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Travel leg · Phoenix New Year's Eve

Downtown Phoenix to Papago Park & Camelback

Downtown Phoenix and Papago Park & Camelback sit about 12 km (7.4 mi) apart in a straight line, with Papago Park & Camelback to the east. It is leg 1 of 1 on our Phoenix New Year's Eve itinerary, a 3-day trip. It is a short hop across town, easy by local transit, ride share or on foot.

Directions in Google Maps See the full Phoenix New Year's Eve route
Downtown Phoenix, where this leg starts
From · Downtown Phoenix
Papago Park & Camelback, where this leg ends
To · Papago Park
Straight-line distance
12 km · 7.4 mi
Est. road distance
14–17 km
Est. drive time
20–40 min
Direction
Heading east
Curated routes
1 itinerary

Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 25–45 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.

Ways to get there

We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.

Across town

This is a short in-city hop of about 12 km in a straight line. Our Phoenix New Year's Eve guide suggests public transit, ride shares or taxis and walking for getting around. By car it takes an estimated 20–40 min without traffic.

Valley Metro has offered free rides on New Year's Eve (2025); the light rail runs through downtown on Central Avenue and east along Washington Street toward Tempe, stopping about a mile from Papago Park. Downtown is walkable, but the Biltmore, Arcadia and Camelback are a 15- to 20-minute drive. Rideshare surges after midnight. Echo Canyon trailhead parking on Camelback is small and fills by sunrise on Jan 1; Papago Park and the Desert Botanical Garden have large lots.

Open Downtown Phoenix → Papago Park directions in Google Maps ↗

Worth stopping for

Picks from our curated guides at both ends.

When you arrive in Papago Park & Camelback

Red-rock buttes, desert gardens and a sunrise hike for Jan 1.

Before you leave Downtown Phoenix

Symphony, cocktail bars and steak downtown; 2 nights.

On this curated route

Where Downtown Phoenix → Papago Park sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.

Going the other way? Papago Park & Camelback to Downtown Phoenix is the same 12 km in a straight line, heading west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗

Downtown Phoenix to Papago Park: questions travelers ask

How far is Downtown Phoenix from Papago Park & Camelback?

Downtown Phoenix is about 12 km (7.4 mi) from Papago Park & Camelback in a straight line, with Papago Park & Camelback to the east. By road, we estimate 14–17 km (8.9–10 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.

How long does it take to drive from Downtown Phoenix to Papago Park & Camelback?

An estimated 20–40 min, assuming 14–17 km of road at average speeds of 25–45 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.

Which itineraries include the trip from Downtown Phoenix to Papago Park & Camelback?

Our Phoenix New Year's Eve itinerary includes this leg. Phoenix New Year's Eve runs about 3 days across 2 stops, best in Dec 30 – Jan 1.

Guides for both ends

Papago Park by month

More to explore

Plan Downtown Phoenix → Papago Park with your crew

Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.

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