Safford, AZ to Phoenix, AZ is 165.2 miles and takes about 3h 37m via East Center Street and the Superstition Freeway, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Desert Southwest region, making it a straightforward journey between two Arizona locations. Expect a drive characterized by numerous turns, suggesting a more local, less highway-intensive experience. With just one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion when you want to reach your destination without a lengthy travel commitment.
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
82.6 miles from Safford, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East Center Street
66.5 mi
1h 21m
Phoenix–Globe Highway
42.9 mi
55m
Superstition Freeway
27.1 mi
31m
Maricopa Freeway
6.8 mi
7m
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
4.7 mi
6m
US 60
4.5 mi
8m
West Thatcher Boulevard
2.3 mi
4m
East Ash Street
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
East Center Street
— 66.5 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Safford, AZ and Phoenix, AZ.
1
Start on US 191
253 ft·8 sec·South 1st Avenue
2
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West Main Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue
436 ft·16 sec·South 8th Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 70
2.3 mi·4 min·West Thatcher Boulevard
5
Continue on US 70
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
6
Continue on US 70
4.7 mi·6 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
7
Continue on US 70
66 mi·1 hr 21 min·East Center Street
8
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
2.3 mi·4 min·East Ash Street
9
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·South Hill Street
10
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·11 sec·East Oak Street
11
Turn right onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·North Broad Street
12
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
13
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
14
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·West Live Oak Street
15
Continue on US 60
43 mi·55 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
27 mi·31 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60
0.6 mi·38 sec·US 60
Toward I 10 North
18
Merge onto I 10; US 60
4.9 mi·5 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
1.9 mi·2 min·Maricopa Freeway
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: FlagstaffUse the slight right lane.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 195BToward 7th Street, Central AvenueUse the slight right lane.
21
Turn straight onto East Maricopa Freeway
134 ft·2 sec·East Maricopa Freeway
22
Turn right onto South 7th Street
1.3 mi·2 min·South 7th Street
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Washington Street
Use the left lane.
24
Arrive at destination
West Washington Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 37m duration, it's best to depart in the morning to allow ample time for navigating the turn-heavy sections. While only one stop is recommended, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches, as services might be less frequent than on a pure interstate route. The $33 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart at your leisure, but a prompt start ensures a relaxed arrival in Phoenix.
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 82.6 miles from Safford, AZ, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.5 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 36 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.6 miles or 1h 51m 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
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 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 165.2 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 East Center Street for about 66.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 164.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|South 8th Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
155.7 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|US 60
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60 toward I 10 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 10 North
8
161.2 mi into trip|~3h 30m in|US 60 / Maricopa Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60 / Maricopa Freeway toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
8
163.1 mi into trip|~3h 32m in
Take the exit toward 7th Street, Central Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 195B
Toward 7th Street, Central Avenue
6
164.6 mi into trip|~3h 35m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.91 one way
$65.82 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$34.83
$69.66
premium
$5.59
$36.36
$72.73
diesel
$5.61
$36.47
$72.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.6
0
$17.35
$7.93
Efficient EV
41.3
0
$14.45
$6.61
EV Truck/SUV
66.1
0
$23.13
$10.57
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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
Safford, AZ
Evening
in Safford on Saturday
Local time
7:46 PM
MST
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Phoenix, AZ
Evening
in Phoenix on Saturday
Local time
7:46 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Miami, AZ
83 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
42 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 37m 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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
$10
near mile 91.1
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 119.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily a turn-heavy local road experience, with only 23% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch for 66.5 miles on East Center Street. Be prepared for a route that requires frequent adjustments and navigation rather than sustained high-speed cruising. The road conditions will likely shift as you transition between different local thoroughfares and the limited highway segments.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.5 mi on East Center Street.
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 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near South 8th 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 165.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.5 miles (South 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 155.7 miles (US 60): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 161.2 miles (US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 3h 37m. Total distance: 165.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.5 miles on East Center Street. 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 Phoenix, 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: at 0.5 miles (South 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 155.7 miles (US 60): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 161.2 miles (US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Tonto National Monument and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Phoenix, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
