Safford, AZ to Tempe, AZ is 154.6 miles and takes about 3h 25m via East Center Street and Superstition Freeway, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you through the Desert Southwest region of Arizona, offering a relatively short journey with a practical feel. It's a good option if you're looking for a straightforward, same-day trip without extensive planning. The majority of the route is on well-traveled roads, making it a convenient choice for those prioritizing efficiency.
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
77.3 miles from Safford, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m 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
21.9 mi
25m
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
4.7 mi
6m
US 60
4 mi
7m
West Thatcher Boulevard
2.3 mi
4m
East Ash Street
2.3 mi
4m
West Live Oak Street
1.9 mi
3m
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 Tempe, 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
22 mi·25 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
1.6 mi·2 min
Exit 176BToward AZ 101 Loop NorthUse the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
0.3 mi·23 sec·Price Freeway
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 53Toward Broadway Road, Apache BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn straight onto South Price Road
302 ft·7 sec·South Price Road
21
Turn left onto East Broadway Road
1.1 mi·2 min·East Broadway Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
22
Turn right onto South McClintock Drive
0.5 mi·57 sec·South McClintock Drive
23
Turn left onto US 80 Hist
137 ft·10 sec·East Apache Boulevard
Use the left lane.
24
Arrive at destination
US 80 Hist
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 25m estimated drive time, departing Safford in the morning will allow you to reach Tempe with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches on local roads where services might be less frequent than on major interstates. The fuel cost is estimated at $31, so budget accordingly. Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to make spontaneous stops if you see something of interest along the way.
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 77.3 miles from Safford, AZ, or about 1h 41m 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 34 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.3 miles or 1h 41m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tempe, 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 154.6 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 and 152.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Main Street
Turn right onto West Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|South 8th Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
77.8 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|East Oak Street
Turn left onto East Oak Street
Navigation decision point
7
150.5 mi into trip|~3h 18m in
Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 176B
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
8
152.5 mi into trip|~3h 21m in
Take the exit toward Broadway Road, Apache Boulevard
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 53
Toward Broadway Road, Apache Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.80 one way
$61.60 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$32.59
$65.19
premium
$5.59
$34.03
$68.06
diesel
$5.61
$34.13
$68.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.4
0
$16.23
$7.42
Efficient EV
38.7
0
$13.53
$6.18
EV Truck/SUV
61.8
0
$21.64
$9.89
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Night
in Safford on Saturday
Local time
11:03 PM
MST
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tempe, AZ
Night
in Tempe on Saturday
Local time
11:03 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
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 25m 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...
21 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 117.3
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 90.6
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 on this 154.6-mile route, with only about 17% of it being on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 66.5 miles on East Center Street, so you'll be navigating through various local road conditions for a significant portion of the journey. This means you'll likely experience more frequent turns and varying speed limits compared to a pure interstate drive. The drive progresses from local roads out of Safford, transitioning onto the Phoenix–Globe Highway and finally the Superstition Freeway as you approach Tempe.
Only 17% 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?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Main Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 25m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (South 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 77.8 miles (East Oak Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 25m. Total distance: 154.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
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.
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 (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (South 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 77.8 miles (East Oak Street): 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 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Tempe, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
