Traveling from Mesa to Safford covers 150.2 miles across the Desert Southwest, a journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes. You will primarily navigate via the Superstition Freeway, the Phoenix–Globe Highway, and the Globe-Lordsburg Highway. Because of the manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget approximately $30 for fuel, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. The drive offers a straightforward transition between these two desert communities, making it a reliable option for travelers looking to move efficiently through the region.
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
75.1 miles from Mesa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
71.2 mi
1h 28m
Phoenix–Globe Highway
43 mi
55m
Superstition Freeway
18.5 mi
21m
US 60
4 mi
7m
West Thatcher Boulevard
2.3 mi
4m
East Ash Street
2.3 mi
4m
South Mesa Drive
2 mi
3m
North Broad Street
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
— 71.2 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and Safford, AZ.
1
Start on East University Drive
73 ft·8 sec·East University Drive
2
Turn left onto North Mesa Drive
0.5 mi·56 sec·North Mesa Drive
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on South Mesa Drive
2.0 mi·3 min·South Mesa Drive
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward US 60 East: GlobeUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto US 60
19 mi·21 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
43 mi·55 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·Live Oak Street
8
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
9
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
10
Turn left onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Broad Street
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·9 sec·East Oak Street
12
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·South Hill Street
13
Turn left onto US 60
2.3 mi·4 min·East Ash Street
14
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
0.8 mi·1 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70; AZ 77
70 mi·1 hr 27 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
16
Continue on US 70
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
17
Continue on US 70
2.3 mi·4 min·West Thatcher Boulevard
18
Continue on US 70
0.5 mi·1 min·West 5th Street
19
Turn right onto US 191
151 ft·3 sec·South 1st Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
US 191
Trip Plan
Since the trip is only 3 hours and 20 minutes long, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal schedule. With only one recommended stop, you can easily manage the entire distance in a single push without fatigue. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Mesa, as the $30 estimate assumes you are starting with a full tank and monitoring your consumption through the more technical sections. To make the most of your travel, try to time your departure to avoid peak local traffic near the urban areas at the start of your journey. Remember that the Globe-Lordsburg Highway segment is your longest stretch, so plan your single stop either before or after navigating that 71.2-mile section to keep your drive comfortable.
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 75.1 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 1h 43m 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 33 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.1 miles or 1h 43m 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 43m
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 Mesa, 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 Mesa, AZ
This is one driving day of about 150.2 miles and 3h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Mesa, 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 72.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Mesa Drive
Turn left onto North Mesa Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.6 mi into trip|~5m in
Turn left toward US 60 East: Globe
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 60 East: Globe
5
3 mi into trip|~5m 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
71.8 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|North Broad Street
Turn left onto North Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
72.4 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|East Oak Street
Turn left onto East Oak Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.92 one way
$59.84 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$31.67
$63.33
premium
$5.59
$33.06
$66.12
diesel
$5.61
$33.16
$66.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.1
0
$15.77
$7.21
Efficient EV
37.6
0
$13.14
$6.01
EV Truck/SUV
60.1
0
$21.03
$9.61
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Mesa, AZ
Night
in Mesa on Saturday
Local time
9:16 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Safford, AZ
Night
in Safford on Saturday
Local time
9:16 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
42 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 20m 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.
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 31.1
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?
Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience that leans more toward technical road handling than a monotonous interstate cruise. Only 15% of this 150.2-mile trip takes place on major highways, so you will spend most of your time navigating local stretches. You should be prepared for the longest uninterrupted segment, which spans 71.2 miles along the Globe-Lordsburg Highway. Because of the winding nature of these roads, the drive requires consistent focus compared to wide-open freeway travel. By the time you reach Safford, you will have experienced a diverse mix of road types that keep the journey engaging from start to finish.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 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?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Mesa Drive.
Driving Effort5/10
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 150.2 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (North Mesa Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 20m. Total distance: 150.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (15%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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 (North Mesa Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): 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 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Safford, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
