How far is the desert from Phoenix?

Planning to drive from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon? There are three ways to get to the South Rim and one way to get to the North Rim, with varying drive times and things to see and do along the way.

Depending on your route, you could explore the Route 66 town of Williams, enjoy the forest and mountain scenery north of Flagstaff or drive through the stark beauty of the Navajo Nation with the Painted Desert in the distance.

These tips will help you decide which route to take. Keep in mind that drive times are estimated based on good conditions and don't include traffic slowdowns, which are common on Interstate 17, inclement weather and stops for food or gas.

More:7 easy hikes at the Grand Canyon, plus 3 not-too-difficult ones

Driving to the South Rim

The South Rim is the closest part of Grand Canyon to Phoenix and there are three ways to get there.

1. Via Williams. From Phoenix, take Interstate 17 north to Flagstaff, then take Interstate 40 west to Williams. At Exit 164, go north on State Route 64 to the park entrance a mile north of the tiny town of Tusayan, which is the closest town to the South Rim. It's about 230 miles and a 3-hour, 40-minute drive.

2. Via Flagstaff. Take I-17 north to Flagstaff. Continue straight through town to the turnoff for U.S. 180. Turn left on U.S. 180 and drive northwest to Valle, then turn right and drive north on SR 64 to the park entrance. It's about 230 miles and a four-hour drive.

3. Via Cameron. Take I-17 north to Flagstaff. Go east on I-40, get off at Exit 201 and go north on U.S. 89 to Cameron, on the Navajo Reservation. At the roundabout, head west on SR 64 to the park's eastern entrance at Desert View. It's another 26 miles on the winding park road to Grand Canyon Village, where the hotels, restaurants and shops are. This route is about 230 miles and a little over 4 hours of driving.

More:Grand Canyon in winter: Here's why you should go and what you can do

Which route is best for you?

If you like highway driving, take the Williams route.

If you like forest scenery, take the Flagstaff route. Note that U.S. 180 can be icy in winter.

If you like desert scenery and Native American culture, take the Cameron route. It passes through the Navajo Reservation. Masks are required on the reservation. Get updates on the Navajo Nation's COVID-19 requirements at https://www.navajo-nsn.gov.

Driving to the North Rim

If your destination is the North Rim, you have just one option from Phoenix.

Take I-17 north to Flagstaff. Go east on I-40, get off at Exit 201 and go north on U.S. 89 to Bitter Springs. There, go left on U.S. 89A to Jacob Lake, then follow State Route 67 south to the North Rim. It's about 350 miles and a seven-hour drive from Phoenix.

Lodging inside the park at the North Rim is limited. Here's how to make reservations for 2022. Know that lodging and other services are available at the North Rim only from mid-May through mid-October, and SR 67 closes in winter, usually around mid-November.

More:North Rim trip planning guide: Here are the best things to see and do

There are 248.21 miles from Palm Desert to Phoenix in east direction and 258 miles (415.21 kilometers) by car, following the I-10 E route.

Palm Desert and Phoenix are 3 hours 46 mins far apart, if you drive non-stop .

This is the fastest route from Palm Desert, CA to Phoenix, AZ. The halfway point is Quartzsite, AZ.

Palm Desert, CA and Phoenix, AZ are in the same time zone (PDT). Current time in both locations is 11:05 am.

Any questions or tips to share?

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Gas Consumption and Emissions

A car with a fuel efficiency of MPG will need 10.35 gallons of gas to cover the route between Palm Desert, CA and Phoenix, AZ.

The estimated cost of gas to go from Palm Desert to Phoenix is $40.24.

During the route, an average car will release 202.84 pounds of CO2 to the atmosphere. The carbon footprint would be 0.79 pounds of CO2 per mile.

• Average USA gas price used for calculation is $3.89 per gallon of regular gas. Price last updated on October 18, 2022.
• Read more about our CO2 calculation.

Best Hotels In or Near Phoenix, AZ

Do you have where to stay when you arrive to Phoenix, AZ? Check out our hotel recommendations:

Halfway Point Between Palm Desert, CA and Phoenix, AZ

If you want to meet halfway between Palm Desert, CA and Phoenix, AZ or just make a stop in the middle of your trip, the exact coordinates of the halfway point of this route are 33.661301 and -114.244247, or 33º 39' 40.6836" N, 114º 14' 39.2892" W. This location is 128.90 miles away from Palm Desert, CA and Phoenix, AZ and it would take approximately 1 hour 53 mins to reach the halfway point from both locations.

Closest City or Town to Halfway Point

The closest town to the halfway point is Quartzsite, AZ, situated 130 miles from Palm Desert, CA and 128 miles from Phoenix, AZ. It would take 1 hour 57 mins to go from Palm Desert to Quartzsite and 1 hour 52 mins to go from Phoenix to Quartzsite.

Major Cities Along the Route

The only major city along the route is Glendale, AZ.

Weather in Palm Desert and Phoenix

Compare the weather today and the next four days in Palm Desert, CA and Phoenix, AZ:

Lowest Price Rental Cars in Palm Desert, CA

Planning on renting a car to go from Palm Desert, CA to Phoenix, AZ? Here there are some offers to rent a car in or near Palm Desert, CA:

Small

From $14

Intermediate

From $18

Full-size

From $24

SUVs

From $28

Vans

From $40

Compare rental car prices in Palm Desert »

Distance conversions

Checkout the distance in miles, kilometers and nautical miles between Palm Desert, CA and Phoenix, AZ in this table:

Road Trip Tips

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