Origin
Safford, AZ
Late night in Safford on Sunday
Local time
3:01 AM
MST
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Safford, AZ to Casa Grande, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 33m
Distance
195 mi
314 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 21m
★
6 AM
3h 33m
8 AM
3h 58m
10 AM
3h 42m
12 PM
3h 39m
3 PM
3h 43m
5 PM
3h 57m
8 PM
3h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Safford, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Casa Grande, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embark on a 195-mile journey from Safford, Arizona, to Casa Grande, Arizona, a drive that typically takes around 3 hours and 33 minutes. This route, primarily utilizing the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Benson-Steins Pass Highway, and Tucson-Benson Highway, offers a direct path through the Desert Southwest. With a projected fuel cost of $39 and only one recommended stop, this 1-day trip is easily manageable. The overall feel is that of a turn-heavy local drive, suggesting a need for attentive navigation but promising an efficient transit between these two Arizona communities.
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
97.5 miles from Safford, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.5 mi | 55m |
| Benson-Steins Pass Highway | 49.1 mi | 49m |
| Tucson-Benson Highway | 42.9 mi | 44m |
| South 1st Avenue | 33.4 mi | 42m |
| South Freeway | 6 mi | 6m |
| Phoenix Bypass Route | 3.8 mi | 3m |
| South Trekell Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Jimmie Kerr Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Safford, AZ and Casa Grande, AZ.
1
Start on US 191
33 mi
·
42 min
·
South 1st Avenue
2
Take the exit onto US 191
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 191
3
Merge onto I 10; US 191
49 mi
·
49 min
·
Benson-Steins Pass Highway
4
Continue on I 10
43 mi
·
44 min
·
Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 10
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 10
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
51 mi
·
51 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 199
Toward I 8 West: San Diego
9
Continue on I 8
3.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Phoenix Bypass Route
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 174
Toward Trekell Road
11
Turn right onto South Trekell Road
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Trekell Road
12
Turn left onto Jimmie Kerr Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Jimmie Kerr Boulevard
13
Enter roundabout onto North Casa Grande Avenue
29 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Casa Grande Avenue
14
Continue on North Casa Grande Avenue
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
North Casa Grande Avenue
15
Continue on East 2nd Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 2nd Street
16
Continue on AZ 287
124 ft
·
24 sec
·
West Gila Bend Highway
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
AZ 287
Trip Plan
Given the 3.5-hour duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Planning to leave in the morning will give you ample daylight to complete the drive and account for any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop, you can decide to push through or make a brief pause as needed. Pay close attention to navigation, especially during the numerous turns characteristic of this route. Be mindful of your fuel levels; while the estimated cost is $39, it's always wise to top off before departing Safford, AZ, to ensure a smooth journey to Casa Grande, AZ.
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 97.5 miles from Safford, AZ, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 43 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.5 miles or 1h 48m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Casa Grande, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Safford, 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 Safford, AZ
This is one driving day of about 195 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Safford, 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 Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 54.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
98 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 97.5 miles from Safford, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 33.4 and 191 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
33.4 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
US 191
Take the exit onto US 191
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
135.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 29m in
|
I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
186.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 20m in
Take the exit toward I 8 West: San Diego
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 199
Toward I 8 West: San Diego
5
190.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 24m in
Take the exit toward Trekell Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 174
Toward Trekell Road
4
191 mi into trip
|
~3h 25m in
|
South Trekell Road
Turn right onto South Trekell Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.85 one way
$77.69 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $41.11 | $82.22 |
| premium | $5.59 | $42.92 | $85.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.05 | $86.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.2 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 | 58.5 | 0 | $20.47 | $9.36 |
| Efficient EV | 48.8 | 0 | $17.06 | $7.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 78 | 0 | $27.30 | $12.48 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Destination
Casa Grande, AZ
Late night in Casa Grande on Sunday
Local time
3:01 AM
MST
Current temp
88°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
37 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 33m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive presents a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll encounter a series of turns as you navigate through Arizona's Desert Southwest. While 33% of the route is on highways, the majority of your time will be spent on local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 54.5 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. Expect a driving experience that requires your focus on the road and navigation, rather than a monotonous highway cruise. The route will likely feel varied as you transition between different road types and local landscapes.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.5 mi on Casa Grande-Tucson 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 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 33.4 miles in near US 191.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 195 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 33.4 miles (US 191): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 135.7 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 186.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Arriving in Casa Grande, AZ
Full guide →Casa Grande is a city in South Central Arizona that is largely a commuter town for people working in Tucson or Phoenix. It was the site of an internment camp for Japanese-Americans during World War II, and has played a prominent role in baseball in the United States.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 33m. Total distance: 195 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (3%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.5 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson 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: at 33.4 miles (US 191): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 135.7 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 186.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Casa Grande, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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