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Trip from Surprise, AZ to Payson, AZ

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 11m

Distance

102.9 mi

166 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 2m ★
6 AM
2h 12m
8 AM
2h 30m
10 AM
2h 18m
12 PM
2h 16m
3 PM
2h 19m
5 PM
2h 29m
8 PM
2h 6m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Surprise, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

town in Gila County, Arizona, United States

Payson, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Surprise, AZ to Payson, AZ covers 102.9 miles and takes about 2h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Beeline Highway, Pima Freeway, Agua Fria Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61 miles on Beeline Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.50 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.

Midpoint

51.4 miles from Surprise, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 11m. Total distance: 102.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (21%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 11m drive with frequent turns across 102.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Beeline Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 61 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 around 0.5 miles in near North El Mirage Road.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 11m 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: at 0.5 miles (North El Mirage Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (West Bell Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | North El Mirage Road

At end of road, turn left onto North El Mirage Road

Navigation decision point

5
1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in | West Bell Road

Turn right onto West Bell Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
6 mi into trip | ~11m in

Take the ramp toward AZ 101 Loop North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward AZ 101 Loop North
5
6.5 mi into trip | ~12m in | AZ 101 Loop / Agua Fria Freeway

Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Agua Fria Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
28.6 mi into trip | ~37m in

Take the exit toward Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 38 Toward Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Beeline Highway 61 mi 1h 11m
Pima Freeway 13.8 mi 15m
Agua Fria Freeway 8.2 mi 9m
East Shea Boulevard 7.8 mi 12m
West Bell Road 5 mi 8m
East Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard 4.9 mi 8m
North El Mirage Road 0.5 mi 1m
West Paradise Lane 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Beeline Highway — 61 mi, about 1h 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Surprise, AZ and Payson, AZ.

1

Start on North Nash Street

88 ft · 5 sec · North Nash Street
2

Turn right onto West Paradise Lane

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Paradise Lane
3

At end of road, turn left onto North El Mirage Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · North El Mirage Road
4

Turn right onto West Bell Road

5.0 mi · 8 min · West Bell Road
Use the right lane.
5

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 46 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop North Use the left lane.
6

Merge onto AZ 101 Loop

8.2 mi · 9 min · Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on AZ 101 Loop

14 mi · 15 min · Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Exit 38 Toward Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard Use the slight right lane.
9

Turn straight onto North Pima Road

0.2 mi · 19 sec · North Pima Road
10

Turn left onto East Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard

4.9 mi · 8 min · East Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard
Use the left lane.
11

Turn left onto East Shea Boulevard

7.8 mi · 12 min · East Shea Boulevard
Use the left lane.
12

At end of road, turn left onto AZ 87

61 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
13

Arrive at destination

AZ 87

Trip Plan

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 51.4 miles from Surprise, AZ, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61 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 23 miles or 31m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 51.4 miles or 1h 11m 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 50m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Payson, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Surprise, 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 Surprise, AZ

This is one driving day of about 102.9 miles and 2h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Surprise, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Beeline Highway for about 61 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 51.4 mi from Surprise, AZ · 1h 11m into the drive

city in Pinal and Maricopa counties in Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Apache Junction, AZ

51 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

Scottsdale, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Apache Junction, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 51.4 miles from Surprise, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Beeline Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61 miles.

Arriving in Payson, AZ

The final approach into Payson, 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 Payson, 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

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 56.8
Caution: Construction Delays
Caution: Water is Required
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.50 one way

$41.00 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $21.69 $43.39
premium $5.59 $22.65 $45.30
diesel $5.61 $22.72 $45.44

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 36 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.9 0 $10.80 $4.94
Efficient EV 25.7 0 $9.00 $4.12
EV Truck/SUV 41.2 0 $14.41 $6.59

Gas CO2

36 kg

EV CO2

12 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

Surprise, AZ

Afternoon in Surprise on Friday

Local time

12:34 PM

MST

Current temp

88°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Payson, AZ

Afternoon in Payson on Friday

Local time

12:34 PM

MST

Current temp

44°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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 11m 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 Surprise, AZ to Payson, AZ covers 102.9 miles and takes about 2h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Beeline Highway, Pima Freeway, Agua Fria Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 51.4 miles from Surprise, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.50 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 is a straightforward 2h 11m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (North El Mirage Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (West Bell Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Surprise, AZ to Payson, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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.

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