# Interstate 17

Interstate 17 (I-17) is a north–south Interstate Highway located entirely within the US state of Arizona. I-17's southern terminus lies in Phoenix, at I-10/US 60 and its northern terminus is in Flagstaff, at Milton Road north of I-40.
Most of I-17 is known as the Arizona Veterans Highway. In the Phoenix metropolitan area, it is mostly known as the Black Canyon Freeway, however, the southern 4.16 miles (6.69 km) are part of the Maricopa Freeway. The portion of the highway south of Cordes Lakes was built along the alignment of State Route 69 (SR 69), while the northern part was built along old SR 79's alignment. The final section of I-17 was completed in 1978.
I-17 gains more than one mile (1.6 km) in elevation between Phoenix at 1,117 feet (340 m) and Flagstaff at 7,000 feet (2,100 m). The highway features several scenic view exits along its route that overlook the many mountains and valleys in northern Arizona.

## Route description

I-17 is known as the Black Canyon Freeway from the northern end of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area to a point 2.2 miles (3.5 km) south of The Stack interchange with I-10 northwest of Downtown Phoenix. (It is accompanied by frontage roads for most of this portion, and they carry the Black Canyon Highway name to distinguish from the freeway status.) At the Durango Curve southwest of downtown, between the 19th Avenue and Buckeye Road interchanges, it picks up the designation Maricopa Freeway all the way to the southern terminus at the second I-10 junction. It is one of the metropolitan area's primary freeways. It has two interchanges with I-10 in Phoenix.
The northwestern portion of Valley Metro's light rail line runs over a bridge of I-17 from Mountain View Road to Metro Parkway, serving one station at Metro Parkway.
I-17 ends at Milton Road (SR 89A) north of I-40 in Flagstaff.
* "The Stack", intersection of I-10 and I-17. Looking north up I-17, downtown Phoenix.
* Southern terminus at I-10 in Phoenix
* View of the Red Rocks of Sedona from I-17, just south of Munds Park
* I-17 near Flagstaff
* Northern terminus at I-40 as seen from I-40 in Flagstaff

## History

The I-17 corridor roughly follows the first stagecoach route through the Black Canyon, established in 1878 between Cañon (now Black Canyon City) and Prescott. A later highway through White Spar from Wickenburg to Yarnell was improved in 1925 and incorporated into US 89 in 1926.
In 1936, SR 69 was established as a state route from Phoenix north to Prescott. The road was completed by 1940 to Prescott. In 1954, a new route north to Flagstaff was established as SR 79. In May 1956, the Black Canyon Highway from Phoenix to Flagstaff was completed, but not to Interstate standards. It was incorporated into the new Interstate Highway System, established by the federal government later that year, and designated as part of I-17.
The first interchange on the Black Canyon Freeway was built in 1950 west of downtown Phoenix and was extended to Grand Avenue in 1957. The freeway was extended to McDowell Road by 1961 and out of the Phoenix suburbs by 1964, at a cost of $33 million. By 1971, I-17 had been completed from Phoenix northward to Camp Verde where a short stretch had not been completed to standards. The stretch from SR 279 (now SR 260) north to SR 179 was also complete. The largest section yet to be completed was from SR 179 north to Flagstaff. This segment was still just a two-lane roadway, but it did have full traffic interchanges built at crossroads. The portion from I-40 south to the Flagstaff Municipal Airport had been completed by this time. The final section of I-17, near Camp Verde and Montezuma Castle, began construction in February 1977 and opened to traffic in August 1978.
In 1993, officials in Arizona proposed an extension of I-17 to connect with I-15 in Utah.
The existing interchange with Happy Valley Road in Phoenix was converted to a diverging diamond interchange (DDI). The project was finished in the fall of 2020.
I-17 has the unusual distinction of starting at approximately milepost 194 instead of at milepost 0. This is a holdover from Arizona's old system of marking mileposts, where a branching route would continue the milepost numbering of its original host, instead of starting over at zero. I-17 inherited its milepost locations from SR 69, which the freeway replaced between Phoenix and Cordes Junction. SR 69's mileposting was such that it coincided with US 89's mileposting, which was 201.6 where the two routes intersected. When I-17 was constructed, the existing mileposting for SR 69 was retained.

## Future

Due to increasing weekend traffic on I-17 between the Phoenix area and northern Arizona, ADOT plans to widen a 34-mile (55 km) section of freeway between Anthem and Sunset Point Rest Area. The current span is only four lanes wide and is subject to frequent traffic jams on weekends as motorists travel to and from Sedona, Flagstaff, or other high country destinations. A third (flex) lane will be added in both directions between Anthem and Black Canyon City, but due to the mountainous topography north of Black Canyon City to Sunset Point, two flex lanes will be added in a separate carriageway next to the existing southbound lanes. The lanes would be allocated depending on peak traffic direction. Gates or a similar mechanism would control access to these lanes. Construction began in 2022 and is scheduled to be completed in 2025.

## Exit list

| County | Location | mi | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 0.00 | 0.00 | | I-10 / US 60 east – Globe, Tucson | Southern end of US 60 concurrency; southern terminus; Maricopa Freeway continues east as I-10/US 60; I-10 exit 150A |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 0.31 | 0.50 | 194 | I-10 west – Sky Harbor | Southbound exit and northbound entrance; I-10 exit 150B |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 1.14 | 1.83 | 195A | 16th Street | Southbound exit and northbound entrance |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 2.15 | 3.46 | 195B | 7th Street / Central Avenue | No southbound signage for Central Avenue |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 3.16 | 5.09 | 196 | 7th Avenue / Central Avenue | No northbound signage for Central Avenue |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 4.16 | 6.69 | 197 | 19th Avenue / Durango Street | No northbound signage for Durango Street |
| Durango Curve; Maricopa Freeway transitions to the Black Canyon Freeway |||
| Maricopa | Phoenix | | | | SR 30 west (Tres Rios Freeway) | Planned interchange |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 5.03 | 8.10 | 198 | Buckeye Road (Historic US 80) | Northbound exit only |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 5.34 | 8.59 | 199A | Grant Street / Buckeye Road (Historic US 80) | No northbound signage for Buckeye Road |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 5.73 | 9.22 | 199B | Jefferson Street | Southbound exit only |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 5.88 | 9.46 | 199B | Adams Street / Van Buren Street | Northbound exit and entrance only; Van Buren Street is former I-10 BL |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 6.49 | 10.44 | 200A | I-10 – Central Phoenix, Los Angeles | The Stack; I-10 exit 143 |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 7.05 | 11.35 | 200B | McDowell Road / Van Buren Street | No northbound signage for Van Buren Street |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 7.84 | 12.62 | | US 60 west (Grand Avenue) | Planned HOV-only interchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance; to be northern end of US 60 concurrency |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 7.84 | 12.62 | — | US 60 / US 89 / SR 93 (Grand Avenue) | Closed in the 1980s; former US 60/US 70/US 89/SR 93 |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 8.09 | 13.02 | 201 | Thomas Road to US 60 west (Grand Avenue) | Northern end of US 60 concurrency; no southbound signage for Grand Avenue |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 9.08 | 14.61 | 202 | Indian School Road | |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 10.08 | 16.22 | 203 | Camelback Road | |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 11.09 | 17.85 | 204 | Bethany Home Road | |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 12.09 | 19.46 | 205 | Glendale Avenue | |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 13.09 | 21.07 | 206 | Northern Avenue | |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 14.14 | 22.76 | 207 | Dunlap Avenue | |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 15.13 | 24.35 | 208 | Peoria Avenue | |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 16.13 | 25.96 | 209 | Cactus Road | |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 17.12 | 27.55 | 210 | Thunderbird Road | |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 18.12 | 29.16 | 211 | Greenway Road | |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 19.13 | 30.79 | 212 | Bell Road | |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 20.15 | 32.43 | 214A-B | Union Hills Drive / Yorkshire Drive | Signed separately as exits 214A (Union Hills) and 214B (Yorkshire) northbound; Union Hills Drive was formerly signed as exit 213 |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 21.11 | 33.97 | 214C | Loop 101 | Loop 101 exits 23B-C; northbound entrance includes direct exit ramp onto Deer Valley Road (exit 215B) |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 21.66– 22.16 | 34.86– 35.66 | 215 | Rose Garden Lane / Deer Valley Road | Signed as exit 215A northbound and 215B southbound |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 23.27 | 37.45 | 217 | Pinnacle Peak Road | |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 24.19 | 38.93 | 218 | Happy Valley Road | |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 25.23 | 40.60 | 219 | Jomax Road | |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 27.25 | 43.85 | 220 | Dixileta Drive | Northbound exit and southbound entrance |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 28.19 | 45.37 | 221A | Loop 303 south (Bob Stump Memorial Parkway) | Future flyover interchange; to be signed as exit 221B southbound; Loop 303 exits 138A-B; future clockwise terminus of Loop 303 |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 28.19 | 45.37 | 221 | Loop 303 south (Bob Stump Memorial Parkway) / Sonoran Desert Drive | Loop 303 exit 138; current clockwise terminus of Loop 303 |
| Northern terminus of Black Canyon Freeway |||
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 29.17 | 46.94 | 222 | Dove Valley Road | |
| Maricopa | Phoenix | 30.17 | 48.55 | 223 | SR 74 west (Carefree Highway) – Wickenburg | Signed as exits 223A (east) and 223B (west) northbound; eastern terminus of SR 74 |
| Maricopa | Anthem | 31.70 | 51.02 | 225 | Pioneer Road | |
| Maricopa | Anthem | 33.21 | 53.45 | 227 | Daisy Mountain Drive | |
| Maricopa | Anthem | 35.24 | 56.71 | 229 | Anthem Way | |
| Maricopa | New River | 38.20 | 61.48 | 232 | New River | |
| Maricopa | New River | 42.18 | 67.88 | 236 | Table Mesa Road | |
| Maricopa–Yavapai county line | Black Canyon City | 48.29 | 77.72 | 242 | Black Canyon City, Rock Springs | Former I-17 BL north; No southbound entrance |
| Yavapai | Black Canyon City | 50.56 | 81.37 | 244 | Black Canyon City | Former I-17 BL south |
| Yavapai | ​ | | | — | I-17 north (Flex Lanes) | Future south end of reversible Flex lanes |
| Yavapai | ​ | 54.36 | 87.48 | 248 | Bumble Bee, Crown King | No access to or from future Flex Lanes |
| Yavapai | ​ | | | — | I-17 south (Flex Lanes) | Future north end of reversible Flex lanes; no access to southbound Flex Lanes from Sunset Point Rest Area |
| Yavapai | ​ | 58.48 | 94.11 | 252 | Sunset Point Rest Area and Scenic View | Frontage roads provide all-direction access to a unified Rest Area / Scenic View off west side of freeway |
| Yavapai | ​ | 61.85 | 99.54 | 256 | Badger Springs Road | |
| Yavapai | Cordes Lakes | 65.23 | 104.98 | 259 | Bloody Basin Road | |
| Yavapai | Cordes Lakes | 68.44 | 110.14 | 262 | SR 69 north / Cordes Lakes Road – Prescott | Northbound exit and southbound entrance |
| Yavapai | Cordes Lakes | 68.77 | 110.67 | 263 | Arcosanti Road to SR 69 north – Prescott | Northbound exit signed as Arcosanti Road only |
| Yavapai | ​ | 74.53 | 119.94 | 268 | Orme Road / Dugas Road | |
| Yavapai | ​ | 84.16 | 135.44 | 278 | SR 169 south – Dewey-Humboldt, Prescott | Northern terminus of SR 169 |
| Yavapai | ​ | 89.04 | 143.30 | — | Runaway Truck ramp | Northbound left exit and southbound left entrance |
| Yavapai | Camp Verde | 91.31 | 146.95 | 285 | General Crook Trail | |
| Yavapai | Camp Verde | 93.06 | 149.77 | 287 | SR 260 to SR 89A – Cottonwood, Payson | Former SR 279 |
| Yavapai | Camp Verde | 95.74 | 154.08 | 289 | Montezuma Castle National Monument | |
| Yavapai | Lake Montezuma | 99.04 | 159.39 | 293 | CR 30 west – McGuireville, Cornville, Montezuma Well | Eastern terminus of CR 30 |
| Yavapai | ​ | 102.29– 102.36 | 164.62– 164.73 | McGuireville Rest Areas | McGuireville Rest Areas | McGuireville Rest Areas |
| Yavapai | ​ | 104.75 | 168.58 | 298 | SR 179 north – Sedona | Southern terminus of SR 179 |
| Yavapai | ​ | 112.09 | 180.39 | 306 | Stoneman Lake Road | |
| Coconino | ​ | 118.67 | 190.98 | Scenic View (southbound only) | Scenic View (southbound only) | Scenic View (southbound only) |
| Coconino | ​ | 121.37 | 195.33 | 315 | Rocky Park Road | |
| Coconino | ​ | 123.65 | 199.00 | 317 | Fox Ranch Road | |
| Coconino | ​ | 126.29 | 203.24 | 320 | Schnebly Hill Road | |
| Coconino | Munds Park | 128.51 | 206.82 | 322 | Munds Park | |
| Coconino | Munds Park | 129.04 | 207.67 | Christensen Rest Areas; closed | Christensen Rest Areas; closed | Christensen Rest Areas; closed |
| Coconino | ​ | 132.01 | 212.45 | 326 | Willard Springs Road | |
| Coconino | ​ | 134.55 | 216.54 | 328 | Newman Park Road | |
| Coconino | ​ | 136.90 | 220.32 | 331 | Kelly Canyon Road | |
| Coconino | Kachina Village | 139.65 | 224.74 | 333 | Kachina Boulevard / Mountainaire Road | |
| Coconino | Flagstaff | 143.17 | 230.41 | 337 | SR 89A south (John Wesley Powell Boulevard) – Sedona, Flagstaff Pulliam Airport | Southern end of SR 89A concurrency |
| Coconino | Flagstaff | 145.55 | 234.24 | 339 | Lake Mary Road – Mormon Lake | Northbound exit only |
| Coconino | Flagstaff | 145.76 | 234.58 | 340 | I-40 – Los Angeles, Albuquerque | Signed as exits 340A (east) and 340B (west); I-40 exit 195 |
| Coconino | Flagstaff | 146.06 | 235.06 | 341 | McConnell Drive SR 89A north – Flagstaff, Grand Canyon | Northern end of SR 89A concurrency; northbound exit and southbound entrance; northern terminus |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Closed/former Concurrency terminus Proposed Incomplete access Route transition |||||||

## Former business route

State Business Route 17 (also known as SR 17 Bus.) was a former three-mile (4.8 km) business loop of I-17 that served the west side of Black Canyon City, Arizona. SR 17 Bus. followed Old Black Canyon Highway (formerly SR 69 before I-17 replaced most of the route between Phoenix and Cordes Junction) from exit 242 south of town at a diamond interchange to another diamond interchange at exit 244 north of town. The business route was subsequently transferred from state to local maintenance and because of ADOT's policy of not signing business loops on nonstate maintained roadways, the route was decommissioned in 2011.
Major intersections The entire route was in Black Canyon City.
| County | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
| Maricopa–Yavapai county line | 0.000 | 0.000 | I-17 – Phoenix, Flagstaff | Southern terminus; I-17 exit 242 |
| Yavapai | 3.000 | 4.828 | I-17 – Flagstaff, Phoenix | Northern terminus; I-17 exit 244 |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi |||||