Trip from Tempe Junction, AZ to Safford, AZ

Drive Time

3h 27m

Distance

156.6 mi

252 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min

4 AM

3h 15m ★

6 AM

3h 28m

8 AM

3h 52m

10 AM

3h 36m

12 PM

3h 34m

3 PM

3h 37m

5 PM

3h 51m

8 PM

3h 20m

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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Tempe Junction, AZ

Abhishek Navlakha

Safford, AZ

SHOX ART

Trip Overview

Traveling from Tempe Junction to Safford covers 156.6 miles through the heart of the Desert Southwest. Expect a drive time of approximately 3 hours and 27 minutes, making this an ideal one-day excursion that doesn't necessarily require an overnight stay. You will navigate via the Superstition Freeway, the Phoenix–Globe Highway, and the Globe-Lordsburg Highway. Budgeting around $31 for fuel is a safe bet for this transit. Because the route stays entirely within the Arizona desert landscape, you can expect a consistent environmental feel from start to finish. It is a straightforward trip that balances interstate travel with local highway transit, perfect for those looking to reach Safford without a multi-day commitment.

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

78.3 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip features a turn-heavy profile that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Only 19% of the journey consists of high-speed highway travel, so prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace once you transition onto local routes. You will face a longest uninterrupted stretch of 71.2 miles along the Globe-Lordsburg Highway, which serves as the core of your navigation. Unlike monotonous interstate drives, this path requires your full attention as the road conditions shift from freeway speeds to the technical demands of local highway driving. Expect the character of the road to evolve significantly as you move away from the junction and deeper into the regional terrain.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 19 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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South Mill Avenue.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 156.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.2 miles (South Mill Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.

0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Mill Avenue

Turn right onto South Mill Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

2.3 mi into trip | ~4m in

Turn left toward US 60 East: Mesa

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward US 60 East: Mesa

2.6 mi into trip | ~5m in | US 60 / Superstition Freeway

Merge onto US 60 / Superstition Freeway

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

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

78.3 mi into trip | ~1h 44m in | North Broad Street

Turn left onto North Broad Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

79.2 mi into trip | ~1h 46m 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
Superstition Freeway	25.3 mi	29m
US 60	4 mi	7m
West Thatcher Boulevard	2.3 mi	4m
East Ash Street	2.3 mi	4m
South Mill Avenue	2 mi	4m
North Broad Street	2 mi	3m

Longest stretch: Globe-Lordsburg Highway — 71.2 mi, about 1h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tempe Junction, AZ and Safford, AZ.

Start on West 13th Street

0.2 mi · 41 sec · West 13th Street

Turn right onto South Mill Avenue

2.0 mi · 4 min · South Mill Avenue

Use the none lane.

Turn left

0.3 mi · 47 sec

Toward US 60 East: Mesa Use the left lane.

Merge onto US 60

25 mi · 29 min · Superstition Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist

43 mi · 55 min · Phoenix–Globe Highway

Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.

Continue on US 60

1.9 mi · 3 min · Live Oak Street

Continue on US 60

4.0 mi · 7 min · US 60

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 60

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Broad Street

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto North Broad Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Broad Street

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto East Oak Street

366 ft · 9 sec · East Oak Street

Turn right onto South Hill Street

0.3 mi · 39 sec · South Hill Street

Turn left onto US 60

2.3 mi · 4 min · East Ash Street

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 70; AZ 77

0.8 mi · 1 min · Globe-Lordsburg Highway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 70; AZ 77

70 mi · 1 hr 27 min · Globe-Lordsburg Highway

Continue on US 70

1.1 mi · 2 min · West Main Street

Continue on US 70

2.3 mi · 4 min · West Thatcher Boulevard

Continue on US 70

0.5 mi · 1 min · West 5th Street

Turn right onto US 191

151 ft · 3 sec · South 1st Avenue

Arrive at destination

US 191

Trip Plan

Planning your departure is simple since the 3-hour and 27-minute duration offers plenty of flexibility for a single-day trip. With only one recommended stop, you should pace yourself to ensure you stay refreshed during the more winding sections of the drive. Make sure to fill your tank before leaving Tempe Junction, as the $31 fuel estimate assumes efficient driving through the varied road conditions. Since you have a 71.2-mile stretch on the Globe-Lordsburg Highway, check your tire pressure and vehicle fluids before departing to handle the technical, turn-heavy nature of this specific segment. Taking advantage of the route's relatively short timeframe allows you to time your arrival in Safford perfectly without feeling rushed by a rigid multi-day itinerary.

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 78.3 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, or about 1h 44m 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 47m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 78.3 miles or 1h 44m 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 49m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Tempe Junction, 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 Junction, AZ

This is one driving day of about 156.6 miles and 3h 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Tempe Junction, 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 78.3 mi from Tempe Junction, AZ · 1h 44m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Queen Creek, AZ

78 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

Queen Creek, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Queen Creek, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 78.3 miles from Tempe Junction, 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 Safford, AZ

The final approach into Safford, 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 Safford, 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

$31.17 one way

$62.33 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 55 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.34	$32.91	$65.82
premium	$5.59	$34.45	$68.89
diesel	$5.64	$34.79	$69.58

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: 54.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	47	$16.44	$7.52
Efficient EV	39.2	$13.70	$6.26
EV Truck/SUV	62.6	$21.92	$10.02

Gas CO2

55 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Tempe Junction, AZ

Afternoon in Tempe Junction on Sunday

Local time

4:40 PM

MST

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Safford, AZ

Afternoon in Safford on Sunday

Local time

4:40 PM

MST

Current temp

47°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

13 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 27m 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 Tempe Junction, AZ to Safford, AZ covers 156.6 miles and takes about 3h 27m 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 78.3 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.17 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.

The route from Tempe Junction, AZ to Safford, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Trip from Tempe Junction, AZ to Safford, AZ

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Safford, AZ

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Tempe Junction, AZ

Safford, AZ

Same local time

13 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 27m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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