Trip from Chandler, AZ to Clifton, AZ

Drive Time

4h 22m

Distance

196.2 mi

316 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$39

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 9m ★

6 AM

4h 22m

8 AM

4h 49m

10 AM

4h 32m

12 PM

4h 29m

3 PM

4h 33m

5 PM

4h 48m

8 PM

4h 14m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Chandler, AZ

Abhishek Navlakha

Clifton, AZ

Stephan Louis

Trip Overview

Traveling from Chandler to Clifton covers 196.2 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 22 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey is manageable in a single day, you can easily complete it as a straightforward day trip without needing an overnight stay. Your path takes you across the Desert Southwest, utilizing the Phoenix–Globe Highway, the Globe-Lordsburg Highway, and US 191. Budget roughly $39 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. It is a practical, local-style drive that transitions you from the Phoenix metro area into the more rugged terrain surrounding Clifton.

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

98.1 miles from Chandler, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 13m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With only 23% of the trip spent on highways, you will spend the majority of your time navigating secondary roads that offer a more technical driving experience. You will face a longest uninterrupted stretch of 71.2 miles while on the Globe-Lordsburg Highway. The road conditions shift significantly as you move away from the main highway corridors, requiring you to stay alert for curves and changes in elevation as you head toward your destination.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Globe-Lordsburg Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 71.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.9 miles in.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 196.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 5.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5.9 mi into trip | ~10m in

Turn left toward AZ 202 Loop East

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward AZ 202 Loop East

6.3 mi into trip | ~11m in | AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway

Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Santan Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

15.7 mi into trip | ~22m in

Take the exit toward US 60 East: Globe

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 30A Toward US 60 East: Globe

16.7 mi into trip | ~24m in | US 60 / Superstition Freeway

Merge onto US 60 / Superstition Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

75.2 mi into trip | ~1h 42m in | North Broad Street

Turn left onto North Broad Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Globe-Lordsburg Highway	71.2 mi	1h 28m
Phoenix–Globe Highway	43 mi	55m
US 191	23.7 mi	28m
West 5th Street	10.5 mi	14m
Santan Freeway	9.4 mi	10m
Coronado Boulevard	9 mi	14m
Superstition Freeway	8 mi	9m
US 60	4 mi	7m

Longest stretch: Globe-Lordsburg Highway — 71.2 mi, about 1h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chandler, AZ and Clifton, AZ.

Start on East Chandler Boulevard

3.0 mi · 5 min · East Chandler Boulevard

Use the none lane.

Continue on East Williams Field Road

3.0 mi · 5 min · East Williams Field Road

Use the none lane.

Turn left

0.4 mi · 29 sec

Toward AZ 202 Loop East Use the left lane.

Merge onto AZ 202 Loop

9.4 mi · 10 min · Santan Freeway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 2 min

Exit 30A Toward US 60 East: Globe Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto US 60

8.0 mi · 9 min · Superstition Freeway

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist

43 mi · 55 min · Phoenix–Globe Highway

Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.

Continue on US 60

1.9 mi · 3 min · Live Oak Street

Continue on US 60

4.0 mi · 7 min · US 60

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 60

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Broad Street

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto North Broad Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Broad Street

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto East Oak Street

366 ft · 9 sec · East Oak Street

Turn right onto South Hill Street

0.3 mi · 39 sec · South Hill Street

Turn left onto US 60

2.3 mi · 4 min · East Ash Street

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 70; AZ 77

0.8 mi · 1 min · Globe-Lordsburg Highway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 70; AZ 77

70 mi · 1 hr 27 min · Globe-Lordsburg Highway

Continue on US 70

1.1 mi · 2 min · West Main Street

Continue on US 70

2.3 mi · 4 min · West Thatcher Boulevard

Continue on US 70

11 mi · 14 min · West 5th Street

Turn left onto US 191

24 mi · 28 min · US 191

At end of road, turn straight

90 ft · 2 sec

Turn left

82 ft · 2 sec

Turn slight right onto US 191

9.0 mi · 14 min · Coronado Boulevard

Arrive at destination

US 191

Trip Plan

Since this is a 4-hour and 22-minute trek, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh during the transit. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy to navigate the winding sections of the route while you are alert and the lighting is optimal. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition onto US 191, where services may be more spaced out than in the Chandler area. Use the flexibility of this one-day itinerary to pace yourself, as the technical nature of the road can be more fatiguing than standard highway driving.

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 98.1 miles from Chandler, 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 80 miles or 1h 51m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 98.1 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 Chandler, 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 Chandler, AZ

This is one driving day of about 196.2 miles and 4h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chandler, 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.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 98.1 mi from Chandler, AZ · 2h 13m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Queen Creek, AZ

98 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Queen Creek, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tucson, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 98.1 miles from Chandler, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Globe-Lordsburg Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71.2 miles.

Arriving in Clifton, AZ

The final approach into Clifton, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Clifton, AZ.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$39.05 one way

$78.09 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 69 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.34	$41.23	$82.47
premium	$5.59	$43.16	$86.31
diesel	$5.64	$43.59	$87.18

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$39

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$64–$89

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 68.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	58.9	$20.60	$9.42
Efficient EV	49.1	$17.17	$7.85
EV Truck/SUV	78.5	$27.47	$12.56

Gas CO2

69 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Chandler, AZ

Afternoon in Chandler on Sunday

Local time

2:56 PM

MST

Current temp

91°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clifton, AZ

Afternoon in Clifton on Sunday

Local time

2:56 PM

MST

Current temp

45°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

46 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 22m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Chandler, AZ to Clifton, AZ covers 196.2 miles and takes about 4h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Globe-Lordsburg Highway, Phoenix–Globe Highway, US 191. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 98.1 miles from Chandler, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.05 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

The route from Chandler, AZ to Clifton, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Trip from Chandler, AZ to Clifton, AZ

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Clifton, AZ

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Chandler, AZ

Clifton, AZ

Same local time

46 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 22m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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