How far is San Tan Valley, AZ from Cottonwood, AZ?

The driving distance from San Tan Valley, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ is about 149.8 miles (241 km), with a travel time of about 03h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 110.5 miles (177.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 00m 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
149.78 mi
03h 00m
Flight
110.47 mi
177.78 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from San Tan Valley.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
110.47 mi
Kilometers
177.78 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
149.78 mi
Kilometers
241.04 km
Drive Time
03h 00m

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 03h 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cottonwood
Fri, Apr 17, 4:06 AM MST
Return by in San Tan Valley
Fri, Apr 17, 7:06 AM MST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Tan Valley
2026-04-17T01:05
Arrive Cottonwood
Fri, Apr 17, 4:06 AM MST
Route Timing
03h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM MST

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

Leave by
12:30 PM MST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in San Tan Valley
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
New River
AZ

Census-designated place in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

From San Tan Valley
74.9 mi
01h 30m
To Cottonwood
74.8 mi
01h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM MST
Wind
5 to 10 mph WSW
Destination
72°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM MST
Wind
6 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between San Tan Valley and Cottonwood.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Tan Valley and Cottonwood.

  1. 1

    Start on East Skyline Drive

    46 m · 4 sec · East Skyline Drive

  2. 2

    Continue on North Schnepf Road

    2 mi · 5 min · North Schnepf Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Combs Road

    2 mi · 4 min · East Combs Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto North Gantzel Road

    2 mi · 3 min · North Gantzel Road

  5. 5

    Continue on North Ironwood Road

    3.5 mi · 6 min · North Ironwood Road

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Gateway Expressway

    1.3 km · 1 min · Gateway Expressway

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    1975 ft · 39 sec

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    1785 ft · 36 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on Gateway Freeway

    1677 ft · 32 sec · Gateway Freeway

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    1824 ft · 37 sec

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    2106 ft · 42 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on Gateway Freeway

    3102 ft · 59 sec · Gateway Freeway

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    2077 ft · 42 sec

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    1871 ft · 25 sec

  15. 15

    Continue on Gateway Freeway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Gateway Freeway

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on AZ 202 Loop North

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Santan Freeway

    2.6 mi · 3 min · Santan Freeway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward US 60 West: Phoenix

    1.5 mi · 3 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Superstition Freeway

    17.4 mi · 20 min · Superstition Freeway

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on I 10 North

    2934 ft · 38 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Maricopa Freeway

    4.9 mi · 6 min · Maricopa Freeway

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on Maricopa Freeway

    4.2 mi · 5 min · Maricopa Freeway

  23. 23

    Continue on Black Canyon Freeway

    41.3 mi · 45 min · Black Canyon Freeway

  24. 24

    Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway

    8.9 mi · 10 min · Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway

  25. 25

    Continue on Arizona Veterans Highway

    13.4 mi · 14 min · Arizona Veterans Highway

  26. 26

    Keep slight left to continue on Arizona Veterans Highway

    24.9 mi · 25 min · Arizona Veterans Highway

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward Finnie Flat, 260 to 89a, Cottonwood, Payson, Jerome

    2375 ft · 1 min

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Finnie Flat Road

    128 m · 12 sec · Finnie Flat Road

  29. 29

    Continue on Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

    2478 ft · 59 sec · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

  30. 30

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

    51 m · 8 sec · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

  31. 31

    Exit the roundabout onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

    2331 ft · 41 sec · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

  32. 32

    Keep slight right to continue on Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

    1.2 km · 1 min · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

  33. 33

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway

    52 m · 7 sec · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

  34. 34

    Exit the rotary onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

  35. 35

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

    52 m · 3 sec · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

  36. 36

    Exit the roundabout onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

    1.6 km · 1 min · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

  37. 37

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway

    44 m · 6 sec · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

  38. 38

    Exit the rotary onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

    1.3 km · 1 min · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

  39. 39

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

    51 m · 7 sec · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

  40. 40

    Exit the roundabout onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

  41. 41

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway

    44 m · 6 sec · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

  42. 42

    Exit the rotary onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

    1.2 km · 1 min · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

  43. 43

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

    57 m · 8 sec · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

  44. 44

    Exit the roundabout onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

    4.7 mi · 7 min · Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway

  45. 45

    Continue on South Main Street

    128 m · 12 sec · South Main Street

  46. 46

    Continue on South Main Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · South Main Street

  47. 47

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between San Tan Valley and Cottonwood.

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
47 steps
18 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
19
3 merges, 16 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
31.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Black Canyon Freeway
41.3 mi · 28%
Arizona Veterans Highway
38.2 mi · 26%
Superstition Freeway
17.4 mi · 12%
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
12.2 mi · 8%
Maricopa Freeway
9.05 mi · 6%
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
8.92 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Black Canyon Freeway

Continue on Black Canyon Freeway

41.3 mi · 00h 45m

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
03h 00m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
06h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+39.3 mi
110.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
New River
01h 30m from San Tan Valley
Leave By
12:30 PM MST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving San Tan Valley and Sunny near Cottonwood.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Tan Valley to Cottonwood?

The road trip is about 149.8 miles (241 km) and usually takes 03h 00m 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?

New River is a useful midpoint, sitting about 74.9 miles from San Tan Valley and 74.8 miles from Cottonwood.

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

The direct path is about 110.5 miles (177.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 39.3 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 12:30 PM MST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.19 one way or $52.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 47 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Tan Valley and Sunny near Cottonwood.

Stop Ideas Near New River

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around New River, 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 New River.

BUS

Phoenix (Metro Center Transit Station), Arizona

40 mi away
9617 North Metro Parkway West
BUS

Phoenix (Airport), Arizona

54 mi away
3400 East Sky Harbor Blvd.
BUS

Phoenix (Greyhound), Arizona

54 mi away
2115 East Buckeye Road
BUS

Camp Verde, Arizona

82 mi away
1613 Finnie Flats Rd

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Tan Valley and Cottonwood. Straight-line distance: 110.47 mi (177.78 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 San Tan Valley

San Tan Valley is a place in Arizona, United States.

Population0
Coordinates33.1911000, -111.5280000
Altitude462
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Cottonwood

City in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States

Population11,818
Coordinates34.7391900, -112.0098800
Altitude1014
CountryUnited States
Start: San Tan Valley (-111.528, 33.1911)
End: Cottonwood (-112.00988, 34.73919)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 241 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 08m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.29 gal
20.01 L · about $26.19
Round trip
$52.38
10.58 gal · 40.02 L
Estimated CO2
47 kg one way
Round trip: 94 kg / 207 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $26.19 $52.38
Mid-grade $5.34 $28.24 $56.48
Premium $5.57 $29.44 $58.89
Diesel $6.37 $33.68 $67.35

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between San Tan Valley and Cottonwood. The current time is 01:05:37.

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.