If you are planning a trip from Peoria to Swift Trail Junction, prepare for a 186.8-mile journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 9 minutes. This trek stays entirely within the Desert Southwest, moving through the heart of Arizona via US 60 and the Phoenix–Globe and Globe-Lordsburg highways. Budget roughly $37 for fuel to cover the distance, which is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip. While you could push through in one go, planning for one strategic stop will make the drive significantly more comfortable. Because the terrain shifts from urban sprawl to more remote stretches, having a clear plan for your transit is essential for a smooth arrival.
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
93.4 miles from Peoria, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
71.2 mi
1h 28m
Phoenix–Globe Highway
43 mi
55m
US 60
32.4 mi
41m
Grand Avenue
9.3 mi
16m
Maricopa Freeway
8.8 mi
10m
South 1st Avenue
7.3 mi
11m
Black Canyon Freeway
3.5 mi
4m
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 Peoria, AZ and Swift Trail Junction, AZ.
1
Start on North 83rd Avenue
128 ft·8 sec·North 83rd Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 60
9.3 mi·16 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the exit onto US 60
0.5 mi·1 min·US 60
Toward 27th Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 60
0.2 mi·26 sec·West Thomas Road
Use the left / slight left lanes.
5
Turn right onto US 60
0.3 mi·28 sec·North Black Canyon Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 17 South
7
Merge onto I 17; US 60
3.5 mi·4 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 17; US 60
8.8 mi·10 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 60
28 mi·32 min·US 60
Exit 154Toward US 60 East: Mesa, GlobeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
43 mi·55 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·Live Oak Street
12
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
13
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
14
Turn left onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Broad Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·9 sec·East Oak Street
16
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·South Hill Street
17
Turn left onto US 60
2.3 mi·4 min·East Ash Street
18
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
0.8 mi·1 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70; AZ 77
70 mi·1 hr 27 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
20
Continue on US 70
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
21
Continue on US 70
2.3 mi·4 min·West Thatcher Boulevard
22
Continue on US 70
0.5 mi·1 min·West 5th Street
23
Turn right onto US 191
7.3 mi·11 min·South 1st Avenue
24
Turn left onto West Swift Trail
102 ft·3 sec·West Swift Trail
25
Arrive at destination
West Swift Trail
Trip Plan
To keep your energy high, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid the heat and traffic typical of the Desert Southwest. Since this is a 4-hour drive with only one recommended stop, use that break to stretch your legs and refuel before hitting the more technical sections of the route. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the longer 71.2-mile stretch, as gas stations may be less frequent than you are used to in the city. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so don't feel pressured to rush the drive; taking your time on the curvier portions will make the experience much more enjoyable. Always double-check your vehicle's fluids before departing, given the demanding nature of the turn-heavy roads ahead.
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 93.4 miles from Peoria, AZ, or about 2h 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 41 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.4 miles or 2h 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Swift Trail Junction, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Peoria, 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 Peoria, AZ
This is one driving day of about 186.8 miles and 4h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Peoria, 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 22.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 60 / Grand Avenue
Turn right onto US 60 / Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
9.9 mi into trip|~17m in|US 60 / West Thomas Road
Turn left onto US 60 / West Thomas Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / slight left lanes.
5
10.1 mi into trip|~18m in|US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway
Turn right onto US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway
Navigation decision point
5
10.4 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward I 17 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 17 South
8
22.9 mi into trip|~33m in|US 60
Take the exit onto US 60 toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.21 one way
$74.43 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$39.38
$78.76
premium
$5.59
$41.12
$82.24
diesel
$5.61
$41.24
$82.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56
0
$19.61
$8.97
Efficient EV
46.7
0
$16.35
$7.47
EV Truck/SUV
74.7
0
$26.15
$11.96
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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 16, 2026
Origin
Peoria, AZ
Night
in Peoria on Saturday
Local time
9:28 PM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 3:13AM PDT until April 17 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 3:13AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Destination
Swift Trail Junction, AZ
Night
in Swift Trail Junction on Saturday
Local time
9:28 PM
MST
Current temp
54°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
34 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 9m 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
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 64.4
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
~55 min detour
$10
near mile 90.2
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 behind the wheel. Only about 24% of your journey consists of high-speed highway driving, meaning you will spend the bulk of your time navigating more technical sections. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 71.2 miles on the Globe-Lordsburg Highway, which provides a bit of rhythm before the roads become winding again. The transition from the Phoenix metro area into the more rural landscape changes the pace of the drive considerably. Be prepared for a road personality that prioritizes winding local segments over monotonous interstate cruising.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 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 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 60 / Grand Avenue.
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 186.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 (US 60 / Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles (US 60 / West Thomas Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles (US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Peoria, AZ to Swift Trail Junction, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Globe along the way.
Peoria is a city inside of Phoenix, Arizona. Many visitors come to the area during the spring to see their favorite professional baseball team during Spring Training in the Cactus League.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 9m. Total distance: 186.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 9m 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 Swift Trail Junction, 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: near the start (US 60 / Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles (US 60 / West Thomas Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles (US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point.
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 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Swift Trail Junction, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
