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Mingus Mountain: Highway 89A, Black Hills, Arizona
Photo: Vineet Potdar · CC BY-SA 3.0 · cropped

Drives Arizona Sedona, Prescott and Flagstaff

Mingus Mountain: Highway 89A

89A · Cottonwood → Prescott Valley

Intense23 mi45 min4,200 ft climbHigh point ≈ 7,000 ftOne way
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The drive

Highway 89A climbs from Cottonwood in the Verde Valley up to Jerome, a mining town built on a steep hillside, in tight hairpins. Through town the road is narrow and slow, with the old buildings pressed up to it. Above Jerome the highway twists over Mingus Mountain at about 7,000 feet and drops down the west side toward Prescott Valley.

Driven west, the hairpins above Jerome are a climb, with the Verde Valley opening out behind. Most of the twistiest road is between Jerome and the summit.

Along the way

  1. Cottonwood
  2. Jerome
  3. Prescott Valley
Elevation
4,200 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 7,000 ft
CottonwoodPrescott Valley
Curves
Mostly moderate, with one twisty stretch
CottonwoodPrescott Valley
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Jerome's streets are steep and slow, especially on weekends.
  • The road is narrow with little shoulder on the Mingus Mountain side, and wildfires have closed it before.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Arizona 511 (ADOT).

Questions about this drive

How long does Highway 89A over Mingus Mountain take?

Highway 89A from Cottonwood to Prescott Valley is 22.8 miles and takes about 45 minutes.

How twisty is Highway 89A at Jerome?

Intense. The road climbs through Jerome in hairpins and twists for about 12 miles over Mingus Mountain.

Where does the drive pass through Jerome?

Highway 89A runs through the middle of Jerome, shortly after leaving Cottonwood.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Mingus Mountain: Highway 89A, from Cottonwood to Prescott Valley