US 89 South
81.1 mi · 1 hr 37 min
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24
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Cameron–Bitter Springs Highway
47 m · 3 sec · Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
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25
Exit the rotary onto Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
37.9 mi · 45 min · Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
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26
Continue on US Highway 89
6.4 mi · 9 min · US Highway 89
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27
Continue on Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
2.3 mi · 4 min · Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
-
28
Turn left onto Country Club Drive
1786 ft · 51 sec · Country Club Drive
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29
Take the exit right
1952 ft · 48 sec
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30
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
4.7 mi · 5 min · Purple Heart Trail
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31
Take the exit slight right toward I 17 South, AZ 89A North: Phoenix, Flagstaff
907 ft · 17 sec
-
32
Keep slight left to continue on I 17, AZ 89A South: Sedona, Phoenix
1 mi · 2 min
-
33
Merge slight left onto Arizona Veterans Highway
45.6 mi · 46 min · Arizona Veterans Highway
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34
Take the exit slight right toward Rimrock, McGuiveville, Lake Montesuma Well, Cornville Road, Dry Beaver Creek
802 ft · 27 sec
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35
Turn left onto East Cornville Road
12.6 mi · 22 min · East Cornville Road
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36
Continue on Mingus Avenue
1.4 mi · 2 min · Mingus Avenue
-
37
Continue on East Mingus Avenue
2689 ft · 1 min · East Mingus Avenue
-
38
Turn left onto South Main Street
37 m · 3 sec · South Main Street
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39
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South Main Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Ponderay and Cottonwood.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 15 South
Merge slight left
377 mi · 05h 57m
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 Cloudy leaving Ponderay and Mostly Clear near Cottonwood.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Ponderay to Cottonwood?
The road trip is about 1314.3 miles (2115.2 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 650.3 miles from Ponderay and 664 miles from Cottonwood.
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 348.6 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 7:30 AM PDT. 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 $223.00 one way or $445.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 412.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Ponderay and Mostly Clear near Cottonwood.
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 Ponderay and Cottonwood. Straight-line distance: 965.66 mi (1554.08 km).
#1 Ponderay
City in Bonner County, Idaho, United States
| Population | 1,157 |
| Coordinates | 48.3054800, -116.5338000 |
| Altitude | 648 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Cottonwood
City in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
| Population | 11,818 |
| Coordinates | 34.7391900, -112.0098800 |
| Altitude | 1014 |
| Country | United States |
End: Cottonwood (-112.00988, 34.73919)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 2115 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 43h 47m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 32h 51m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 26h 17m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 21h 54m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 18h 46m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 16h 23m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.81 | $223.00 | $445.99 |
| Mid-grade | $5.12 | $237.37 | $474.75 |
| Premium | $5.37 | $249.15 | $498.31 |
| Diesel | $6.40 | $296.60 | $593.20 |
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 Idaho · Oct 19, 2026