This 139.6-mile drive from Salome, AZ to Chandler, AZ is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway and the Papago Freeway, with a portion on the Quartzsite–Wickenburg Highway. With a fuel cost estimated at $28, it's an economical journey. This route offers a turn-heavy local drive experience through the Desert Southwest region of Arizona. Given its relatively short duration, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience and enjoy the scenery without feeling rushed.
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
69.8 miles from Salome, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
79.4 mi
1h 20m
Papago Freeway
24.2 mi
27m
Quartzsite–Wickenburg Highway
10.3 mi
12m
US 60
7.6 mi
8m
Vicksburg Road
6.2 mi
8m
Maricopa Freeway
4.8 mi
5m
North Arizona Avenue
4 mi
6m
South Country Club Drive
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 79.4 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salome, AZ and Chandler, AZ.
1
Start on US 60
0.3 mi·26 sec·Avenue A
2
Continue on US 60
10 mi·12 min·Quartzsite–Wickenburg Highway
3
Enter roundabout onto Vicksburg Road
208 ft·2 sec·Vicksburg Road
4
Continue on Vicksburg Road
6.2 mi·8 min·Vicksburg Road
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·57 sec
6
Merge onto I 10
79 mi·1 hr 20 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 10
20 mi·22 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·35 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
9
Continue on I 10
3.2 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.2 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 10; US 60
4.8 mi·5 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 60
7.6 mi·8 min·US 60
Exit 154Toward US 60 East: Mesa, GlobeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 179Toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, ChandlerUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto AZ 87
1.5 mi·2 min·South Country Club Drive
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on AZ 87
4.0 mi·6 min·North Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto East Chandler Boulevard
149 ft·12 sec·East Chandler Boulevard
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
East Chandler Boulevard
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 35-minute journey, departing in the morning will allow you to arrive in Chandler with plenty of daylight. With just one recommended stop, you can easily break up the 139.6 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 79.4-mile stretch on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $28 is quite reasonable, so budgeting for gas should be straightforward. Enjoy the flexibility this shorter drive offers by perhaps taking an unplanned scenic detour if something catches your eye.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.8 miles from Salome, AZ, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.4 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 31 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.8 miles or 1h 15m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chandler, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Salome, 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 Salome, AZ
This is one driving day of about 139.6 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Salome, 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 Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 79.4 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.2 and 133.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
17.2 mi into trip|~22m in|I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
120.1 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|I 10 / Papago Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
121.3 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|I 10; US 60 / Maricopa Freeway
Merge onto I 10; US 60 / Maricopa Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
126.1 mi into trip|~2h 16m 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
8
133.8 mi into trip|~2h 25m in
Take the exit toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Chandler
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 179
Toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Chandler
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.81 one way
$55.62 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$29.43
$58.86
premium
$5.59
$30.73
$61.46
diesel
$5.61
$30.82
$61.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.9
0
$14.66
$6.70
Efficient EV
34.9
0
$12.21
$5.58
EV Truck/SUV
55.8
0
$19.54
$8.93
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Salome, AZ
Evening
in Salome on Saturday
Local time
7:47 PM
MST
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chandler, AZ
Evening
in Chandler on Saturday
Local time
7:47 PM
MST
Current temp
90°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
38 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
2h 35m 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...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 139.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive with a noticeable number of turns, characteristic of a more local road experience rather than a straight interstate cruise. While 26% of the journey involves highway driving, much of it will feel like navigating through varied terrain. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 79.4 miles along the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, offering a good opportunity to settle in. As you progress, the road's personality shifts, transitioning between open stretches and more intricate local pathways.
Only 26% 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: 79.4 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial 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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 17.2 miles in near I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.
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 139.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 17.2 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 120.1 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.3 miles (I 10; US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,875 ft1,012 ft
Total Climb
466 ft
Total Descent
1,127 ft
Highest Point
1,875 ft
Elevation Range
863 ft
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 Salome, AZ to Chandler, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Globe along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 35m. Total distance: 139.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.4 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial 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 Chandler, 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 17.2 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 120.1 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.3 miles (I 10; US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins 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 Chandler, AZ before heading back.
