Driving from Colorado to Arizona

Colorado to Arizona Driving
Directions and Map

There is just one route that goes directly from Colorado to Arizona and that is Highway 160.

You can catch Highway 160 east out of Durango, Colorado and take it to Cortez.

At Cortez, it turns south towards Arizona.

Highway 160 passes into Arizona at the famous "Four Corners".

This is the place where the borders of four states - Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico - meet.

There is a marker here and it's a popular spot with tourists who stop to snap each others photos here.

The road remains Highway 160 in Arizona and passes through the northern section of the Navajo Nation.

Navajo National Monument, off of Highway 160, makes for a scenic stop when driving from Colorado to Arizona (Photo: iStockphoto)

There are several scenic detours along this route including Monument Valley, Goulding’s Lodge and the ancient Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings at Navajo National Monument.

You can stay on Highway 160, continuing southwest across the Navajo Nation, until the highway joins Highway 89, east of Tuba City.

From here, turn south and take Highway 89 directly into Flagstaff and to Interstate 40.

Or, instead of using the entire Highway 160 route, you can turn south on Highway 191, at its junction with Highway 160, at Mexican Water.

This is a secondary route over the Navajo Nation.

Highway 191 eventually connects with Interstate 40 (I-40) at the town of Chambers.

Once you reach I-40, head west to Flagstaff and then turn south on Interstate 17 to get to Phoenix.

Either one of these routes will take you across the beautiful Navajo Nation and some of the most scenic landscapes in all of Arizona.

If you are traveling in winter, be sure to check road conditions before you begin your journey.

The Four Corners area can receive very heavy snowfall and some roads may be closed or require snow chains.

If you are driving from Denver to Arizona, you can just take Interstate 25 south into New Mexico.

This major interstate continues east to Santa Fe and then turns south to Albuquerque.

From Albuquerque, take Interstate 40 west into Arizona.

At Flagstaff, Arizona, you can take Interstate 17 south to Phoenix.

Click here to see a map of the driving route from Colorado to Arizona.

This page is intended for informational purposes only. Construction projects, traffic conditions, weather or other events may cause road conditions to differ from those described here. This information is not meant to cover every possible scenario or outcome. Before you travel, do your homework. YOU are solely responsible for your personal safety. We cannot assume responsibility for you or anyone else’s safety that reads and uses this information. Always inquire locally before traveling. Always be conservative when planning your trips and routes.Arizona-Vacation-Planner.com accepts no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information.