Origin
Payson, AZ
Afternoon in Payson on Sunday
Local time
4:43 PM
MST
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Payson, AZ to Phoenix, AZ
Drive Time
1h 47m
Distance
88.8 mi
143 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Payson, AZ
Barnabas Davoti
Phoenix, AZ
Carter Marchant
Trip Overview
Traveling from Payson to Phoenix covers 88.9 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete. This route serves as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to move easily between these two Desert Southwest locations without the need for an overnight stay. You will navigate via North Country Club Drive, AZ 202, and the Red Mountain Freeway to reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $17 for fuel should cover the trip comfortably. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, the drive is efficient enough to manage in a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
44.4 miles from Payson, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 88.9-mile journey. While the trip utilizes major connectors like the Red Mountain Freeway and AZ 202, the route maintains a 0% highway share, emphasizing the technical nature of the local road segments. You will not encounter long, uninterrupted highway stretches, as the longest portion is 0 miles on North Country Club Drive. Staying alert is essential as you navigate the frequent transitions between local roads and freeway segments. The experience behind the wheel is hands-on and requires constant attention to the shifting road layout.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 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 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 72.8 miles in.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 8 key pointsThese 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
7
86.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward 7th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 145A
Toward 7th Street
9
87.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 7th Street South, Downtown Cultural/Sports Facilitles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward 7th Street South, Downtown Cultural/Spor...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Beeline Highway | 72.4 mi | 1h 25m |
| Red Mountain Freeway | 12 mi | 13m |
| North 7th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Papago Freeway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Country Club Drive | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West Washington Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
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 Phoenix, 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 West
Use the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 10
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
·
Papago Freeway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 145A
Toward 7th Street
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward 7th Street South, Downtown Cultural/Sports Facilitles
Use the left lane.
9
Turn straight onto North 7th Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North 7th Street
10
Turn right onto East Washington Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Washington Street
11
Arrive at destination
West Washington Street
Trip Plan
Since this 90-minute trek is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility when planning your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 88.9-mile distance in one go, as there are no required stops along the way. To keep your travel costs around the $17 estimate, ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Payson. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, prioritize checking your navigation system before you pull out to stay ahead of the upcoming road changes. Leveraging the direct path provided by the Red Mountain Freeway will help you maintain a steady pace as you transition into the Phoenix area.
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 44.4 miles from Payson, AZ, or about 52m 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.4 miles or 52m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Phoenix, 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 88.8 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Payson, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
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 44.4 mi from Payson, AZ · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.4 miles from Payson, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South Beeline Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.4 miles.
Arriving in Phoenix, AZ
The final approach into Phoenix, 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 Phoenix, 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
$17.67 one way
$35.35 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $18.66 | $37.32 |
| premium | $5.59 | $19.53 | $39.07 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $19.73 | $39.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.6 | 0 | $9.32 | $4.26 |
| Efficient EV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.77 | $3.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.5 | 0 | $12.43 | $5.68 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Phoenix, AZ
Afternoon in Phoenix on Sunday
Local time
4:43 PM
MST
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
57°F
Cave Creek, AZ
44 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
18 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
1h 47m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Payson, AZ to Phoenix, AZ covers 88.8 miles and takes about 1h 47m 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, North 7th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.4 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 $17.67 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 88.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 Phoenix, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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