The drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Cactus Flat, AZ covers 166 miles and takes about 3h 40m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Globe-Lordsburg Highway, 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 71.2 miles on Globe-Lordsburg Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.07 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
83 miles from Scottsdale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 40m. Total distance: 166 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 40m drive with frequent turns across 166 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Globe-Lordsburg Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 71.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 1 miles in near AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 166 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 1 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
8.5 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward US 60 East, US 60 West: Globe, Phoenix
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 55A; 55B
Toward US 60 East, US 60 West: Globe, Phoenix
8
8.7 mi into trip|~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 60 East: Globe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 55A
Toward US 60 East: Globe
5
9.8 mi into trip|~13m in|US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge onto US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
82.4 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|North Broad Street
Turn left onto North Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 Scottsdale, AZ to Cactus Flat, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Phoenix along the way.
Phoenix
8.5 mi in|~10m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
71.2 mi
1h 28m
Phoenix–Globe Highway
43 mi
55m
Superstition Freeway
22.2 mi
25m
South 1st Avenue
5.4 mi
8m
Pima Freeway
4.9 mi
5m
US 60
4 mi
7m
Price Freeway
2.7 mi
3m
West Thatcher Boulevard
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
— 71.2 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsdale, AZ and Cactus Flat, AZ.
1
Start on this road
64 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
0.6 mi·1 min·East Chaparral Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
4
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
4.9 mi·5 min·Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
2.7 mi·3 min·Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 55A; 55BToward US 60 East, US 60 West: Globe, PhoenixUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 55AToward US 60 East: GlobeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto US 60
22 mi·25 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
43 mi·55 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·Live Oak Street
11
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
12
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
13
Turn left onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Broad Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·9 sec·East Oak Street
15
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·South Hill Street
16
Turn left onto US 60
2.3 mi·4 min·East Ash Street
17
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
0.8 mi·1 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70; AZ 77
70 mi·1 hr 27 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
19
Continue on US 70
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
20
Continue on US 70
2.3 mi·4 min·West Thatcher Boulevard
21
Continue on US 70
0.5 mi·1 min·West 5th Street
22
Turn right onto US 191
5.4 mi·8 min·South 1st Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
US 191
Trip Plan
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 83 miles from Scottsdale, AZ, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.2 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 37 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83 miles or 1h 49m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cactus Flat, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Scottsdale, 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 Scottsdale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 166 miles and 3h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Scottsdale, 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 Globe-Lordsburg Highway for about 71.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83 mi from Scottsdale, AZ
· 1h 49m into the drive
The midpoint is around 83 miles from Scottsdale, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Globe-Lordsburg Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71.2 miles.
Arriving in Cactus Flat, AZ
The final approach into Cactus Flat, 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 Cactus Flat, 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.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 45.8
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
$10
near mile 68.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.07 one way
$66.14 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$35.00
$69.99
premium
$5.59
$36.54
$73.08
diesel
$5.61
$36.65
$73.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.8
0
$17.43
$7.97
Efficient EV
41.5
0
$14.52
$6.64
EV Truck/SUV
66.4
0
$23.24
$10.62
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Scottsdale, AZ
Afternoon
in Scottsdale on Thursday
Local time
4:30 PM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cactus Flat, AZ
Afternoon
in Cactus Flat on Thursday
Local time
4:30 PM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Miami, AZ
83 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
38 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 40m 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 Scottsdale, AZ to Cactus Flat, AZ covers 166 miles and takes about 3h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Globe-Lordsburg Highway, 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 83 miles from Scottsdale, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.07 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 demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 166 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Cactus Flat, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Phoenix along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Tonto National Monument.
