Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Big Park, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ

Drive Time

2h 11m

Distance

118.2 mi

190 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

18 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 2m ★
6 AM
2h 11m
8 AM
2h 30m
10 AM
2h 18m
12 PM
2h 16m
3 PM
2h 19m
5 PM
2h 29m
8 PM
2h 6m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Downtown Tempe Junction, AZ, AZ

Tempe Junction, AZ

Abhishek Navlakha

Trip Overview

The drive from Big Park, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 118.2 miles and takes about 2h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Arizona Veterans Highway, Black Canyon Freeway, Red Rock Scenic Byway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 52.9 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.52 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

59.1 miles from Big Park, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Big Park, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 118.2 miles and takes about 2h 11m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Arizona Veterans Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 52.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Cortez Drive.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 118.2 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Cortez Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 7.5 miles (AZ 179): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Cortez Drive

At end of road, turn right onto East Cortez Drive

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

7
7.5 mi into trip | ~11m in | AZ 179

Take the exit onto AZ 179 toward Oak Creek Canyon, SR 179, Sedona

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 298 Toward Oak Creek Canyon, SR 179, Sedona
8
115.2 mi into trip | ~2h 4m in

Take the exit toward AZ 143: 48th Street, Broadway Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 153 Toward AZ 143: 48th Street, Broadway Road
7
115.4 mi into trip | ~2h 4m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
115.6 mi into trip | ~2h 5m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Towns Along This Route

Between Big Park, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ, road signs point toward Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona.

Oak Creek Canyon

7.5 mi in | ~11m | via AZ 179

Sedona

7.5 mi in | ~11m | via AZ 179

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Arizona Veterans Highway 52.9 mi 52m
Black Canyon Freeway 38.4 mi 42m
Red Rock Scenic Byway 7.5 mi 11m
Maricopa Freeway 7.3 mi 8m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway 5.8 mi 5m
North Black Canyon Highway 3.2 mi 3m
East Broadway Road 1.6 mi 3m
South Roosevelt Street 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Arizona Veterans Highway — 52.9 mi, about 52m

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 59.1 miles from Big Park, AZ, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.9 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 59.1 miles or 1h 3m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tempe Junction, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Big Park, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Big Park, AZ

This is one driving day of about 118.2 miles and 2h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Big Park, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Arizona Veterans Highway for about 52.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 59.1 mi from Big Park, AZ · 1h 3m into the drive

Downtown Surprise, AZ, AZ

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Surprise, AZ

59 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Peoria, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Surprise, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 59.1 miles from Big Park, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Tempe Junction, AZ

The final approach into Tempe Junction, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Tempe Junction, AZ.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Montezuma Castle National Monument

National Monument

Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 near mile 12.2
Caution: High Levels of Visitation
View on nps.gov
Tuzigoot National Monument

Tuzigoot National Monument

National Monument

Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs that well up from the ancient sedimentary ro...

15 mi from route ~37 min detour $10 near mile 4.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.52 one way

$47.05 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 41 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.34 $24.84 $49.68
premium $5.59 $26.00 $52.00
diesel $5.64 $26.26 $52.52

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 41.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

18 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Shops at Norterra - Tesla Supercharger

Phoenix, AZ

Tesla

16 DCFC

Deer Valley Town Center - Tesla Supercharger

Phoenix, AZ

Tesla

16 DCFC

Metro Commons - Tesla Supercharger

Phoenix, AZ

Tesla

16 DCFC

The Collective Sedona - Tesla Supercharger

Sedona, AZ

Tesla

14 DCFC

The Citadelle - Tesla Supercharger

Glendale, AZ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Shell Gas Station - Tesla Supercharger

New River, AZ

Tesla

10 DCFC

Shell & Subway Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger

Mayer, AZ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Sedona, AZ

Sedona, AZ

RIVIAN_ADVENTURE

6 DCFC

Tesla: 7 eVgo Network: 4 ChargePoint Network: 2 RIVIAN_ADVENTURE: 1 Electrify America: 1 CIRCLE_K: 1 Non-Networked: 1 FORD_CHARGE: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 35.5 0 $12.41 $5.67
Efficient EV 29.6 0 $10.34 $4.73
EV Truck/SUV 47.3 0 $16.55 $7.56

Gas CO2

41 kg

EV CO2

14 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Big Park, AZ

Late night in Big Park on Monday

Local time

1:15 AM

MST

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tempe Junction, AZ

Late night in Tempe Junction on Monday

Local time

1:15 AM

MST

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

14 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 11m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Big Park, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 118.2 miles and takes about 2h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Arizona Veterans Highway, Black Canyon Freeway, Red Rock Scenic Byway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.1 miles from Big Park, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.52 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 118.2 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Cortez Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 7.5 miles (AZ 179): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Big Park, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ, road signs point toward Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Tempe Junction, AZ

Fredonia, AZ 347.9 mi · 6h 52m Lukachukai, AZ 336 mi · 7h 10m Fort Defiance, AZ 280.5 mi · 5h 45m Bullhead City, AZ 232.1 mi · 4h 48m

More from Big Park, AZ

Peoria, AZ 104.5 mi · 1h 55m

More trips to Tempe Junction, AZ

Lukachukai, AZ 368.6 mi Tuba City, AZ 230.9 mi Yuma, AZ 186.7 mi Tombstone, AZ 177.8 mi Swift Trail Junction, AZ 163.8 mi Whetstone, AZ 151.4 mi

Explore more options from Big Park, AZ or browse trips ending in Tempe Junction, AZ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.

Explore maps for Big Park, AZ or Tempe Junction, AZ on MapSof.net.