Star Valley, AZ to Chandler, AZ is 87.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 52 minutes via South Beeline Highway, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Desert Southwest region, traversing Arizona for its entirety. Expect a local feel for much of the journey, with frequent turns rather than sustained highway cruising. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.9 miles from Star Valley, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Beeline Highway
73.1 mi
1h 26m
North Country Club Drive
6.8 mi
12m
North Arizona Avenue
4 mi
6m
Payson-Show Low Highway
3.8 mi
6m
East Chandler Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
South Beeline Highway
— 73.1 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Star Valley, AZ and Chandler, AZ.
1
Start on AZ 260
3.8 mi·6 min·Payson-Show Low Highway
2
Turn left onto AZ 87
73 mi·1 hr 26 min·South Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on AZ 87
6.8 mi·12 min·North Country Club Drive
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on AZ 87
4.0 mi·6 min·North Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto East Chandler Boulevard
149 ft·12 sec·East Chandler Boulevard
Use the left lane.
6
Arrive at destination
East Chandler Boulevard
Trip Plan
For this 87.8-mile drive, starting in the morning is recommended to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. Since the total duration is just under two hours, you can easily complete this trip in one day. While there are no specific stops noted, consider breaking up the drive with a brief pause if needed, especially during the 73.1-mile stretch on South Beeline Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel, with an estimated cost of $17, ensuring you start with a full tank to minimize any unscheduled stops in potentially less populated areas.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.9 miles from Star Valley, AZ, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.1 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.9 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 30m
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 Star Valley, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Star Valley, AZ
This is one driving day of about 87.8 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Star Valley, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Beeline Highway for about 73.1 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
2 of 2
2 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 87.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3.8 mi into trip|~6m in|AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway
Turn left onto AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
87.7 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|East Chandler Boulevard
Turn left onto East Chandler Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.49 one way
$34.98 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$18.51
$37.02
premium
$5.59
$19.33
$38.65
diesel
$5.61
$19.39
$38.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.3
0
$9.22
$4.21
Efficient EV
22
0
$7.68
$3.51
EV Truck/SUV
35.1
0
$12.29
$5.62
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Star Valley, AZ
Late night
in Star Valley on Sunday
Local time
2:54 AM
MST
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chandler, AZ
Late night
in Chandler on Sunday
Local time
2:54 AM
MST
Current temp
89°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
48 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
1h 52m 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...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
$10
near mile 51.4
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 87.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive' with no highway share, meaning you'll be navigating surface streets and local roads for the majority of the trip. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 73.1 miles along South Beeline Highway, offering a substantial segment before needing to make turns. You'll primarily use South Beeline Highway, North Country Club Drive, and North Arizona Avenue. Be prepared for frequent directional changes as you make your way through various towns and communities.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
6 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.1 mi on South Beeline Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in near AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Star Valley, AZ to Chandler, AZ is easy. At 1h 52m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles (AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 87.7 miles (East Chandler Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.1 miles on South Beeline Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles (AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 87.7 miles (East Chandler Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Tonto National Monument and 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.
