Spanning 199.3 miles, this trek from Tempe Junction to Clifton is a manageable one-day journey that takes roughly 4 hours and 23 minutes to complete. You will navigate a transition through the Desert Southwest, moving from the metropolitan area onto the Phoenix–Globe Highway and eventually the Globe-Lordsburg Highway. Because this route is best handled in a single day, you should budget approximately $40 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. While the trip includes one recommended stop, the overall pace is straightforward enough to handle without an overnight stay. It is an ideal choice if you are looking for a direct link between these two Arizona locations without unnecessary complications.
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
99.6 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
71.2 mi
1h 28m
Phoenix–Globe Highway
43 mi
55m
Superstition Freeway
25.3 mi
29m
US 191
23.7 mi
28m
West 5th Street
10.5 mi
14m
Coronado Boulevard
9 mi
14m
US 60
4 mi
7m
West Thatcher Boulevard
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
— 71.2 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe Junction, AZ and Clifton, AZ.
1
Start on West 13th Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·West 13th Street
2
Turn right onto South Mill Avenue
2.0 mi·4 min·South Mill Avenue
3
Turn left
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward US 60 East: MesaUse the left lane.
4
Merge onto US 60
25 mi·29 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
43 mi·55 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·Live Oak Street
7
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
8
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
9
Turn left onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Broad Street
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·9 sec·East Oak Street
11
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·South Hill Street
12
Turn left onto US 60
2.3 mi·4 min·East Ash Street
13
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
0.8 mi·1 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70; AZ 77
70 mi·1 hr 27 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
15
Continue on US 70
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
16
Continue on US 70
2.3 mi·4 min·West Thatcher Boulevard
17
Continue on US 70
11 mi·14 min·West 5th Street
18
Turn left onto US 191
24 mi·28 min·US 191
19
At end of road, turn straight
90 ft·2 sec
20
Turn left
82 ft·2 sec
21
Turn slight right onto US 191
9.0 mi·14 min·Coronado Boulevard
22
Arrive at destination
US 191
Trip Plan
Since you are facing a 4-hour and 23-minute drive, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and maximize your time in Clifton. You should plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 199.3-mile trip, especially given the turn-heavy nature of the final segments. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving the more populated areas, as the $40 budget assumes steady driving conditions. Because this route is designed as a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on traffic patterns near Tempe Junction. Treat the 71.2-mile stretch on the Globe-Lordsburg Highway as your primary opportunity to settle in, as the road conditions become more technical afterward.
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 99.6 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.2 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 44 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.6 miles or 2h 13m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clifton, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tempe 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 Tempe Junction, AZ
This is one driving day of about 199.3 miles and 4h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Tempe 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 Globe-Lordsburg Highway for about 71.2 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 78.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in
Turn left toward US 60 East: Mesa
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 60 East: Mesa
5
2.6 mi into trip|~5m in|US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge onto US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
78.3 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|North Broad Street
Turn left onto North Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
78.8 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|East Oak Street
Turn left onto East Oak Street
Navigation decision point
4
78.9 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|South Hill Street
Turn right onto South Hill Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.70 one way
$79.41 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$42.02
$84.04
premium
$5.59
$43.87
$87.74
diesel
$5.61
$44.00
$88.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.8
0
$20.93
$9.57
Efficient EV
49.8
0
$17.44
$7.97
EV Truck/SUV
79.7
0
$27.90
$12.76
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Tempe Junction, AZ
Evening
in Tempe Junction on Saturday
Local time
7:49 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clifton, AZ
Evening
in Clifton on Saturday
Local time
7:49 PM
MST
Current temp
85°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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 23m 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...
21 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 41.2
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 61.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied driving experience that shifts from the high-speed Superstition Freeway to more technical, turn-heavy local roads as you head toward Clifton. Only 27% of this journey is spent on highways, meaning you will spend the bulk of your time navigating local stretches that demand your full attention. The longest uninterrupted portion of your drive is a 71.2-mile run along the Globe-Lordsburg Highway, which provides a steady rhythm before the route becomes more winding. Prepare for a transition from wide-open desert transit to a more demanding, localized drive style. This change in pace ensures the ride remains engaging throughout the entire 199.3-mile distance.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.2 mi on Globe-Lordsburg Highway.
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 around 2.3 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 23m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.3 miles (North Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 23m. Total distance: 199.3 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 71.2 miles on Globe-Lordsburg 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.
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: at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.3 miles (North Broad Street): 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 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Clifton, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
