How far is Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ from Payson, AZ?

The driving distance from Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ to Payson, AZ is about 87.7 miles (141.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 72.1 miles (116.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 34m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MST.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
87.69 mi
01h 47m
Flight
72.15 mi
116.12 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ahwatukee Foothills.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
72.15 mi
Kilometers
116.12 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
87.69 mi
Kilometers
141.13 km
Drive Time
01h 47m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Payson
Thu, Oct 15, 1:31 PM MST
Return by in Ahwatukee Foothills
Thu, Oct 15, 3:18 PM MST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ahwatukee Foothills
2026-10-15T11:44
Arrive Payson
Thu, Oct 15, 1:31 PM MST
Route Timing
01h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:47 AM to 11:47 AM MST

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:56 PM MST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ahwatukee Foothills
9:30 PM MST
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Fountain Hills
AZ

Town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

From Ahwatukee Foothills
43.8 mi
00h 53m
To Payson
43.9 mi
00h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 9:00 AM MST
Wind
5 to 10 mph NE
Destination
66°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM MST
Wind
13 to 17 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ahwatukee Foothills and Payson.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ahwatukee Foothills and Payson.

  1. 1

    Start on South Iroquois Drive

    954 ft · 35 sec · South Iroquois Drive

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Pawnee Circle

    57 m · 12 sec · East Pawnee Circle

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South 48th Street

    2043 ft · 44 sec · South 48th Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto East Elliot Road

    2905 ft · 1 min · East Elliot Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto I 10 West: Phoenix

    2056 ft · 52 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Maricopa Freeway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Maricopa Freeway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward US 60 East: Mesa-Globe

    2951 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on US 60 East: Mesa Globe

    1.1 km · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Superstition Freeway

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Superstition Freeway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward AZ 101 Loop North

    1.1 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Price Freeway

    2.6 mi · 3 min · Price Freeway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward AZ 202 Loop West, AZ 202 Loop East

    1556 ft · 38 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on AZ 202 Loop East

    1.1 km · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Red Mountain Freeway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Red Mountain Freeway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Payson

    1828 ft · 47 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto North Country Club Drive

    2799 ft · 1 min · North Country Club Drive

  17. 17

    Continue on North Beeline Highway

    4.5 mi · 5 min · North Beeline Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Beeline Highway

    67.7 mi · 1 hr 19 min · Beeline Highway

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Beeline Highway

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ahwatukee Foothills and Payson.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
19 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
21.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Beeline Highway
67.7 mi · 77%
North Beeline Highway
4.52 mi · 5%
Superstition Freeway
3.52 mi · 4%
Price Freeway
2.61 mi · 3%
Red Mountain Freeway
2.5 mi · 3%
Maricopa Freeway
1.49 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Beeline Highway

Continue on Beeline Highway

67.7 mi · 01h 19m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 47m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15.6 mi
72.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fountain Hills
00h 53m from Ahwatukee Foothills
Leave By
2:56 PM MST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Ahwatukee Foothills and Sunny near Payson.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ahwatukee Foothills to Payson?

The road trip is about 87.7 miles (141.1 km) and usually takes 01h 47m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Fountain Hills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 43.8 miles from Ahwatukee Foothills and 43.9 miles from Payson.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 72.1 miles (116.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 15.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:56 PM MST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.44 one way or $28.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 27.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Ahwatukee Foothills and Sunny near Payson.

Stop Ideas Near Fountain Hills

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Fountain Hills, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Fountain Hills.

BUS

Phoenix (Airport), Arizona

33 mi away
3400 East Sky Harbor Blvd.
BUS

Phoenix (Greyhound), Arizona

35 mi away
2115 East Buckeye Road
BUS

Phoenix (Metro Center Transit Station), Arizona

37 mi away
9617 North Metro Parkway West
RAIL

Maricopa

69 mi away
19427 N. John Wayne Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ahwatukee Foothills and Payson. Straight-line distance: 72.15 mi (116.12 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Ahwatukee Foothills

Situated in Maricopa County at an elevation of approximately 1,283 feet, this urban village of Phoenix lies at the southern base of South Mountain Park and Preserve.

Population0
Coordinates33.3417100, -111.9840300
Altitude391
CountryUnited States
Payson

#2 Payson

Town in Gila County, Arizona, United States

Population15,947
Coordinates34.2308700, -111.3251400
Altitude1500
CountryUnited States
Start: Ahwatukee Foothills (-111.98403, 33.34171)
End: Payson (-111.32514, 34.23087)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 141 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.09 gal
11.71 L · about $14.44
Round trip
$28.89
6.18 gal · 23.42 L
Estimated CO2
27.5 kg one way
Round trip: 54.9 kg / 121 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $14.44 $28.89
Mid-grade $5.03 $15.56 $31.11
Premium $5.36 $16.57 $33.14
Diesel $6.27 $19.38 $38.76

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Arizona · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Ahwatukee Foothills and Payson. The current time is 11:44:02.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.