How far is Tucson, AZ from Safford, AZ?
The driving distance from Tucson, AZ to Safford, AZ is about 126.7 miles (203.9 km), with a travel time of about 02h 22m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 82.6 miles (133 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 44m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MST.
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.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 02h 22m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Tucson and Safford.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tucson and Safford.
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1
Start on North Country Club Road
61 m · 32 sec · North Country Club Road
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2
Continue on North Country Club Road
1.7 mi · 4 min · North Country Club Road
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3
Take the ramp straight
49 m · 4 sec
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4
Turn straight onto East Barraza Aviation Highway
1.6 km · 2 min · East Barraza Aviation Highway
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5
Turn straight onto Alvernon Way
47 m · 3 sec
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6
Continue on Alvernon Way
985 ft · 23 sec
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7
Turn right onto South Alvernon Way
2.4 mi · 4 min · South Alvernon Way
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8
Turn left onto I 10 East: El Paso
2748 ft · 1 min
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9
Merge slight left onto Tucson-Benson Highway
37.7 mi · 39 min · Tucson-Benson Highway
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10
Continue on Benson-Steins Pass Highway
49.2 mi · 49 min · Benson-Steins Pass Highway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward US 191 North: Safford
1830 ft · 42 sec
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12
Turn left onto Bowie Junction-Safford Highway
33.6 mi · 43 min · Bowie Junction-Safford Highway
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13
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South 1st Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Tucson and Safford.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Benson-Steins Pass Highway
Continue on Benson-Steins Pass Highway
49.2 mi · 00h 49m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Tucson and Sunny near Safford.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Tucson to Safford?
The road trip is about 126.7 miles (203.9 km) and usually takes 02h 22m 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?
Benson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 63.4 miles from Tucson and 63.3 miles from Safford.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 82.6 miles (133 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.1 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 1:46 PM MST.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.13 one way or $44.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 39.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Tucson and Sunny near Safford.
Stop Ideas Near Benson
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Benson.
Benson
Tucson
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Tucson and Safford. Straight-line distance: 82.65 mi (133.01 km).
#1 Tucson
The second most populous city in Arizona and the center of the Tucson metropolitan area.
| Population | 553,571 |
| Coordinates | 32.2217400, -110.9264800 |
| Altitude | 759 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Safford
City in and county seat of Graham County, Arizona, United States
| Population | 9,951 |
| Coordinates | 32.8339500, -109.7075800 |
| Altitude | 889 |
| Country | United States |
End: Safford (-109.70758, 32.83395)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 204 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 04h 13m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 10m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 02h 32m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 06m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 01h 48m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 34m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.95 | $22.13 | $44.26 |
| Mid-grade | $5.34 | $23.86 | $47.72 |
| Premium | $5.57 | $24.88 | $49.76 |
| Diesel | $6.37 | $28.46 | $56.91 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.