If you are planning a trip from Chandler to Safford, expect a 153.5-mile journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 26 minutes to complete. This route keeps you within the Desert Southwest, transitioning from the Phoenix metro area toward the more rugged terrain of Safford. Because the total drive time is manageable, you can easily complete this as a one-day trip without needing an overnight stay. Budget approximately $31 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating this path involves utilizing the Santan Freeway, the Phoenix–Globe Highway, and the Globe-Lordsburg Highway. It is a straightforward excursion that works well for travelers looking to move efficiently between these two Arizona hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76.7 miles from Chandler, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
71.2 mi
1h 28m
Phoenix–Globe Highway
43 mi
55m
Santan Freeway
9.4 mi
10m
Superstition Freeway
8 mi
9m
US 60
4 mi
7m
East Chandler Boulevard
3 mi
5m
East Williams Field Road
3 mi
5m
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 Chandler, AZ and Safford, 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
0.5 mi·1 min·West 5th Street
20
Turn right onto US 191
151 ft·3 sec·South 1st Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
US 191
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal schedule. With only one recommended stop, you can easily pace yourself to avoid fatigue during the more technical sections of the highway. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before heading onto the Globe-Lordsburg Highway, as the 71.2-mile stretch is the most significant portion of your journey where services might be spaced out. Aim to head out early in the day to navigate the turn-heavy segments in daylight hours, ensuring better visibility for the road ahead. Given the total duration of 3 hours and 26 minutes, packing a few snacks and water will help you stay comfortable between your planned stops.
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 76.7 miles from Chandler, AZ, or about 1h 46m 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 34 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.7 miles or 1h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 48m
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 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 153.5 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 10
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
$30.58 one way
$61.16 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$32.36
$64.72
premium
$5.59
$33.79
$67.58
diesel
$5.61
$33.89
$67.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.1
0
$16.12
$7.37
Efficient EV
38.4
0
$13.43
$6.14
EV Truck/SUV
61.4
0
$21.49
$9.82
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Safford, AZ
Night
in Safford on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
MST
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Miami, AZ
77 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
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
3h 26m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Only 14% of this route consists of major highways, meaning you will spend the majority of your time on winding, non-interstate roads. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 71.2 miles while traveling on the Globe-Lordsburg Highway, which serves as the primary backbone of your trip. The road’s personality shifts from the structured flow of the Santan Freeway to more technical, localized driving conditions. Expect a dynamic experience that requires constant adjustment rather than the monotony of a straight interstate cruise.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 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 10 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 153.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 3h 26m. Total distance: 153.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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 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. 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Safford, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
