This 160-mile drive from Linden, AZ to Tempe, AZ will take you approximately 3 hours and 23 minutes. Designed as a 1-day trip, you can expect to spend around $32 on fuel. The journey primarily follows the South Beeline Highway, Payson-Show Low Highway, and Hwy 260, offering a turn-heavy local feel as you traverse the Desert Southwest. This route is best suited for drivers who appreciate a more engaging, less highway-dominated experience.
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
80 miles from Linden, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Beeline Highway
72.8 mi
1h 26m
Payson-Show Low Highway
51.6 mi
1h 5m
Hwy 260
15.9 mi
22m
Payson-Heber Highway
12.7 mi
17m
East McKellips Road
3.1 mi
4m
North McClintock Drive
2.5 mi
4m
East McDowell Road
0.8 mi
1m
North Alma School Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
South Beeline Highway
— 72.8 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Linden, AZ and Tempe, AZ.
1
Start on this road
115 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto AZ 260
27 mi·34 min·Payson-Show Low Highway
3
Continue on AZ 260
16 mi·22 min·Hwy 260
4
Continue on AZ 260
13 mi·17 min·Payson-Heber Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on AZ 260
24 mi·30 min·Payson-Show Low Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto AZ 87
73 mi·1 hr 26 min·South Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto East McDowell Road
0.8 mi·1 min·East McDowell Road
8
Turn left onto North Alma School Road
0.7 mi·1 min·North Alma School Road
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto East McKellips Road
3.1 mi·4 min·East McKellips Road
10
Turn left onto North McClintock Drive
2.5 mi·4 min·North McClintock Drive
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto US 80 Hist
60 ft·1 sec·East Apache Boulevard
Use the right lane.
12
Arrive at destination
US 80 Hist
Trip Plan
With a duration of just over 3 hours, this 160-mile drive is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight for the ~32 fuel cost and to enjoy the drive without feeling rushed. The longest stretch without significant turns is 72.8 miles on the South Beeline Highway, so plan your stops accordingly, perhaps before or after this segment. With only one recommended stop, you have ample opportunity to tailor your breaks.
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 80 miles from Linden, AZ, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.8 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 35 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80 miles or 1h 45m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tempe, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Linden, 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 Linden, AZ
This is one driving day of about 160 miles and 3h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Linden, 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 South Beeline Highway for about 72.8 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 160 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip|~0m in|AZ 260 / Payson-Show Low Highway
Turn left onto AZ 260 / Payson-Show Low Highway
Navigation decision point
4
80.2 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway
Turn left onto AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
153.7 mi into trip|~3h 13m in|North Alma School Road
Turn left onto North Alma School Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
157.5 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|North McClintock Drive
Turn left onto North McClintock Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
160 mi into trip|~3h 23m in|US 80 Hist / East Apache Boulevard
Turn right onto US 80 Hist / East Apache Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.87 one way
$63.75 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$33.73
$67.46
premium
$5.59
$35.22
$70.44
diesel
$5.61
$35.33
$70.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48
0
$16.80
$7.68
Efficient EV
40
0
$14.00
$6.40
EV Truck/SUV
64
0
$22.40
$10.24
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Linden, AZ
Night
in Linden on Saturday
Local time
11:02 PM
MST
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tempe, AZ
Night
in Tempe on Saturday
Local time
11:02 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Payson, AZ
80 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
53 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
3h 23m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Tonto National Monument
National Monument
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
~56 min detour
$10
near mile 126.9
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" with only about 10% of the route on major highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 72.8 miles on the South Beeline Highway. This suggests a route that winds through local roads and highways, offering a more varied driving experience than a typical interstate journey. The road character likely shifts as you move from the higher elevations of the Payson-Show Low area down towards the Phoenix metro region.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.8 mi on South Beeline Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AZ 260 / Payson-Show Low Highway.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 23m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AZ 260 / Payson-Show Low Highway): Navigation decision point; at 80.2 miles (AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 153.7 miles (North Alma School Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 23m. Total distance: 160 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.8 miles on South Beeline 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AZ 260 / Payson-Show Low Highway): Navigation decision point; at 80.2 miles (AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 153.7 miles (North Alma School Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Tonto National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Tempe, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
