Quickest and/or most scenic route to Show Low, Arizona from Phoenix by car?

Quickest and/or most scenic route to Show Low, Arizona from Phoenix by car? - Train driving on city bridge under cloudy sky in evening

What's the best route to get to Show Low, Arizona from Phoenix. I can either go through Payson or Globe.

By "best" I mean which route is faster or more scenic?



Best Answer

Google Maps shows your two proposed routes as having a less than 5 mile and less than 10 minute difference. Which one is "faster" becomes almost entirely irrelevant at that point.

So we're left with "more scenic." Of the two routes, one (via Payson) runs almost entirely through Tonto National Forest and Sitgreaves National Forest, while the other (via Globe) is almost entirely outside the national forest boundaries.

Routes passing through national forests are highly likely to be scenic, or have easy access to scenic overlooks, points of interest, etc. The other route which skirts the national forests didn't look all that scenic from a couple of quick peeks at random points on Google Maps.

Though, if you're stopping a lot to take in the scenery, then that will certainly slow down your trip!

So I would say, if you want a fast, scenic drive, go via the Payson route, and if you want a fast, boring drive, go via the Globe route.




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Quickest and/or most scenic route to Show Low, Arizona from Phoenix by car? - From below of aged house exterior with stone columns near vintage auto on roadway under cloudy sky
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What is the most scenic drive in Arizona?

Most scenic drives in Arizona
  • Historic Route 66 All-American Road.
  • Coronado Trail National Scenic Byway.
  • Desert to Tall Pines Scenic Road.
  • Dry Creek Scenic Road.
  • Jerome-Clarkdale-Cottonwood Historic Road.
  • Joshua Forest Scenic Road.
  • Mingus Mountain Scenic Road.
  • Red Rock All-American Road.


Which route is the most scenic?

The 12 Most Beautiful Scenic Roads In The World
  • Highway One, Monterey County, California. ...
  • The Atlantic Road, Norway. ...
  • Ruta 40, Argentina. ...
  • Milford Road, New Zealand. ...
  • Karakoram Highway, Pakistan/China. ...
  • US Route 163, Arizona/Utah. ...
  • Strada Statale 163, Amalfi Coast, Italy. ...
  • Tianmen Mountain Road, China.


Is there a scenic route from Phoenix to Sedona?

A drive around Arizona will put you on the road to some of the most beautiful scenery. But there's one particular highway that apparently bests the rest. Like a red (rock) carpet rolled out from Interstate 17 to Sedona, Highway 179, aka the Red Rock Scenic Byway, is Arizona's most scenic drive, according to Thrillist.

What is there to see between Phoenix and Tucson?

10 Best Stops on the Phoenix to Tucson Drive
  • San Tan Mountain Regional Park.
  • Casa Grande Ruins.
  • Gallopin' Goose Saloon.
  • Tom Mix Memorial.
  • Casa Grande Neon Sign Park.
  • Domes of Casa Grande.
  • Picacho Peak.
  • Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Farm.




Phoenix AZ to Show Low AZ US 60




More answers regarding quickest and/or most scenic route to Show Low, Arizona from Phoenix by car?

Answer 2

Going thru Globe is not boring. You will pass thru the Salt River Canyon, quite beautiful area.
But remember there is construction going on 6pm-6am Monday through Thursday. Happy travels.

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