How far is Glendale, AZ from Payson, AZ?

The driving distance from Glendale, AZ to Payson, AZ is about 97.4 miles (156.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 68.7 miles (110.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 59m 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
97.41 mi
01h 59m
Flight
68.74 mi
110.63 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Glendale.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
68.74 mi
Kilometers
110.63 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
97.41 mi
Kilometers
156.76 km
Drive Time
01h 59m

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 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Payson
Wed, Apr 22, 10:22 PM MST
Return by in Glendale
Thu, Apr 23, 12:22 AM MST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Glendale
2026-04-22T20:23
Arrive Payson
Wed, Apr 22, 10:22 PM MST
Route Timing
01h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM MST

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

Leave by
2:30 PM MST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Glendale
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 Glendale
48.7 mi
00h 59m
To Payson
48.7 mi
00h 59m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MST
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW
Destination
69°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MST
Wind
5 to 17 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Glendale and Payson.

  1. 1

    Start on Grand Avenue

    1798 ft · 37 sec · Grand Avenue

  2. 2

    Continue on Grand Avenue

    5.5 mi · 10 min · Grand Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on Grand Avenue

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Grand Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto North 19th Avenue

    1695 ft · 46 sec · North 19th Avenue

  5. 5

    Take the ramp left toward I 10 East: Tucson

    1844 ft · 48 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Papago Freeway

    1.5 km · 1 min · Papago Freeway

  7. 7

    Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

    2704 ft · 35 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

  8. 8

    Continue on Papago Freeway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Papago Freeway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East

    564 ft · 7 sec · Red Mountain Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Red Mountain Freeway

    1827 ft · 41 sec · Red Mountain Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Red Mountain Freeway

    12.5 mi · 15 min · Red Mountain Freeway

  12. 12

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

    1828 ft · 47 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto North Country Club Drive

    2799 ft · 1 min · North Country Club Drive

  14. 14

    Continue on North Beeline Highway

    4.5 mi · 5 min · North Beeline Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Beeline Highway

    67.7 mi · 1 hr 19 min · Beeline Highway

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Beeline Highway

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Glendale 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
16 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Beeline Highway
67.7 mi · 70%
Red Mountain Freeway
12.9 mi · 13%
Grand Avenue
7.78 mi · 8%
North Beeline Highway
4.52 mi · 5%
Papago Freeway
2.39 mi · 2%
North Country Club Drive
0.53 mi · 1%
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 59m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.7 mi
68.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fountain Hills
00h 59m from Glendale
Leave By
2:30 PM MST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Glendale and Sunny near Payson.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Glendale to Payson?

The road trip is about 97.4 miles (156.8 km) and usually takes 01h 59m 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 48.7 miles from Glendale and 48.7 miles from Payson.

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

The direct path is about 68.7 miles (110.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.7 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 2:30 PM MST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $17.03 one way or $34.06 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 30.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Glendale 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 Glendale and Payson. Straight-line distance: 68.74 mi (110.63 km).

Glendale

#1 Glendale

The second most populous city in Arizona.

Population255,307
Coordinates33.5386500, -112.1859900
Altitude351
CountryUnited States
Payson

#2 Payson

Town in Gila County, Arizona, United States

Population15,947
Coordinates34.2308700, -111.3251400
Altitude1500
CountryUnited States
Start: Glendale (-112.18599, 33.53865)
End: Payson (-111.32514, 34.23087)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 157 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.44 gal
13.01 L · about $17.03
Round trip
$34.06
6.88 gal · 26.02 L
Estimated CO2
30.6 kg one way
Round trip: 61.1 kg / 135 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $17.03 $34.06
Mid-grade $5.34 $18.36 $36.73
Premium $5.57 $19.15 $38.29
Diesel $6.37 $21.90 $43.80

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Glendale and Payson. The current time is 20:23:01.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

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