The drive from Payson, AZ to Peoria, AZ covers 100.9 miles and takes about 2h 6m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Beeline Highway, Red Mountain Freeway, Grand Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 72.4 miles on South Beeline Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.10 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.4 miles from Payson, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 100.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 6m drive with frequent turns across 100.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Beeline Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 72.4 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 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 72.8 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 100.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 72.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 73.2 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
72.8 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward AZ 202 Loop West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
5
73.2 mi into trip|~1h 26m 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
85.2 mi into trip|~1h 40m 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
89 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
89.4 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|North 19th Avenue
Turn right onto North 19th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Beeline Highway
72.4 mi
1h 25m
Red Mountain Freeway
12 mi
13m
Grand Avenue
11.1 mi
19m
Papago Freeway
2.3 mi
2m
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
0.5 mi
<1m
North Country Club Drive
0.5 mi
<1m
North 19th Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
North 82nd Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
South Beeline Highway
— 72.4 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Payson, AZ and Peoria, AZ.
1
Start on AZ 87
72 mi·1 hr 25 min·South Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
2
Continue on AZ 87
0.5 mi·47 sec·North Country Club Drive
3
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
4
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
12 mi·13 min·Red Mountain Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 WestUse the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 10
1.3 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
8
Continue on I 10
0.9 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 143CToward 19th Avenue, Grand AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto North 19th Avenue
0.3 mi·35 sec·North 19th Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
11
Turn slight left onto Grand Avenue
11 mi·19 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left / slight left lanes.
12
Turn left onto West Jefferson Street
51 ft·1 sec·West Jefferson Street
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on West Jefferson Street
66 ft·2 sec·West Jefferson Street
14
Turn right onto North 82nd Avenue
0.1 mi·35 sec·North 82nd Avenue
15
Turn right onto North 83rd Avenue
77 ft·2 sec·North 83rd Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
North 83rd Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.4 miles from Payson, AZ, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.4 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 22 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.4 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 37m
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 Payson, 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 Payson, AZ
This is one driving day of about 100.9 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Payson, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Beeline Highway for about 72.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50.4 mi from Payson, AZ
· 59m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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
~56 min detour
$10
near mile 45.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.10 one way
$40.20 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$21.27
$42.54
premium
$5.59
$22.21
$44.42
diesel
$5.61
$22.28
$44.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.3
0
$10.59
$4.84
Efficient EV
25.2
0
$8.83
$4.04
EV Truck/SUV
40.4
0
$14.13
$6.46
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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 16, 2026
Origin
Payson, AZ
Afternoon
in Payson on Friday
Local time
3:51 PM
MST
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Peoria, AZ
Afternoon
in Peoria on Friday
Local time
3:51 PM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive 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
44 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
2h 6m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Payson, AZ to Peoria, AZ covers 100.9 miles and takes about 2h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Beeline Highway, Red Mountain Freeway, Grand Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.4 miles from Payson, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.10 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 100.9 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 72.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 73.2 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Payson, AZ to Peoria, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Tonto National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
