How far is San Tan Valley, AZ from Cottonwood, AZ?
The driving distance from San Tan Valley, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ is about 289.2 miles (465.4 km), with a travel time of about 07h 07m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 219.8 miles (353.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 15m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MST.
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 07h 07m.
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.
Census-designated place in Gila County, Arizona, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Mostly Sunny
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.
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1
Start on East Skyline Drive
46 m · 4 sec · East Skyline Drive
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2
Continue on North Schnepf Road
2 mi · 5 min · North Schnepf Road
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3
Turn left onto East Combs Road
2 mi · 4 min · East Combs Road
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4
Turn right onto North Gantzel Road
2 mi · 3 min · North Gantzel Road
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5
Continue on North Ironwood Road
3.5 mi · 6 min · North Ironwood Road
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6
Turn left onto Gateway Expressway
1.3 km · 1 min · Gateway Expressway
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7
Continue straight
1975 ft · 39 sec
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8
Continue straight
1785 ft · 36 sec
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9
Continue on Gateway Freeway
1677 ft · 32 sec · Gateway Freeway
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10
Continue straight
1824 ft · 37 sec
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11
Continue straight
2106 ft · 42 sec
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12
Continue on Gateway Freeway
3102 ft · 59 sec · Gateway Freeway
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13
Continue straight
2077 ft · 42 sec
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14
Continue straight
1871 ft · 25 sec
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15
Continue on Gateway Freeway
1.5 mi · 2 min · Gateway Freeway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on AZ 202 Loop North
1.1 mi · 2 min
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17
Merge slight left onto Santan Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Santan Freeway
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18
Continue on Red Mountain Freeway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Red Mountain Freeway
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19
Take the exit slight right toward University Drive
1704 ft · 42 sec
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20
Turn straight onto Apache Trail Frontage Road
643 ft · 28 sec · Apache Trail Frontage Road
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21
Turn right onto East University Drive
832 ft · 19 sec · East University Drive
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22
Turn left onto North Ellsworth Road
2.8 mi · 5 min · North Ellsworth Road
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23
Continue on North Usery Pass Road
5.9 mi · 10 min · North Usery Pass Road
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24
Turn right onto North Bush Highway
9.5 mi · 17 min · North Bush Highway
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25
Take the ramp right toward Payson
1379 ft · 38 sec
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26
Merge slight left onto Beeline Highway
51.2 mi · 1 hr 1 min · Beeline Highway
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27
Continue on North Beeline Highway
1.2 mi · 2 min · North Beeline Highway
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28
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Payson-Winslow Highway
40 m · 3 sec · North Beeline Highway
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29
Exit the rotary onto North Beeline Highway
3063 ft · 1 min · North Beeline Highway
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30
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Payson-Winslow Highway
35 m · 2 sec · North Beeline Highway
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31
Exit the rotary onto North Beeline Highway
663 ft · 11 sec · North Beeline Highway
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32
Continue on Arizona State Highway 87
2.6 mi · 4 min · Arizona State Highway 87
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33
Continue on Payson-Winslow Highway
10.8 mi · 16 min · Payson-Winslow Highway
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34
Continue on Arizona State Highway 87
1.4 mi · 2 min · Arizona State Highway 87
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35
Continue on Payson-Winslow Highway
1.4 km · 1 min · Payson-Winslow Highway
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36
Continue on North AZ Highway 87
2253 ft · 55 sec · North AZ Highway 87
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37
Continue on Payson-Winslow Highway
7.5 mi · 11 min · Payson-Winslow Highway
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38
Continue on State Route 87
11.8 mi · 16 min · State Route 87
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39
Continue on Payson–Winslow Highway
631 ft · 10 sec · Payson–Winslow Highway
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40
Continue on State Highway 87
8.2 mi · 11 min · State Highway 87
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41
Continue on State Route 87
6 mi · 9 min · State Route 87
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42
Continue on Starlight Drive
105 m · 6 sec · Starlight Drive
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43
Continue on State Highway 87
18.9 mi · 28 min · State Highway 87
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44
Continue on Payson-Winslow Highway
18.3 mi · 27 min · Payson-Winslow Highway
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45
Turn right onto East 2nd Street
2.4 mi · 4 min · East 2nd Street
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46
Continue on Winslow–Kayenta Highway
40.1 mi · 47 min · Winslow–Kayenta Highway
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47
Continue on AZ 87
4.1 mi · 5 min · AZ 87
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48
Continue on Winslow–Kayenta Highway
16.7 mi · 19 min · Winslow–Kayenta Highway
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49
At the end of the road, turn right onto Arizona State Highway 264
11.7 mi · 14 min · Arizona State Highway 264
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50
Turn left onto Indian Route 60
6.6 mi · 16 min · Indian Route 60
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51
Continue on Hopi Route 65
8.4 mi · 20 min · Hopi Route 65
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52
Continue on Navajo Route 65
1.3 mi · 3 min · Navajo Route 65
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53
Continue on Indian Route 65
2.8 mi · 7 min · Indian Route 65
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54
Continue on Navajo Route 65
1.9 mi · 5 min · Navajo Route 65
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55
At the end of the road, turn right onto Navajo Route 4
4 mi · 10 min · Navajo Route 4
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56
Continue on Indian Route 4
1.8 mi · 4 min · Indian Route 4
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57
Continue on Navajo Route 4
6.4 mi · 16 min · Navajo Route 4
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58
Turn right
1460 ft · 1 min
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59
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Tan Valley and Cottonwood.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Beeline Highway
Merge slight left onto Beeline Highway
51.2 mi · 01h 01m
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.
Sunny leaving San Tan Valley and Mostly 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 289.2 miles (465.4 km) and usually takes 07h 07m 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?
Pine is a useful midpoint, sitting about 144.7 miles from San Tan Valley and 144.5 miles from Cottonwood.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 219.8 miles (353.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 69.4 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 MST. 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 $50.50 one way or $101.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 90.6 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between San Tan Valley and Cottonwood, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Tan Valley and Mostly Sunny near Cottonwood.
Stop Ideas Near Pine
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 Pine.
Camp Verde, Arizona
Sedona (Center Bus Stop), Arizona
Flagstaff (Greyhound), Arizona
Flagstaff Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Tan Valley and Cottonwood. Straight-line distance: 219.75 mi (353.66 km).
#1 San Tan Valley
This Arizonan community is situated in the Sonoran Desert, surrounded by the San Tan Mountains Regional Park.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 33.1911000, -111.5280000 |
| Altitude | 462 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Cottonwood
City in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
| Population | 12,762 |
| Coordinates | 36.0730600, -109.8923400 |
| Altitude | 1850 |
| Country | United States |
End: Cottonwood (-109.89234, 36.07306)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 465 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 38m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 13m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 47m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 49m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 07m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 36m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.95 | $50.50 | $101.00 |
| Mid-grade | $5.34 | $54.45 | $108.90 |
| Premium | $5.57 | $56.77 | $113.55 |
| Diesel | $6.37 | $64.93 | $129.87 |
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 · Jun 03, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.