Fountain Hills to Midway: Desert to Alpine Drive

Leaving Fountain Hills, the road west follows AZ-87 through the Sonoran Desert, where saguaros stand sentinel against a backdrop of volcanic peaks. The route quickly joins I-17 north, climbing from 1,530 feet to the 6,900-foot Mogollon Rim, a dramatic geological escarpment that marks the Colorado Plateau.

This 853-mile journey ends in Midway, Utah (elevation 5,584 feet), a small town famed for its geothermal hot pots, framed by the Wasatch Mountains. The drive typically takes 13–14 hours of pure driving, but most travelers stretch it over two to three days to savor the changing terrain.

Fuel economy fluctuates with altitude: expect 10–15% better gas mileage in the high desert thanks to thinner air and fewer stops. Gas prices vary widely—Flagstaff often runs 15–20 cents higher than Arizona's valley cities, while Utah's rural stations may add a premium.

The route follows I-17 to Flagstaff, then I-40 east to Holbrook, and US-191 north through Chinle and Mexican Hat before hitting US-163 into Moab. From Moab, I-70 west to US-6 and US-189 brings you into Midway. These roads are well-maintained, but sections of US-191 in Navajo Nation and US-163 near Monument Valley have limited services—plan fuel accordingly.

Highway hypnosis is a real risk on the long straight stretches of US-191 and I-70. Plan to stop every two hours or 100 miles to stretch and hydrate. Rest areas with picnic tables and restrooms are abundant on interstates, but on two-lane roads, cafes in small towns double as rest stops.

For families, the route offers plenty of interactive stops: the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff features Native American artifacts and a living history village, while Moab's Utah Field House of Natural History has a dinosaur garden kids can wander. Motels with outdoor pools are common in Moab and Green River, providing a welcome cool-down after a day of hiking.

Pet owners should note that many national parks, including Petrified Forest and Canyonlands, restrict pets to parking lots and developed areas, but the vast backcountry of the Navajo Nation and BLM lands welcomes leashed pets. Always carry extra water and a collapsible bowl; temperatures can be extreme. For planning hidden gems, consider using how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities.

Beyond the Grand Canyon's South Rim (detour from Williams), the route passes through Petrified Forest National Park—where fossilized logs color the badlands—and the Navajo Nation's iconic Monument Valley. A must-see hidden gem: Goosenecks State Park, a breathtaking meander in the San Juan River, located 20 miles southwest of Mexican Hat.

In Utah, Capitol Reef National Park (off I-70) offers a quieter alternative to Moab's crowds, with its Waterpocket Fold and historic Fruita orchards. For local commerce, Moab's main street brims with galleries selling Navajo rugs and Ute crafts; a local diner serves fry bread tacos topped with green chile, a regional specialty.

Weather extremes shape the experience: summer highs exceed 100°F in the desert, while Flagstaff and Midway see snow from November to April. The most comfortable seasons are spring (April–May) and fall (September–October), when temperatures are mild and crowds thin. Pack layers, as temperatures can swing 30°F between day and night, especially in high deserts.