Traveling from Chandler to Clifton covers 196.2 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 22 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey is manageable in a single day, you can easily complete it as a straightforward day trip without needing an overnight stay. Your path takes you across the Desert Southwest, utilizing the Phoenix–Globe Highway, the Globe-Lordsburg Highway, and US 191. Budget roughly $39 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. It is a practical, local-style drive that transitions you from the Phoenix metro area into the more rugged terrain surrounding Clifton.
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
98.1 miles from Chandler, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
71.2 mi
1h 28m
Phoenix–Globe Highway
43 mi
55m
US 191
23.7 mi
28m
West 5th Street
10.5 mi
14m
Santan Freeway
9.4 mi
10m
Coronado Boulevard
9 mi
14m
Superstition Freeway
8 mi
9m
US 60
4 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
— 71.2 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chandler, AZ and Clifton, AZ.
1
Start on East Chandler Boulevard
3.0 mi·5 min·East Chandler Boulevard
2
Continue on East Williams Field Road
3.0 mi·5 min·East Williams Field Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left
0.4 mi·29 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop EastUse the left lane.
4
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
9.4 mi·10 min·Santan Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 30AToward US 60 East: GlobeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto US 60
8.0 mi·9 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
43 mi·55 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·Live Oak Street
9
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
10
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
11
Turn left onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Broad Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·9 sec·East Oak Street
13
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·South Hill Street
14
Turn left onto US 60
2.3 mi·4 min·East Ash Street
15
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
0.8 mi·1 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70; AZ 77
70 mi·1 hr 27 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
17
Continue on US 70
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
18
Continue on US 70
2.3 mi·4 min·West Thatcher Boulevard
19
Continue on US 70
11 mi·14 min·West 5th Street
20
Turn left onto US 191
24 mi·28 min·US 191
21
At end of road, turn straight
90 ft·2 sec
22
Turn left
82 ft·2 sec
23
Turn slight right onto US 191
9.0 mi·14 min·Coronado Boulevard
24
Arrive at destination
US 191
Trip Plan
Since this is a 4-hour and 22-minute trek, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh during the transit. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy to navigate the winding sections of the route while you are alert and the lighting is optimal. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition onto US 191, where services may be more spaced out than in the Chandler area. Use the flexibility of this one-day itinerary to pace yourself, as the technical nature of the road can be more fatiguing than standard highway driving.
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 98.1 miles from Chandler, AZ, or about 2h 13m 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 43 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.1 miles or 2h 13m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clifton, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chandler, 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 Chandler, AZ
This is one driving day of about 196.2 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Chandler, 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 5.9 and 75.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5.9 mi into trip|~10m in
Turn left toward AZ 202 Loop East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
5
6.3 mi into trip|~11m in|AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
15.7 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit toward US 60 East: Globe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 30A
Toward US 60 East: Globe
5
16.7 mi into trip|~24m in|US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge onto US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
75.2 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|North Broad Street
Turn left onto North Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.09 one way
$78.17 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$41.36
$82.73
premium
$5.59
$43.19
$86.37
diesel
$5.61
$43.32
$86.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.9
0
$20.60
$9.42
Efficient EV
49.1
0
$17.17
$7.85
EV Truck/SUV
78.5
0
$27.47
$12.56
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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 19, 2026
Origin
Chandler, AZ
Night
in Chandler on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clifton, AZ
Night
in Clifton on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
MST
Current temp
85°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
4 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 22m 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
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 33.8
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 60.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With only 23% of the trip spent on highways, you will spend the majority of your time navigating secondary roads that offer a more technical driving experience. You will face a longest uninterrupted stretch of 71.2 miles while on the Globe-Lordsburg Highway. The road conditions shift significantly as you move away from the main highway corridors, requiring you to stay alert for curves and changes in elevation as you head toward your destination.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 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?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.9 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 196.2 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 22m. Total distance: 196.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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.
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 Clifton, 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 5.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 4.4 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 Clifton, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
