Flagstaff is about 135 miles from central Phoenix on I-17 and 149 from Sky Harbor, roughly 2 hours 40 minutes without traffic. Without a car, the Groome shuttle leaves the airport from early morning until after midnight.
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The driveSunset Point rest area, I-17 · Photo: Beyond My Ken / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits
I-17 starts in Phoenix and ends in Flagstaff. You climb out of the valley past Black Canyon City and Sunset Point, cross the Verde Valley near Camp Verde and reach the pine forest for the last stretch.
On snow weekends, traffic on I-17 can add a lot of time, and after winter storms ADOT may recommend chains or four-wheel drive.
Groome is the scheduled shuttle between Phoenix Sky Harbor and Flagstaff. Every seat is reserved, and in Flagstaff passengers wait at the train station 15 minutes before departure.
The cheapest way up without a car. The buses leave from Tempe and Glendale rather than the airport, so from Sky Harbor you'd first take the light rail to Tempe. In Flagstaff they stop at the visitor center downtown, where the Groome shuttle stops too.
These ADOT cameras show a recent picture of the road. They don't tell you about chain requirements; az511.gov does.
Flagstaff sits at about 7,000 feet. In July the average high is 82°F with nights around 51°F; in January it's 43°F by day and 18°F at night.
That height also means thinner air. Hiking or skiing on the day you drive up from the valley feels harder than usual.
I-17 arrives in Flagstaff at the Woodlands Village area, where many hotels sit right by the interstate.
Comfort Inn Flagstaff South I-17Woodlands Village and I-17 9.4/10 on Expedia · 1,920 reviewsFree parkingPets: pets allowedBreakfast includedCheck prices
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham FlagstaffWoodlands Village and I-17 9.2/10 on Expedia · 2,980 reviewsFree parkingPets: dogs and cats, up to 2, up to 75 lb each, set rooms onlyBreakfast includedCheck prices
Home2 Suites By Hilton FlagstaffWoodlands Village and I-17 9.4/10 on Expedia · 445 reviewsParking $7 a dayPets: dogs and cats, up to 2, up to 100 lb eachBreakfast includedCheck prices
Aiden by Best Western FlagstaffWoodlands Village and I-17 9.2/10 on Expedia · 1,375 reviewsFree parkingNo petsBreakfast extraCheck pricesAbout 135 miles from central Phoenix and about 149 miles from Sky Harbor Airport, all on I-17.
About 2 hours 40 minutes from Sky Harbor without traffic. Weekend traffic and winter weather on I-17 can add a lot more.
Take the Groome shuttle from Sky Harbor. It runs from 6 am until 12:30 am and drops you at the Flagstaff train station or the Groome office. Seats must be reserved.
Yes. Greyhound and FlixBus run from Tempe and Glendale to the Flagstaff visitor center, from about 2 hours 15 minutes and $32.98. From Sky Harbor itself, the Groome shuttle is the direct option.
Groome adult fares start at $65 online ($70 regular), children 12 and under from $49, plus a $2 fuel surcharge per passenger. Fares change by date and time.
Yes. American Airlines flies from Phoenix Sky Harbor to Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, about 5 miles south of downtown. The Flagstaff airport guide has parking and the Phoenix shuttle.
No. Amtrak's Southwest Chief stops in Flagstaff, but it runs east–west between Chicago and Los Angeles, not to Phoenix.
Elevation. Flagstaff sits at about 7,000 feet, so even in July the average high is 82°F, and in January it's 43°F with lows around 18°F.
It's interstate the whole way, climbing from the desert through the Verde Valley up onto the forested plateau. The I-17 cameras and az511.gov show current conditions, which matters most in winter.
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