Origin
Safford, AZ
Afternoon in Safford on Sunday
Local time
2:56 PM
MST
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Safford, AZ to Chandler, AZ
Drive Time
3h 26m
Distance
154.3 mi
248 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 14m
★
6 AM
3h 27m
8 AM
3h 51m
10 AM
3h 35m
12 PM
3h 33m
3 PM
3h 36m
5 PM
3h 50m
8 PM
3h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Safford, AZ
SHOX ART
Chandler, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
Traveling from Safford to Chandler is a straightforward 154.3-mile journey across the Desert Southwest that typically takes about 3 hours and 26 minutes behind the wheel. Because this trip is manageable in a single day, you can easily complete it without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget approximately $31 for fuel as you transition between these two Arizona hubs. You will navigate via East Center Street, the Phoenix–Globe Highway, and the Superstition Freeway. It is a practical, efficient route that serves as a reliable connection between the two cities.
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
77.1 miles from Safford, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a mindless highway cruise. With only 15% of the trip spent on major highways, the majority of your time will be navigating local roads and connections. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 66.5 miles on East Center Street, requiring you to stay alert during the initial phase of the drive. The road’s personality shifts from local transit to more structured highway driving as you approach the Phoenix metropolitan area. Prepare for a varied driving experience that keeps you active at the wheel.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Center Street is the longest continuous segment at about 66.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 early in the drive near West Main Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 26m 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: near the start (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (South 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 77.8 miles (East Oak Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Main Street
Turn right onto West Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South 8th Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
77.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
|
East Oak Street
Turn left onto East Oak Street
Navigation decision point
4
77.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
|
North Broad Street
Turn right onto North Broad Street
Navigation decision point
8
148.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 15m in
Take the exit toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Chandler
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 179
Toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Chandler
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Center Street | 66.5 mi | 1h 21m |
| Phoenix–Globe Highway | 42.9 mi | 55m |
| Superstition Freeway | 19.6 mi | 22m |
| Globe-Lordsburg Highway | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| North Arizona Avenue | 4 mi | 6m |
| US 60 | 4 mi | 7m |
| West Thatcher Boulevard | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| East Ash Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
East Center Street
— 66.5 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Safford, AZ and Chandler, AZ.
1
Start on US 191
253 ft
·
8 sec
·
South 1st Avenue
2
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue
436 ft
·
16 sec
·
South 8th Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 70
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West Thatcher Boulevard
5
Continue on US 70
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
6
Continue on US 70
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
7
Continue on US 70
66 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
East Center Street
Use the none lane.
8
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Ash Street
Use the none lane.
9
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Hill Street
10
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Oak Street
11
Turn right onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
North Broad Street
12
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
13
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
US 60
Use the none lane.
14
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West Live Oak Street
15
Continue on US 60
43 mi
·
55 min
·
Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the none lane.
16
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Superstition Freeway
Use the none lane.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 179
Toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Chandler
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn left onto SR 87
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Country Club Drive
Use the none lane.
19
Continue on AZ 87
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
North Arizona Avenue
Use the none lane.
20
Turn left onto East Chandler Boulevard
149 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Chandler Boulevard
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
East Chandler Boulevard
Trip Plan
Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. You should factor in at least one stop during the 3-hour and 26-minute duration to keep your energy up. Given the technical nature of the turn-heavy roads, avoid rushing your pace and allow extra time if you are driving during peak traffic hours. Make sure to fuel up before hitting the longer 66.5-mile stretch on East Center Street to ensure a smooth transition through the middle of your journey. Keeping a steady pace will make the 154.3-mile distance feel much more manageable.
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 77.1 miles from Safford, AZ, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.5 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 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.1 miles or 1h 41m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chandler, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Safford, 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 Safford, AZ
This is one driving day of about 154.3 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Safford, 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 East Center Street for about 66.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 77.1 mi from Safford, AZ · 1h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
77 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 77.1 miles from Safford, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before East Center Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.5 miles.
Arriving in Chandler, AZ
The final approach into Chandler, 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 Chandler, 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
$30.71 one way
$61.42 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
54 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $32.43 | $64.85 |
| premium | $5.59 | $33.94 | $67.88 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $34.28 | $68.56 |
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 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.3 | 0 | $16.20 | $7.41 |
| Efficient EV | 38.6 | 0 | $13.50 | $6.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.7 | 0 | $21.60 | $9.88 |
Gas CO2
54 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.
Destination
Chandler, AZ
Afternoon in Chandler on Sunday
Local time
2:56 PM
MST
Current temp
91°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
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
3h 26m 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 Safford, AZ to Chandler, AZ covers 154.3 miles and takes about 3h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Center Street, Phoenix–Globe Highway, Superstition Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 77.1 miles from Safford, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.71 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 is a straightforward 3h 26m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (South 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 77.8 miles (East Oak Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Safford, AZ to Chandler, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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