Buckeye, AZ to Safford, AZ is 201.1 miles and takes about 4h 19m via US 60, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a single-day trip through the Desert Southwest, connecting two points within Arizona. The drive offers a mixed experience, with a significant portion on US 60, also known as the Globe-Lordsburg Highway. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward journey across the desert landscape without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
100.6 miles from Buckeye, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
71.2 mi
1h 28m
Phoenix–Globe Highway
43 mi
55m
US 60
31.9 mi
39m
Papago Freeway
24.2 mi
27m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
9.6 mi
10m
Maricopa Freeway
4.8 mi
5m
South Miller Road
3.7 mi
6m
West Thatcher Boulevard
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
— 71.2 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buckeye, AZ and Safford, AZ.
1
Start on US 80 Hist
0.4 mi·59 sec·East Monroe Avenue
2
Turn right onto North 1st Street
0.5 mi·55 sec·North 1st Street
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on South Miller Road
3.7 mi·6 min·South Miller Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 114Toward I 10 East: PhoenixUse the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 10
9.6 mi·10 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 10
20 mi·22 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·35 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
8
Continue on I 10
3.2 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.2 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 10; US 60
4.8 mi·5 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto US 60
28 mi·32 min·US 60
Exit 154Toward US 60 East: Mesa, GlobeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
43 mi·55 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·Live Oak Street
14
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
15
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
16
Turn left onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Broad Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·9 sec·East Oak Street
18
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·South Hill Street
19
Turn left onto US 60
2.3 mi·4 min·East Ash Street
20
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
0.8 mi·1 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70; AZ 77
70 mi·1 hr 27 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
22
Continue on US 70
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
23
Continue on US 70
2.3 mi·4 min·West Thatcher Boulevard
24
Continue on US 70
0.5 mi·1 min·West 5th Street
25
Turn right onto US 191
151 ft·3 sec·South 1st Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
US 191
Trip Plan
Given this is a one-day trip of just over 200 miles, you have flexibility in your departure time. Leaving Buckeye in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Safford. With only one recommended stop, plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or where you see services. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 71.2-mile stretch on the Globe-Lordsburg Highway, as services can be spaced out in this region. The estimated fuel cost is around $40.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 100.6 miles from Buckeye, AZ, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 44 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.6 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Safford, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Buckeye, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Buckeye, AZ
This is one driving day of about 201.1 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Buckeye, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Globe-Lordsburg Highway for about 71.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 44.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|North 1st Street
Turn right onto North 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
4.6 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 East: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 114
Toward I 10 East: Phoenix
5
5.4 mi into trip|~10m in|I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
38.5 mi into trip|~47m in|I 10 / Papago Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
44.5 mi into trip|~54m in|US 60
Take the exit onto US 60 toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.06 one way
$80.12 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$42.40
$84.79
premium
$5.59
$44.27
$88.53
diesel
$5.61
$44.40
$88.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.3
0
$21.12
$9.65
Efficient EV
50.3
0
$17.60
$8.04
EV Truck/SUV
80.4
1
$28.15
$12.87
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Buckeye, AZ
Evening
in Buckeye on Saturday
Local time
7:48 PM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Safford, AZ
Evening
in Safford on Saturday
Local time
7:48 PM
MST
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
38 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 19m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 83.2
Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized by its mixed profile, with about 30% of the route being highway driving. You'll encounter the Globe-Lordsburg Highway for a substantial portion, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 71.2 miles. Expect the road conditions to vary, shifting between faster highway sections and potentially more winding or local road segments as you traverse the desert terrain. This blend means you'll experience different driving dynamics throughout the 4h 19m journey.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.2 mi on Globe-Lordsburg Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near North 1st Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 201.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Buckeye, AZ to Safford, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Globe along the way.
Globe
44.5 mi in|~54m|via US 60
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 19m. Total distance: 201.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71.2 miles on Globe-Lordsburg Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Safford, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Tonto National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Safford, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
