Traveling from Tempe Junction to Safford covers 156.6 miles through the heart of the Desert Southwest. Expect a drive time of approximately 3 hours and 27 minutes, making this an ideal one-day excursion that doesn't necessarily require an overnight stay. You will navigate via the Superstition Freeway, the Phoenix–Globe Highway, and the Globe-Lordsburg Highway. Budgeting around $31 for fuel is a safe bet for this transit. Because the route stays entirely within the Arizona desert landscape, you can expect a consistent environmental feel from start to finish. It is a straightforward trip that balances interstate travel with local highway transit, perfect for those looking to reach Safford without a multi-day commitment.
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
78.3 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m 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 60
4 mi
7m
West Thatcher Boulevard
2.3 mi
4m
East Ash Street
2.3 mi
4m
South Mill Avenue
2 mi
4m
North Broad Street
2 mi
3m
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 Safford, 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
0.5 mi·1 min·West 5th Street
18
Turn right onto US 191
151 ft·3 sec·South 1st Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
US 191
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple since the 3-hour and 27-minute duration offers plenty of flexibility for a single-day trip. With only one recommended stop, you should pace yourself to ensure you stay refreshed during the more winding sections of the drive. Make sure to fill your tank before leaving Tempe Junction, as the $31 fuel estimate assumes efficient driving through the varied road conditions. Since you have a 71.2-mile stretch on the Globe-Lordsburg Highway, check your tire pressure and vehicle fluids before departing to handle the technical, turn-heavy nature of this specific segment. Taking advantage of the route's relatively short timeframe allows you to time your arrival in Safford perfectly without feeling rushed by a rigid multi-day itinerary.
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 78.3 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, or about 1h 44m 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 34 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.3 miles or 1h 44m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Safford, 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 156.6 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 9
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
$31.20 one way
$62.39 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$33.02
$66.03
premium
$5.59
$34.47
$68.94
diesel
$5.61
$34.58
$69.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47
0
$16.44
$7.52
Efficient EV
39.2
0
$13.70
$6.26
EV Truck/SUV
62.6
0
$21.92
$10.02
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Safford, AZ
Evening
in Safford on Saturday
Local time
7:49 PM
MST
Current temp
51°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
39 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
3h 27m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a turn-heavy profile that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Only 19% of the journey consists of high-speed highway travel, so prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace once you transition onto local routes. You will face a longest uninterrupted stretch of 71.2 miles along the Globe-Lordsburg Highway, which serves as the core of your navigation. Unlike monotonous interstate drives, this path requires your full attention as the road conditions shift from freeway speeds to the technical demands of local highway driving. Expect the character of the road to evolve significantly as you move away from the junction and deeper into the regional terrain.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 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 3h 27m drive. You will face about 9 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 3h 27m. Total distance: 156.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Safford, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
