I-17 · AZ
I-17 from Phoenix to Flagstaff: road conditions right now
Phoenix, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ
I-17 climbs 6,000 feet in 145 miles from Phoenix to Flagstaff. The top 40 miles from Camp Verde through Munds Park are where snow and ice close it, often while it is 70°F in Phoenix.
Conditions at Sat, 7:24 AM MST
Highest risk along I-17: 1 of 5 (low), departing at that time.
- No active NWS alerts on this route.
The road authority linked below has the final word on closures and chain requirements.
Clear driving for the whole 2 h 4 min.
Conditions: Cloudy
Checkpoints along I-17
| Where | You pass | Weather | Risk | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | Sat 8:00 AM | 65°F | low | Nothing flagged |
| New River, AZ | Sat 8:30 AM | 63°F | low | Nothing flagged |
| Cordes Lakes, AZ | Sat 9:00 AM | 57°F | low | Sources differ: NWS says Slight Chance Rain Showers at 58°F |
| Big Park, AZ | Sat 9:30 AM | 57°F | low | Sources differ: NWS says Slight Chance Rain Showers at 55°F |
| Flagstaff, AZ | Sat 10:00 AM – 10:04 AM | 50°F | low | Sources differ: NWS says Chance Rain Showers at 49°F |
Why this stretch is hard in winter
- The grade between Camp Verde and Stoneman Lake exit is steep, curvy, and shaded; ice forms there first.
- ADOT restricts trucks and closes lanes for crashes; full closures happen a few times a winter.
- No services between Camp Verde and Flagstaff except Munds Park.
What this page checks
- Hourly forecast at every checkpoint for the time you would be there: temperature, precipitation type and rate, gusts, visibility.
- Active National Weather Service watches, warnings, and advisories on the route.
- Snow on the ground (NOAA SNODAS) and the Weather Prediction Center winter impact outlook.
- Pavement temperature and surface state from state DOT road sensors, when you are leaving within a few hours.
- Chain controls, closures, and winter road condition reports from state DOT feeds where they are published openly.
- Seasonal closures of mountain roads the router might otherwise use.
Official sources for this corridor
Questions drivers ask about I-17
- Do I need chains on I-17?
- ADOT rarely requires chains for passenger cars but does close the road when spinouts pile up. Snow tires or AWD are strongly advised for the last 40 miles in a storm.
Conditions change by the hour. This page is a planning aid built on public forecasts and DOT feeds; the road authority linked above has the final word on closures and chain requirements.
Other corridors: I-80 across Wyoming · I-70 through the Colorado mountains · I-80 over Donner Pass · I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass · I-84 through the Blue Mountains · I-15 over Cajon Pass · all corridors