There are two main highways that go Flagstaff: I-17 from Phoenix and the I-40, which is most often taken from Las Vegas. Both of these highways can have regular traffic and road condition issues year-round. Use your everyday apps like Google Maps and Waze to get a good idea of your travel time. But you can use the Arizona Department of Transportation website to get more details regarding road closures, construction and weather conditions. https://www.az511.com/

1-17 Traffic Warnings and Road Conditions

There is potential traffic on the way to Flagstaff from Phoenix during the weekend nearly all times of the year. You can count on traffic starting on the I-17 as far south as Black Canyon City if you leave on a Saturday after 9am on a 3-day weekend. We recommend that you travel north on a Friday night after 7pm or before 9am on Saturday. That's your best window, otherwise, traffic is often bumper to bumper and can add 1-3 hours to your time on the road.

Winter Conditions It's hard to believe, but yes, Arizona gets snow and Flagstaff can get a lot of it. Snow can see be seen as far south as Prescott, but typically it falls in the higher elevations of the mountains. You won't have to worry about winter road conditions this soon in your drive. Sedona also gets some snow every now and then, which just makes for a stunning view. But winter road conditions don't usually get real until you pass the Stoneman Lake Road exit. If there has been a recent snowstorm, this is where you should start taking caution. Munds Park tends to get icy and slick, so definitely slow down on this stretch of your drive. 4WD, AWD and chains are useful to have if you plan on driving during a storm. If you plan on going to Snowbowl, they will require 4WD or chains to go up to the ski resort when it is snowing or if Snowbowl Road is icy.

I-40 Traffic Warnings and Road Conditions

I-40 is the main East/West artery that goes through Flagstaff. The only time there will be bumper to bumper traffic is when there is an accident or construction. Unfortunately, that can be often, especially in inclement weather. Make sure to check road conditions and traffic reports prior to embarking on your journey. I-40 has a couple not so great features that are good to know about. First, there are a lot of potholes - they're more of a nuisance than a danger. Second, I-40 gets extremely slick during winter storm conditions in the stretch of highway between Flagstaff and Ashfork. That's where the majority of vehicle accidents take place. Please take great caution when driving this stretch of the highway in inclement weather.

5 Tips on Driving on Winter Roads

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