How far is Safford, AZ from Thatcher, AZ?

The driving distance from Safford, AZ to Thatcher, AZ is about 3.4 miles (5.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 3.2 miles (5.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MST.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
3.39 mi
00h 06m
Flight
3.18 mi
5.12 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Safford.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
3.18 mi
Kilometers
5.12 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
3.39 mi
Kilometers
5.45 km
Drive Time
00h 06m

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 00h 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Thatcher
Thu, Apr 23, 1:16 AM MST
Return by in Safford
Thu, Apr 23, 1:22 AM MST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Safford
2026-04-23T01:09
Arrive Thatcher
Thu, Apr 23, 1:16 AM MST
Route Timing
00h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MST
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:06 AM to 7:06 PM MST

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
8:18 PM MST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Safford
10:00 PM MST
Flexible departure

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
Pima
AZ

Town in Graham County, Arizona, United States

From Safford
1.7 mi
00h 03m
To Thatcher
1.6 mi
00h 03m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MST
Wind
6 to 20 mph WNW
Destination
84°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MST
Wind
8 to 23 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Safford and Thatcher.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Safford and Thatcher.

  1. 1

    Start on South 1st Avenue

    77 m · 8 sec · South 1st Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    2563 ft · 1 min · West Main Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue

    133 m · 17 sec · South 8th Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto West Thatcher Boulevard

    2.3 mi · 5 min · West Thatcher Boulevard

  5. 5

    Continue on West Main Street

    2847 ft · 1 min · West Main Street

  6. 6

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Safford and Thatcher.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
6 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
176.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Thatcher Boulevard
2.33 mi · 69%
West Main Street
1.02 mi · 30%
South 8th Avenue
0.08 mi · 2%
South 1st Avenue
0.05 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

West Thatcher Boulevard

Turn left onto West Thatcher Boulevard

2.33 mi · 00h 05m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 06m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+0.2 mi
3.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pima
00h 03m from Safford
Leave By
8:18 PM MST
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Safford and Sunny near Thatcher.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Safford to Thatcher?

The road trip is about 3.4 miles (5.4 km) and usually takes 00h 06m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Pima is a useful midpoint, sitting about 1.7 miles from Safford and 1.6 miles from Thatcher.

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

The direct path is about 3.2 miles (5.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 0.2 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:18 PM MST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $0.59 one way or $1.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 1.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Safford and Sunny near Thatcher.

Stop Ideas Near Pima

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Pima, 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 Pima.

RAIL

Benson

112 mi away
105 E. 4th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Safford and Thatcher. Straight-line distance: 3.18 mi (5.12 km).

Safford

#1 Safford

City in and county seat of Graham County, Arizona, United States

Population9,951
Coordinates32.8339500, -109.7075800
Altitude889
CountryUnited States
Thatcher

#2 Thatcher

Town in Graham County, Arizona, United States

Population5,264
Coordinates32.8492300, -109.7592500
Altitude887
CountryUnited States
Start: South 1st Avenue (-109.707733, 32.833949)
End: US 70 (-109.759251, 32.849133)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 5 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 03m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.12 gal
0.45 L · about $0.59
Round trip
$1.19
0.24 gal · 0.9 L
Estimated CO2
1.1 kg one way
Round trip: 2.1 kg / 5 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $0.59 $1.19
Mid-grade $5.34 $0.64 $1.28
Premium $5.57 $0.67 $1.34
Diesel $6.37 $0.76 $1.53

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 Safford and Thatcher. The current time is 01:09:44.

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.