Swift Trail Junction to Glendale is 182.2 miles and takes about 4 hours and 2 minutes via East Center Street and the Superstition Freeway, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive traverses the Desert Southwest in Arizona, transitioning from what is described as a turn-heavy local experience to a more freeway-oriented journey. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing ample time for departure flexibility. Consider this option if you prefer a mix of road types and want to keep your travel time within a few hours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
91.1 miles from Swift Trail Junction, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m 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
Bowie Junction-Safford Highway
7.3 mi
11m
Grand Avenue
7.1 mi
12m
Papago Freeway
5.6 mi
6m
Maricopa Freeway
4.9 mi
5m
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
4.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
East Center Street
— 66.5 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Swift Trail Junction, AZ and Glendale, AZ.
1
Start on West Swift Trail
102 ft·6 sec·West Swift Trail
2
Turn right onto US 191
7.3 mi·11 min·Bowie Junction-Safford Highway
3
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West Main Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue
436 ft·16 sec·South 8th Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 70
2.3 mi·4 min·West Thatcher Boulevard
6
Continue on US 70
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
7
Continue on US 70
4.7 mi·6 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
8
Continue on US 70
66 mi·1 hr 21 min·East Center Street
9
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
2.3 mi·4 min·East Ash Street
10
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·South Hill Street
11
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·11 sec·East Oak Street
12
Turn right onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·North Broad Street
13
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
14
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
15
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·West Live Oak Street
16
Continue on US 60
43 mi·55 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
27 mi·31 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60
0.6 mi·38 sec·US 60
Toward I 10 North
19
Merge onto I 10; US 60
4.9 mi·5 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi·2 min·Papago Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.7 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
23
Continue on I 10
0.9 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 143CToward 19th Avenue, Grand AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn right onto North 19th Avenue
0.3 mi·35 sec·North 19th Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
26
Turn slight left onto Grand Avenue
7.1 mi·12 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left / slight left lanes.
27
Arrive at destination
US 60
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just over 4 hours, this is a comfortable one-day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure time. However, to make the most of the varied road conditions, an early morning start is recommended to navigate the 'turn-heavy local drive' sections before potential traffic builds. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 66.5 miles on East Center Street, so plan for a brief stop before or during that segment. Given the fuel cost estimate of $36, it's wise to ensure your tank is full before leaving Swift Trail Junction, as services might be more spaced out on the initial local roads.
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 91.1 miles from Swift Trail Junction, AZ, or about 2h 5m 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 40 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.1 miles or 2h 5m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Glendale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Swift Trail Junction, 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 Swift Trail Junction, AZ
This is one driving day of about 182.2 miles and 4h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Swift Trail Junction, 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.8 and 174.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
7.8 mi into trip|~13m in|South 8th Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
168.4 mi into trip|~3h 42m 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 slight left lane.
6
170.4 mi into trip|~3h 44m 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.
8
174.5 mi into trip|~3h 49m in
Take the exit toward 19th Avenue, Grand Avenue
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 143C
Toward 19th Avenue, Grand Avenue
6
174.8 mi into trip|~3h 50m in|North 19th Avenue
Turn right onto North 19th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.30 one way
$72.59 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$38.41
$76.83
premium
$5.59
$40.11
$80.21
diesel
$5.61
$40.23
$80.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.7
0
$19.13
$8.75
Efficient EV
45.6
0
$15.94
$7.29
EV Truck/SUV
72.9
0
$25.51
$11.66
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Swift Trail Junction, AZ
Late night
in Swift Trail Junction on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Glendale, AZ
Late night
in Glendale on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Miami, AZ
91 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
34 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
4h 2m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 125.8
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
$10
near mile 100.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a dynamic driving experience, beginning with a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. You'll spend a significant portion on local roads, with only 23% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 66.5 miles on East Center Street, so expect a good amount of maneuvering and potentially varying speed limits. As you progress, the roads will transition, eventually incorporating the Superstition Freeway, offering a different feel from the initial local roads. This varied terrain means you'll need to stay engaged behind the wheel.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 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?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.8 miles in near South 8th Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 182.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.8 miles (South 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 168.4 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 170.4 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 2m. Total distance: 182.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 2m 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 Glendale, 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 7.8 miles (South 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 168.4 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 170.4 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Glendale, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
