Origin
Cave Creek, AZ
Late night in Cave Creek on Wednesday
Local time
4:49 AM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cave Creek, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ
Data updated 1 second ago
Drive Time
47m
Distance
37.2 mi
60 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cave Creek, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
This 37.2-mile drive from Cave Creek, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ is a short, manageable trip that can easily be completed in about 47 minutes. It's perfect for a single-day excursion, so no overnight stays are necessary. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with East Cave Creek Road and North Scottsdale Road being key thoroughfares. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $7. Given its brevity and local road nature, this route offers a relaxed pace through the Desert Southwest region of Arizona, making it a straightforward addition to any travel plans.
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
18.6 miles from Cave Creek, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a 0% highway share. The entire 37.2 miles will keep you engaged with frequent turns and navigation through local streets. Since there's no significant highway portion, the longest uninterrupted stretch is not applicable. This means you'll be consistently on roads that require your attention, moving through various local areas rather than settling into a long, monotonous highway cruise. The character of the drive is defined by its constant engagement and the need to navigate community roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Cave Creek Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Cave Creek, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ is easy. At 47m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cave Creek, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Cave Creek Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Tom Darlington Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Scottsdale Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| AZ 101 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pima Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| AZ 202 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Red Mountain Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Scottsdale Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Cave Creek Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cave Creek, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ.
1
Start on East Cave Creek Road
207 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Cave Creek Road
2
Continue on East Cave Creek Road
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Cave Creek Road
3
Turn slight right onto North Tom Darlington Drive
171 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Tom Darlington Drive
4
Turn straight onto North Tom Darlington Drive
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Tom Darlington Drive
5
Turn straight onto North Tom Darlington Drive
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Tom Darlington Drive
6
Continue on North Scottsdale Road
9.8 mi
·
15 min
·
North Scottsdale Road
7
Turn left onto AZ 101 Loop East
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
AZ 101 Loop East
8
Merge slight left onto Pima Freeway
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Pima Freeway
9
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 202 Loop West, AZ 202 Loop East: Airport
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
AZ 202 Loop West, AZ 202 Loop East: Airport
10
Keep slight right to continue on AZ 202 Loop West
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
AZ 202 Loop West
11
Merge slight left onto Red Mountain Freeway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Red Mountain Freeway
12
Take the exit slight right toward Scottsdale Road, Rural Road
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Scottsdale Road, Rural Road
13
Keep slight left to continue on Arizona State University-Tempe
400 ft
·
12 sec
·
Arizona State University-Tempe
14
Turn slight left onto North Scottsdale Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Scottsdale Road
15
Continue on South Rural Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Rural Road
16
Turn right onto East Apache Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Apache Boulevard
17
Turn left onto East 13th Street
0.3 mi
·
58 sec
·
East 13th Street
18
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 47-minute duration and 37.2-mile distance, you have plenty of flexibility for when to depart. Leaving in the morning or late afternoon will help you avoid potential local traffic congestion. With a low fuel cost of approximately $7, you won't need extensive refueling stops. Plan to take advantage of the short drive by keeping your eyes peeled for any local points of interest that catch your eye as you navigate East Cave Creek Road and North Scottsdale Road. This route is ideal for a spontaneous trip, so pack light and be ready to go.
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 18.6 miles from Cave Creek, AZ, or about 23m into the drive.
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 37.2 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 18.6 miles or 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 40m
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 Cave Creek, 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 Cave Creek, AZ
This is one driving day of about 37.2 miles and 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cave Creek, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.6 mi from Cave Creek, AZ · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 37.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.6 miles from Cave Creek, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.41 one way
$14.82 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $7.84 | $15.69 |
| premium | $5.59 | $8.19 | $16.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.21 | $16.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 13 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.91 | $1.79 |
| Efficient EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.26 | $1.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.21 | $2.38 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Tempe Junction, AZ
Late night in Tempe Junction on Wednesday
Local time
4:49 AM
MST
Current temp
90°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
5 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
47m 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 Cave Creek, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 37.2 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Cave Creek Road, North Tom Darlington Drive, North Scottsdale Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.6 miles from Cave Creek, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.41 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.
The drive from Cave Creek, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ is easy. At 47m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cave Creek, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cave Creek, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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