Spanning 184.6 miles, this journey from Taylor to Peoria takes approximately four hours to complete. Since the entire trip stays within the Desert Southwest region of Arizona, it is a manageable day trip that doesn’t require an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize the Payson-Show Low Highway and the South Beeline Highway to navigate between the two points. Expect to spend around $37 on fuel for the trek. This route offers a direct transition between two distinct desert communities, making it an efficient option for those looking to move across the state in a single afternoon.
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
92.3 miles from Taylor, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Beeline Highway
73.1 mi
1h 26m
Payson-Show Low Highway
24.2 mi
30m
West 3rd Street North
18.9 mi
22m
Hwy 260
15.9 mi
22m
Payson-Heber Highway
12.7 mi
17m
Red Mountain Freeway
12 mi
13m
Grand Avenue
11.1 mi
19m
West Papermill Road
6.2 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
South Beeline Highway
— 73.1 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Taylor, AZ and Peoria, AZ.
1
Start on AZ 77
12 ft·0 sec·South Main Street
2
Continue on AZ 77
0.3 mi·47 sec·Show Low-Holbrook Highway
3
Turn left onto West Papermill Road
6.2 mi·9 min·West Papermill Road
4
Continue on Pulp Mill Road
2.7 mi·4 min·Pulp Mill Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto AZ 277
19 mi·22 min·West 3rd Street North
6
Continue on AZ 277
1.9 mi·3 min·Highway 277
7
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 260
0.2 mi·19 sec·Highway 260
8
Continue on AZ 260
16 mi·22 min·Hwy 260
9
Continue on AZ 260
13 mi·17 min·Payson-Heber Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on AZ 260
24 mi·30 min·Payson-Show Low Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto AZ 87
73 mi·1 hr 26 min·South Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on AZ 87
0.5 mi·47 sec·North Country Club Drive
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
14
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
12 mi·13 min·Red Mountain Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 WestUse the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto I 10
1.3 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
18
Continue on I 10
0.9 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 143CToward 19th Avenue, Grand AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto North 19th Avenue
0.3 mi·35 sec·North 19th Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
21
Turn slight left onto Grand Avenue
11 mi·19 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left / slight left lanes.
22
Turn left onto West Jefferson Street
51 ft·1 sec·West Jefferson Street
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on West Jefferson Street
66 ft·2 sec·West Jefferson Street
24
Turn right onto North 82nd Avenue
0.1 mi·35 sec·North 82nd Avenue
25
Turn right onto North 83rd Avenue
77 ft·2 sec·North 83rd Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
North 83rd Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a four-hour drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Aim to depart early in the day to avoid potential traffic congestion as you approach the busier Peoria area. Because the route is turn-heavy, keep a close eye on your navigation to ensure you stay on the correct local roads during the non-highway segments. With a $37 fuel budget, it is wise to verify your tank levels before leaving Taylor to ensure a smooth, worry-free transit. Use the flexibility of this single-day trip to pace yourself, as the lack of long highway stretches makes it easy to break up the drive whenever you feel the need for a pause.
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 92.3 miles from Taylor, AZ, or about 2h 3m 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 41 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.3 miles or 2h 3m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Peoria, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Taylor, 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 Taylor, AZ
This is one driving day of about 184.6 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Taylor, 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 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
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 156.6 and 173.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
156.6 mi into trip|~3h 19m in
Take the exit toward AZ 202 Loop West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
5
156.9 mi into trip|~3h 20m in|AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
168.9 mi into trip|~3h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 10 West
8
172.8 mi into trip|~3h 38m 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
173.1 mi into trip|~3h 39m in|North 19th Avenue
Turn right onto North 19th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.77 one way
$73.55 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$38.92
$77.84
premium
$5.59
$40.63
$81.27
diesel
$5.61
$40.76
$81.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.4
0
$19.38
$8.86
Efficient EV
46.2
0
$16.15
$7.38
EV Truck/SUV
73.8
0
$25.84
$11.81
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Taylor, AZ
Night
in Taylor on Saturday
Local time
9:17 PM
MST
Current temp
62°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
W 15 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Peoria, AZ
Night
in Peoria on Saturday
Local time
9:17 PM
MST
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
WSW 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
44°F
Payson, AZ
92 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
17 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 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.
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
~58 min detour
$10
near mile 127.3
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 that demands your full attention behind the wheel. While about 17% of the journey consists of highway travel, the remainder of the route relies on local roads like West 3rd Street North, creating a dynamic experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will tackle a significant 73.1-mile stretch along the South Beeline Highway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the trip. The road profile shifts frequently, requiring you to navigate various turns as you transition from the high desert terrain of Taylor toward the metropolitan area of Peoria.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 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?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 156.6 miles in.
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 184.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 156.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 156.9 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Peoria is a city inside of Phoenix, Arizona. Many visitors come to the area during the spring to see their favorite professional baseball team during Spring Training in the Cactus League.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h. Total distance: 184.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
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.
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 Peoria, 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 156.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 156.9 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — 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 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Peoria, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
