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Drive Time
3h 51m
Distance
174.9 mi
282 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Safford, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Glendale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Safford, AZ to Glendale, AZ covers 174.9 miles and takes about 3h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Center Street, Phoenix–Globe Highway, Superstition Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 66.5 miles on East Center Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.84 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
87.5 miles from Safford, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 59m into the drive .
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Expect a 3h 51m drive with frequent turns across 174.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near South 8th Avenue.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 174.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (South 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 161.2 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 163.1 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Turn right onto North 19th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Center Street | 66.5 mi | 1h 21m |
| Phoenix–Globe Highway | 42.9 mi | 55m |
| Superstition Freeway | 27.1 mi | 31m |
| Grand Avenue | 7.1 mi | 12m |
| Papago Freeway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Globe-Lordsburg Highway | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| US 60 | 4.5 mi | 8m |
Step-by-step road directions between Safford, AZ and Glendale, AZ.
Start on US 191
Turn right onto West Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue
Turn left onto US 70
Continue on US 70
Continue on US 70
Continue on US 70
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
Turn right onto South Hill Street
Turn left onto East Oak Street
Turn right onto North Broad Street
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60
Merge onto I 10; US 60
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Continue on I 10
Continue on I 10
Take the exit
Turn right onto North 19th Avenue
Turn slight left onto Grand Avenue
Arrive at destination
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.
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 87.5 miles or 1h 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 3h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Glendale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
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 174.9 miles and 3h 51m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 87.5 mi from Safford, AZ · 1h 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 87.5 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.
The final approach into Glendale, 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 Glendale, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$34.84 one way
$69.68 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $36.87 | $73.75 |
| premium | $5.59 | $38.50 | $77.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.62 | $77.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.5 | 0 | $18.36 | $8.40 |
| Efficient EV | 43.7 | 0 | $15.30 | $7.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70 | 0 | $24.49 | $11.19 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Safford on Wednesday
Local time
5:15 AM
MST
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Cloudy
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 7:45PM MST until April 13 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Destination
Late night in Glendale on Wednesday
Local time
5:15 AM
MST
Current temp
91°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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