AZ-87 · AZ
AZ-87 (Beeline Highway) from Mesa to Payson: road conditions right now
Mesa, AZ to Payson, AZ
State Route 87, the Beeline Highway, climbs out of the Phoenix valley at Mesa, past Fountain Hills and Sunflower, to Payson in the pine country below the Mogollon Rim. Two National Weather Service offices split the drive: NWS Phoenix forecasts the East Valley and the Mazatzal Mountains zone around Sunflower, and NWS Flagstaff forecasts Payson and northern Gila County, so a winter advisory for Payson will not appear in a Phoenix forecast.
Plan this drive for your departure timeConditions at Wed, 2:49 AM MST
Highest risk along AZ-87: 1 of 5 (low), departing at that time.
- No active NWS alerts on this route.
The road authority linked below has the final word on closures and chain requirements.
Clear driving for the whole 1 h 18 min.
Conditions: Clear
Checkpoints along AZ-87
| Where | You pass | Weather | Risk | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesa, AZ | Wed 3:00 AM | 57°F | low | Nothing flagged |
| Rio Verde, AZ | Wed 3:30 AM | 56°F | low | Nothing flagged |
| Tonto Basin, AZ | Wed 4:00 AM | 49°F | low | Nothing flagged |
| Payson, AZ | Wed 4:18 AM | 41°F | low | Nothing flagged |
Why this stretch is hard in winter
- NWS Flagstaff's winter travel page lists elevation change as the first factor in northern Arizona winter conditions; this drive gains most of its elevation between Sunflower and Payson, and that is where rain in the valley turns to snow.
- Payson and the Rim country are forecast by NWS Flagstaff (zone AZZ018, Northern Gila County); Mesa, Fountain Hills and Sunflower are forecast by NWS Phoenix (East Valley and Mazatzal Mountains zones). This page shows alerts from both offices.
- In the February 21, 2019 storm, ADOT closed both directions of SR 87 between Payson and Winslow and advised that four-wheel-drive vehicles and chains are recommended in areas with heavy snow.
- ADOT posts closures and restrictions on az511.gov; in a storm the Beeline can be closed above Payson while the climb from Mesa is still open.
What this page checks
- Hourly forecast at every checkpoint for the time you would be there: temperature, precipitation type and rate, gusts, visibility.
- Active National Weather Service watches, warnings, and advisories on the route.
- Snow on the ground (NOAA SNODAS) and the Weather Prediction Center winter impact outlook.
- Pavement temperature and surface state from state DOT road sensors, when you are leaving within a few hours.
- Chain controls, closures, and winter road condition reports from state DOT feeds where they are published openly.
- Seasonal closures of mountain roads the router might otherwise use.
Official sources for this corridor
Questions drivers ask about AZ-87
- Do I need chains on the Beeline Highway to Payson?
- ADOT does not post a standing chain rule for SR 87, but in heavy snow it recommends four-wheel drive and chains and closes the highway when conditions warrant, as it did north of Payson on February 21, 2019. Check az511.gov before leaving Mesa; this page shows the forecast at each stretch and any active NWS warning.
- Why does the Phoenix forecast say nothing about snow in Payson?
- Because Payson is forecast by a different office. NWS Phoenix covers the valley and the Mazatzal Mountains around Sunflower; NWS Flagstaff covers Payson and northern Gila County. A Winter Weather Advisory for Payson is issued by Flagstaff, and this page shows alerts from both.
- Where do I check whether SR 87 is closed?
- AZ511 (az511.gov), run by ADOT, lists closures and restrictions on SR 87 as they happen. This page adds the hourly forecast at each stretch of the climb.
Conditions change by the hour. This page is a planning aid built on public forecasts and DOT feeds; the road authority linked above has the final word on closures and chain requirements.
Nearby corridors: I-17 from Phoenix to Flagstaff · I-40 from Albuquerque to Flagstaff · I-8 over Mountain Springs (In-Ko-Pah) · I-10 through San Gorgonio Pass · I-15 over Cajon Pass · I-40 through Tijeras Canyon · all corridors