Embarking on a journey from Cactus Flat, AZ to Peoria, AZ covers 184.4 miles and is estimated to take around 4 hours and 7 minutes of driving time. This route is well-suited for a single day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is approximately $37, making it a budget-friendly option. You'll navigate primarily along East Center Street and the Phoenix–Globe Highway before merging onto the Superstition Freeway. The drive predominantly stays within the Desert Southwest region, offering a consistent landscape throughout your travels.
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
92.2 miles from Cactus Flat, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East Center Street
66.5 mi
1h 21m
Phoenix–Globe Highway
42.9 mi
55m
Superstition Freeway
27.1 mi
31m
Grand Avenue
11.1 mi
19m
Papago Freeway
5.6 mi
6m
Bowie Junction-Safford Highway
5.3 mi
8m
Maricopa Freeway
4.9 mi
5m
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
4.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
East Center Street
— 66.5 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cactus Flat, AZ and Peoria, AZ.
1
Start on US 191
5.3 mi·8 min·Bowie Junction-Safford Highway
2
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West Main Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue
436 ft·16 sec·South 8th Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 70
2.3 mi·4 min·West Thatcher Boulevard
5
Continue on US 70
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
6
Continue on US 70
4.7 mi·6 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
7
Continue on US 70
66 mi·1 hr 21 min·East Center Street
8
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
2.3 mi·4 min·East Ash Street
9
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·South Hill Street
10
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·11 sec·East Oak Street
11
Turn right onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·North Broad Street
12
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
13
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
14
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·West Live Oak Street
15
Continue on US 60
43 mi·55 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
27 mi·31 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60
0.6 mi·38 sec·US 60
Toward I 10 North
18
Merge onto I 10; US 60
4.9 mi·5 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi·2 min·Papago Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.7 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
22
Continue on I 10
0.9 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 143CToward 19th Avenue, Grand AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn right onto North 19th Avenue
0.3 mi·35 sec·North 19th Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
25
Turn slight left onto Grand Avenue
11 mi·19 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left / slight left lanes.
26
Turn left onto West Jefferson Street
51 ft·1 sec·West Jefferson Street
Use the left lane.
27
Continue on West Jefferson Street
66 ft·2 sec·West Jefferson Street
28
Turn right onto North 82nd Avenue
0.1 mi·35 sec·North 82nd Avenue
29
Turn right onto North 83rd Avenue
77 ft·2 sec·North 83rd Avenue
30
Arrive at destination
North 83rd Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, starting your drive in the morning is recommended to allow ample time to reach Peoria without feeling rushed. While the route has only one recommended stop, consider breaking up the 66.5-mile stretch on East Center Street for a quick stretch or to grab a refreshment. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before heading into longer stretches where services might be less frequent. This route's shorter length means you have flexibility to depart when it suits you best, but planning around potential local traffic patterns on East Center Street could enhance your journey.
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 92.2 miles from Cactus Flat, AZ, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.5 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 41 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.2 miles or 2h 7m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Peoria, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cactus Flat, 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 Cactus Flat, AZ
This is one driving day of about 184.4 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Cactus Flat, 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 East Center Street for about 66.5 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 172.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.8 mi into trip|~10m in|South 8th Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
166.4 mi into trip|~3h 39m 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 slight left lane.
6
168.4 mi into trip|~3h 41m 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
172.5 mi into trip|~3h 46m in
Take the exit toward 19th Avenue, Grand Avenue
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 143C
Toward 19th Avenue, Grand Avenue
6
172.8 mi into trip|~3h 47m in|North 19th Avenue
Turn right onto North 19th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.73 one way
$73.47 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$38.88
$77.75
premium
$5.59
$40.59
$81.18
diesel
$5.61
$40.71
$81.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.3
0
$19.36
$8.85
Efficient EV
46.1
0
$16.13
$7.38
EV Truck/SUV
73.8
0
$25.82
$11.80
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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 16, 2026
Origin
Cactus Flat, AZ
Late night
in Cactus Flat on Tuesday
Local time
1:08 AM
MST
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Peoria, AZ
Late night
in Peoria on Tuesday
Local time
1:08 AM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
53°F
Miami, AZ
92 mi in
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
8 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 7m 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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 120.8
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
$10
near mile 95.4
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 as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 23% of the route utilizing highways. Expect a dynamic driving experience that mixes local roads with some faster stretches. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 66.5 miles on East Center Street, so be prepared for more frequent turns and changes in speed limits. The profile suggests a route where you'll be actively engaged with the road, rather than a monotonous highway cruise.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.5 mi on East Center Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in near South 8th Avenue.
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 16 significant decision points across 184.4 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 5.8 miles (South 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 166.4 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.4 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Peoria is a city inside of Phoenix, Arizona. Many visitors come to the area during the spring to see their favorite professional baseball team during Spring Training in the Cactus League.
Top landmarks
•Central School — school building in Peoria, Arizona
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 7m. Total distance: 184.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.5 miles on East Center Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Peoria, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles (South 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 166.4 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.4 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Peoria, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
