DriveCosts

Road trip cost

How Much Does It Cost to Drive From Monterey to Phoenix?

At 704 miles and roughly 11 hr 24 min of driving, the route from Monterey, CA to Phoenix, AZ is a long-haul trip. Budget for multiple fuel stops, food, and possibly an overnight stay — gas alone can run well over a hundred dollars depending on your vehicle.

Long-haulLong haul
  • Updated for 2026
  • US avg fuel prices
  • EPA-style MPG
  • EV rates vary by state
  • US units
Distance

704 mi

Driving time

11 hr 24 min

Fuel stops

2

EV charges

3

Route overview704 mi

2 suggested fuel stops

Key takeaway

Plan on about $87 in gas one-way in a 28 MPG sedan, with 2 fuel stops and roughly 11 hr 24 min behind the wheel.

Drive intensity

Long-haul

Consider an overnight stop.

Estimate your trip cost

Pre-filled with the Monterey → Phoenix distance.

miles
mpg
$/gal

Estimated Trip Cost

$0.00

Per Person

$0.00

Gallons

0.00gal

Total miles: 704 (one way).

How we estimate this trip

Distance
Great-circle distance between city centers × 1.18 road factor, rounded to whole miles.
Fuel cost formula
(miles ÷ MPG) × price per gallon, computed one-way unless noted.
Gas price assumption
Recent US average retail regular gas (AAA-style baseline).
EV charging assumption
Combined MPGe with average US residential electricity rate.
Tolls & weather
Not included — add manually for I-95, I-90 and mountain routes.
Driving time
Estimated at typical highway average speeds; excludes long breaks.

Sources & assumptions

  • EPA fuel economy data — City / highway / combined MPG and MPGe baselines.
  • U.S. Department of Energy (fueleconomy.gov) — Vehicle efficiency and EV range references.
  • AAA gas price trends — Recent national and regional retail fuel averages.
  • EIA electricity rates — Average residential per-kWh prices used for EV charging.

We summarize publicly available data — no scraping, no external API calls. Figures are calibrated periodically; use the calculators above for your exact inputs.

Fuel cost by vehicle type

Estimated one-way fuel cost at $3.45/gal (US average). Adjust for your local price.

Compact car· 35 MPG · 20.1 gal$69.39
Sedan· 28 MPG · 25.1 gal$86.74
SUV· 22 MPG · 32.0 gal$110.40
Pickup truck· 18 MPG · 39.1 gal$134.93

Cost at different gas prices

Assuming a 28 MPG sedan over the 704-mile route.

Gas at $3.15/gal

$79.20

one way · ~25.1 gal

Gas at $3.45/gal

$86.74

one way · ~25.1 gal

Gas at $3.85/gal

$96.80

one way · ~25.1 gal

Fuel & charging stops

2 fuel stops one-way

A typical 28 MPG sedan with a 12.5-gallon tank covers about 350 miles per fill-up. Plan 2 stops along the way and fuel up before any remote stretches.

3 DC fast-charges for most EVs

Assuming a realistic 230-mile highway range, plan 3 DC fast-charging stops. Tesla Superchargers and Electrify America have strong coverage on most US corridors.

Halfway stop suggestion

Midpoint

Palm Springs, CA

Roughly halfway between Monterey and Phoenix. A natural place to fuel up, grab a meal, swap drivers, or stop overnight on longer drives.

Route personality

Cross-country haulBeach destinationOvernight-friendly

California driving context

  • LA, SF and San Diego metros face dense traffic — rush hours can add 30–90 minutes.
  • Dense Supercharger and Electrify America coverage makes this an EV-friendly corridor.
  • Mountain passes (Grapevine, Tejon, Donner) gain 4,000+ ft of elevation; expect a temporary MPG dip on climbs.

City insights

Monterey, CA

  • Monterey draws year-round visitors — book parking and lodging ahead in peak weeks.
  • Beach access roads near Monterey fill early on weekends; weekday arrivals are easier.

Phoenix, AZ

  • Phoenix traffic is heaviest 7–9 am and 4–7 pm — time your arrival around it.
  • Government and event-day closures around downtown Phoenix can reroute traffic.
  • Limited shade and long distances between services around Phoenix — fuel up before leaving.

Best stops along the way

  • Palm Springs, CA sits near the midpoint — natural fuel, food and restroom stop.
  • Pick a sit-down meal stop around the 2.5-hour mark to reset focus and avoid drive-thru fatigue.
  • Scenic pull-offs and coastal overlooks add 15–30 min but break up the monotony on tourism corridors.
  • Tesla Superchargers and Electrify America hubs cluster around major interchanges — easy 20-min top-ups.

Seasonal notes

Summer

Peak beach and theme-park traffic; expect 20–40% longer drive times around weekends.

Summer

Desert highs over 110°F stress engines, tires and EV batteries — drive early or late, never midday.

Late summer / early fall

Western wildfire smoke can drop visibility and force I-5 / I-80 detours — check InciWeb.

Recommendations for this route

  • Split the drive across a meal stop or overnight — fatigue starts hurting reaction time after 5 hours.
  • Run tires at the door-jamb PSI and pre-cool the cabin with AC on low — both add 1–3 MPG.

Is it cheaper to fly or drive?

Flying is often cheaper for one person at this distance. Driving makes sense for families, road-trippers, or anyone bringing gear.

A one-way drive uses about $87 in gas (28 MPG, $3.45/gal). A typical short domestic flight costs $80–$220 per person plus $30–$60/day for airport parking and any baggage fees.

Weather & best time

October through April is most comfortable. Summer driving means extreme heat and higher AC fuel use.

  • • Summer highs over 100°F across the desert — drive early morning or after sunset and carry extra water.

Tolls

Mostly toll-free — you can drive this without a transponder.

Best vehicle

Comfort matters more than MPG on this distance. A larger sedan, hybrid SUV, or full-size SUV for families works well.

Driving difficulty

Long-haul · 11 hr 24 min

Very high — strongly consider an overnight stop rather than pushing through in a single day.

Overnight stop recommended

At 11 hr 24 min of driving, splitting the trip across two days is safer and more enjoyable. Budget hotels along the route typically run $70–$130/night.

About the drive from Monterey to Phoenix

This 704-mile route between Monterey, CA and Phoenix, AZ is a popular drive in the region. Expect roughly 11 hr 24 min behind the wheel under normal traffic conditions.

Fuel-saving tips

  • Keep your speed near 65 mph — fuel economy drops sharply above 70.
  • Fill up before mountain or desert stretches; remote stations charge a premium.
  • Use GasBuddy or AAA to spot cheap stations along your route before you leave.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to drive from Monterey to Phoenix?

The drive is about 704 miles and takes roughly 11 hr 24 min under normal traffic. Add buffer for stops, construction, and rush hour around either city.

How much gas does the trip use?

In a 28 MPG sedan, expect about 25.1 gallons one way. A 22 MPG SUV would use roughly 32.0 gallons.

What's the typical fuel cost?

At the US average of $3.45/gal, a 28 MPG vehicle costs about $86.74 one way. Round trip roughly doubles that. Use the calculator above for your exact MPG and local gas price.

How many fuel or charging stops will I need?

A typical gas sedan needs about 2 fuel stops one way. A modern EV with ~230 miles of highway range needs about 3 DC fast-charges.

Is it cheaper to drive or fly from Monterey to Phoenix?

Flying is often cheaper for one person at this distance. Driving makes sense for families, road-trippers, or anyone bringing gear.

What's the best time of year to drive this route?

October through April is most comfortable. Summer driving means extreme heat and higher AC fuel use.

Where's a good halfway stop?

Palm Springs, CA is roughly halfway and makes a natural fuel, food, or overnight break.

Best vehicles for this route

Estimated 704-mile fuel cost for each pick at average US prices. Tap any vehicle for a full cost breakdown.

Cheapest to drive

Toyota Prius

57 MPG · hybrid

~$43

est. one-way fuel cost

See full breakdown

Best EV

Lucid Air

134 MPGe · ev

~$28

est. one-way charging cost

See full breakdown

Best sedan

Hyundai Elantra

37 MPG · sedan

~$66

est. one-way fuel cost

See full breakdown

Best SUV for comfort

Nissan Rogue

33 MPG · suv

~$74

est. one-way fuel cost

See full breakdown

Best truck for cargo

Ford Maverick

26 MPG · truck

~$93

est. one-way fuel cost

See full breakdown

Related routes

More routes like Monterey to Phoenix

Reverse drives, connecting routes and regional alternatives — each with distance and driving cost at current US gas prices.

Reverse drive

Phoenix to Monterey driving cost

704 mi · 11.4 h

Related road trips

More routes from Monterey, Phoenix, and the surrounding region.

Amarillo → Phoenix

~704 mi · 11 hr 24 min

See cost

Phoenix → Monterey

~704 mi · 11 hr 24 min

See cost

Reno → Phoenix

~709 mi · 11 hr 24 min

See cost

Boulder → Phoenix

~695 mi · 11 hr 12 min

See cost

Lubbock → Phoenix

~694 mi · 11 hr 12 min

See cost

Denver → Phoenix

~691 mi · 11 hr 6 min

See cost

Monterey → Provo

~717 mi · 11 hr 36 min

See cost

Monterey → Salt Lake City

~721 mi · 11 hr 36 min

See cost

Monterey → Flagstaff

~686 mi · 11 hr 6 min

See cost

Monterey → Sedona

~685 mi · 11 hr

See cost
More CA road trips →More AZ road trips →Cheapest road trips →Weekend road trips →Long-distance drives →EV-friendly routes →Browse all routes →Custom trip calculator →