Peoria, AZ to Linden, AZ is 181.8 miles and takes about 3h 52m via AZ 260, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive traverses the Desert Southwest, moving from the arid landscapes around Peoria into areas that may offer different scenery as you gain elevation. With a recommended one-day duration and a relatively short travel time, this route is well-suited for a straightforward trip. Consider this journey if you're looking for a manageable drive that transitions between distinct desert environments within Arizona.
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
90.9 miles from Peoria, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 181.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This trip features a mixed drive profile, with 53% of the journey on highways, including stretches of the Beeline Highway and Red Mountain Freeway before transitioning to AZ 260. You'll experience a variety of road types, from faster freeway sections to potentially more winding two-lane highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 80.2 miles on AZ 260, offering a sustained period of driving without frequent turns or stops. Expect the character of the road to evolve as you move from more urban-adjacent areas into a more rural and potentially mountainous environment.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
AZ 260 is the longest continuous segment at about 80.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 60 / Grand Avenue.
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 181.8 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (US 60 / Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 60 / Grand Avenue
Turn right onto US 60 / Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
11.6 mi into trip|~20m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 East: Tucson
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
8
14.8 mi into trip|~24m in|Red Mountain Freeway
Take the exit onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
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 147
Toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
8
15.3 mi into trip|~25m in|Red Mountain Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 202 Loop East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 147A
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
8
27.8 mi into trip|~39m in
Take the exit toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Payson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13
Toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Payson
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Peoria, AZ to Linden, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Payson along the way.
Payson
27.8 mi in|~39m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AZ 260
80.2 mi
1h 45m
Beeline Highway
68.4 mi
1h 20m
Red Mountain Freeway
12.9 mi
15m
Grand Avenue
11.2 mi
19m
North Beeline Highway
4.5 mi
5m
Papago Freeway
2.4 mi
2m
North Country Club Drive
0.5 mi
1m
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
AZ 260
— 80.2 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Peoria, AZ and Linden, AZ.
1
Start on North 83rd Avenue
128 ft·8 sec·North 83rd Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 60
9.3 mi·16 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on Grand Avenue
1.9 mi·3 min·Grand Avenue
4
Turn right onto North 19th Avenue
0.3 mi·46 sec·North 19th Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward I 10 East: TucsonUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 10
0.9 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·35 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
8
Continue on I 10
1.4 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto Red Mountain Freeway
0.1 mi·7 sec·Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147Toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway
0.3 mi·41 sec·Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147AToward AZ 202 Loop East
11
Keep slight left at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway
12 mi·14 min·Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147AToward AZ 202 Loop EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 13Toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, PaysonUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto AZ 87
0.5 mi·1 min·North Country Club Drive
14
Continue on AZ 87
4.5 mi·5 min·North Beeline Highway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
15
Continue on AZ 87
68 mi·1 hr 20 min·Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto AZ 260
80 mi·1 hr 45 min·AZ 260
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 52m duration, starting your drive from Peoria in the morning is ideal, allowing ample time to reach Linden without feeling rushed. While only one stop is noted, it's wise to take advantage of any opportunities for fuel and rest, especially on the 80.2-mile stretch of AZ 260. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can become more spread out in certain sections. For this single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart when convenient, but planning around potential traffic leaving the Peoria area is a good idea.
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 90.9 miles from Peoria, AZ, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.2 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 40 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.9 miles or 1h 54m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Linden, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Peoria, 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 Peoria, AZ
This is one driving day of about 181.8 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Peoria, 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 AZ 260 for about 80.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 90.9 mi from Peoria, AZ
· 1h 54m into the drive
The midpoint is around 90.9 miles from Peoria, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before AZ 260 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.2 miles.
Arriving in Linden, AZ
The final approach into Linden, 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 Linden, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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 56.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.22 one way
$72.43 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$38.33
$76.66
premium
$5.59
$40.02
$80.03
diesel
$5.61
$40.14
$80.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.5
0
$19.09
$8.73
Efficient EV
45.5
0
$15.91
$7.27
EV Truck/SUV
72.7
0
$25.45
$11.64
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Peoria, AZ
Afternoon
in Peoria on Friday
Local time
3:54 PM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Linden, AZ
Afternoon
in Linden on Friday
Local time
3:54 PM
MST
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Payson, AZ
91 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
52 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 52m 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 Peoria, AZ to Linden, AZ covers 181.8 miles and takes about 3h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are AZ 260, Beeline Highway, Red Mountain Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 90.9 miles from Peoria, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.22 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 181.8 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (US 60 / Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Peoria, AZ to Linden, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Payson along the way.
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.
