Traveling from Payson to Phoenix covers 88.9 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete. This route serves as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to move easily between these two Desert Southwest locations without the need for an overnight stay. You will navigate via North Country Club Drive, AZ 202, and the Red Mountain Freeway to reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $17 for fuel should cover the trip comfortably. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, the drive is efficient enough to manage in a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.4 miles from Payson, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Beeline Highway
72.4 mi
1h 25m
Red Mountain Freeway
12 mi
13m
North 7th Street
0.9 mi
2m
Papago Freeway
0.7 mi
<1m
East Washington Street
0.5 mi
1m
North Country Club Drive
0.5 mi
<1m
West Washington Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South Beeline Highway
— 72.4 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Payson, AZ and Phoenix, AZ.
1
Start on AZ 87
72 mi·1 hr 25 min·South Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
2
Continue on AZ 87
0.5 mi·47 sec·North Country Club Drive
3
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
4
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
12 mi·13 min·Red Mountain Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 WestUse the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 10
0.7 mi·50 sec·Papago Freeway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 145AToward 7th StreetUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward 7th Street South, Downtown Cultural/Sports FacilitlesUse the left lane.
9
Turn straight onto North 7th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·North 7th Street
10
Turn right onto East Washington Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Washington Street
11
Arrive at destination
West Washington Street
Trip Plan
Since this 90-minute trek is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility when planning your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 88.9-mile distance in one go, as there are no required stops along the way. To keep your travel costs around the $17 estimate, ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Payson. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, prioritize checking your navigation system before you pull out to stay ahead of the upcoming road changes. Leveraging the direct path provided by the Red Mountain Freeway will help you maintain a steady pace as you transition into the Phoenix area.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.4 miles from Payson, AZ, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.4 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 20 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.4 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Phoenix, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Payson, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Payson, AZ
This is one driving day of about 88.8 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Payson, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Beeline Highway for about 72.4 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 72.8 and 87.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
72.8 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward AZ 202 Loop West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
5
73.2 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
85.2 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 10 West
7
86.9 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward 7th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 145A
Toward 7th Street
9
87.2 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 7th Street South, Downtown Cultural/Sports Facilitles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward 7th Street South, Downtown Cultural/Spor...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.69 one way
$35.38 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$18.72
$37.44
premium
$5.59
$19.55
$39.09
diesel
$5.61
$19.61
$39.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.6
0
$9.32
$4.26
Efficient EV
22.2
0
$7.77
$3.55
EV Truck/SUV
35.5
0
$12.43
$5.68
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Payson, AZ
Evening
in Payson on Saturday
Local time
7:44 PM
MST
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Phoenix, AZ
Evening
in Phoenix on Saturday
Local time
7:44 PM
MST
Current temp
93°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
49 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
1h 47m 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 45.9
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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 88.9-mile journey. While the trip utilizes major connectors like the Red Mountain Freeway and AZ 202, the route maintains a 0% highway share, emphasizing the technical nature of the local road segments. You will not encounter long, uninterrupted highway stretches, as the longest portion is 0 miles on North Country Club Drive. Staying alert is essential as you navigate the frequent transitions between local roads and freeway segments. The experience behind the wheel is hands-on and requires constant attention to the shifting road layout.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.4 mi on South Beeline 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 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 72.8 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 88.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 72.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 73.2 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Payson is a town in Gila County, Arizona. Known as the "Heart of Arizona," it is a gateway to the Colorado Plateau and the Mogollon Rim in Northern and Eastern Arizona.
Phoenix is the capital of the state of Arizona, the most populous city in the American Southwest. Warm and sunny winter weather have ensured a thriving tourism industry, and the city has become the region's primary political, cultural, economic, and transportation center. Phoenix is extremely hot and dry in the summertime, so always have sunscreen with you! It had about 1,625,000 residents in 2021, and is the fifth largest city in the United States.
Top landmarks
•Arizona State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Arizona
•Phoenix Art Museum — art museum in Phoenix, Arizona
•St. Mary's Basilica — Roman Catholic church in Phoenix, Arizona
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 88.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.4 miles on South Beeline Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Phoenix, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 72.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 73.2 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Tonto National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Phoenix, AZ before heading back.
