Origin
Tempe, AZ
Evening in Tempe on Sunday
Local time
5:50 PM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe, AZ to Clifton, AZ
Drive Time
4h 22m
Distance
197.7 mi
318 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 9m
★
6 AM
4h 22m
8 AM
4h 49m
10 AM
4h 31m
12 PM
4h 29m
3 PM
4h 33m
5 PM
4h 47m
8 PM
4h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe, AZ
Vladimir Srajber
Clifton, AZ
Stephan Louis
Trip Overview
Traveling from Tempe to Clifton covers 197.7 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 22 minutes of drive time. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to depart in the morning and reach your destination by the afternoon. You will navigate using the Phoenix–Globe Highway, the Globe-Lordsburg Highway, and US 191 to traverse the Desert Southwest. Budgeting approximately $39 for fuel should keep you covered for the journey. Since the entire trip remains within Arizona, you will experience a consistent regional feel, though the terrain shifts as you move toward Clifton. It is a straightforward excursion that avoids the complexity of multi-day planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
98.8 miles from Tempe, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 12m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as only 26% of this route consists of major highways. Your time behind the wheel will be spent navigating winding paths that demand your full attention. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 71.2 miles along the Globe-Lordsburg Highway, providing the most consistent pace of the trip. As you transition from the Phoenix area toward the final destination, the road character shifts from highway driving to more technical, localized sections. Be prepared for a dynamic experience that keeps you engaged throughout the 197.7-mile journey.
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. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near South McClintock Drive.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 197.7 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 0.4 miles (South McClintock Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South McClintock Drive
Turn right onto South McClintock Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Turn left toward US 60 East: Globe
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 60 East: Globe
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge onto US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
76.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
|
North Broad Street
Turn left onto North Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
77.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
|
US 60 / East Ash Street
Turn left onto US 60 / East Ash Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Globe-Lordsburg Highway | 71.2 mi | 1h 28m |
| Phoenix–Globe Highway | 43 mi | 55m |
| US 191 | 23.7 mi | 28m |
| Superstition Freeway | 23.5 mi | 27m |
| West 5th Street | 10.5 mi | 14m |
| Coronado Boulevard | 9 mi | 14m |
| US 60 | 4 mi | 7m |
| 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 Tempe, AZ and Clifton, AZ.
1
Start on US 80 Hist
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
2
Continue on US 80 Hist
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto South McClintock Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South McClintock Drive
Use the none lane.
4
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Toward US 60 East: Globe
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto US 60
23 mi
·
27 min
·
Superstition Freeway
Use the none lane.
6
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
43 mi
·
55 min
·
Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
7
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Live Oak Street
8
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
US 60
Use the none lane.
9
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
Use the none lane.
10
Turn left onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broad Street
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Oak Street
12
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Hill Street
13
Turn left onto US 60
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Ash Street
Use the none lane.
14
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
Use the none lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70; AZ 77
70 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
16
Continue on US 70
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
17
Continue on US 70
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West Thatcher Boulevard
18
Continue on US 70
11 mi
·
14 min
·
West 5th Street
19
Turn left onto US 191
24 mi
·
28 min
·
US 191
20
At end of road, turn straight
90 ft
·
2 sec
21
Turn left
82 ft
·
2 sec
22
Turn slight right onto US 191
9.0 mi
·
14 min
·
Coronado Boulevard
23
Arrive at destination
US 191
Trip Plan
Planning for this trip is simple since you only need to account for one planned stop along the way. To make the most of your 4-hour and 22-minute drive, consider leaving early in the day to navigate the turn-heavy segments before traffic increases. Because the route is relatively compact, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace or extend your stop if needed. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you head into the more remote sections of US 191 where services may be further apart. Since you only have a $39 fuel budget, filling up in the larger hubs before hitting the winding, local stretches will help ensure you have enough range to reach Clifton comfortably.
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 98.8 miles from Tempe, AZ, or about 2h 12m 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 80 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.8 miles or 2h 12m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clifton, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tempe, 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 Tempe, AZ
This is one driving day of about 197.7 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Tempe, 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 98.8 mi from Tempe, AZ · 2h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
99 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 98.8 miles from Tempe, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Globe-Lordsburg Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71.2 miles.
Arriving in Clifton, AZ
The final approach into Clifton, 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 Clifton, 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
$39.35 one way
$78.69 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
69 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $41.55 | $83.10 |
| premium | $5.59 | $43.49 | $86.97 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $43.92 | $87.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.3 | 0 | $20.76 | $9.49 |
| Efficient EV | 49.4 | 0 | $17.30 | $7.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.1 | 0 | $27.68 | $12.65 |
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Clifton, AZ
Evening in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
5:50 PM
MST
Current temp
45°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
14 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
4h 22m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Tempe, AZ to Clifton, AZ covers 197.7 miles and takes about 4h 22m 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, US 191. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 98.8 miles from Tempe, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.35 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 197.7 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 0.4 miles (South McClintock Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tempe, AZ to Clifton, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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