The fair place to meet is Albuquerque, NM — the city closest to the midpoint of Denver and Phoenix. From the farther side that’s about 7 hr 1 min of driving.
Recommended midpoint
Albuquerque, NM
From Denver
7 hr 1 min
334 mi to Albuquerque
From Phoenix
6 hr 55 min
330 mi to Albuquerque
That’s an even split — both sides drive within 6 min of each other. Denver and Phoenix are about 586 miles apart.
Denver and Phoenix are about 586 miles apart by road. Split the difference and you arrive near Albuquerque, the city closest to the halfway point between them. That splits the trip almost evenly — about 7 hr 1 min from Denver and 6 hr 55 min from Phoenix.
That's a half-day drive from each side, so Albuquerque suits an overnight or a weekend rather than a quick coffee — long enough to want a reason to stay, short enough to drive.
If Albuquerque doesn't have what you're after, Tucson and Salt Lake City are also close to the midpoint and worth a look — each keeps the drive reasonably balanced between Denver and Phoenix.
Albuquerque is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Founded in 1706 as La Villa de Alburquerque by Santa Fe de Nuevo México governor Francisco Cuervo y Valdés, and named in honor of Francisco Fernández de la Cueva, 10th Duke of Alburquerque… Read more →
Denver is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Officially a consolidated city and county, it is located in the South Platte River valley on the western edge of the High Plains, and is just east of the Front Range of the Rocky… Read more →
Phoenix is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, Phoenix is the fifth-most populous city in the United States and the most populous state capital. Read more →
City descriptions adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA); photos via Wikimedia Commons, credited above.
Estimates use straight-line distance and typical road speeds; real drive times vary with route and traffic.