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Trip from Flagstaff, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ

Drive Time

2h 45m

Distance

153.3 mi

247 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 35m ★
6 AM
2h 46m
8 AM
3h 7m
10 AM
2h 53m
12 PM
2h 51m
3 PM
2h 54m
5 PM
3h 6m
8 PM
2h 39m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Flagstaff, AZ, AZ

Flagstaff, AZ

Mark Direen

Downtown Tempe Junction, AZ, AZ

Tempe Junction, AZ

Abhishek Navlakha

Trip Overview

The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 153.3 miles and takes about 2h 45m 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, Maricopa Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 93.9 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.51 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

1 planned break

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

Midpoint

76.7 miles from Flagstaff, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 153.3 miles and takes about 2h 45m, 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 16 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 93.9 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 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 150.4 miles in.

Route Complexity 5/10

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

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 153.3 miles you will encounter 7 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: at 150.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 150.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

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

8
150.4 mi into trip | ~2h 39m 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
150.6 mi into trip | ~2h 39m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
150.8 mi into trip | ~2h 39m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
152.6 mi into trip | ~2h 43m in | South Roosevelt Street

Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
153.1 mi into trip | ~2h 44m in | West 13th Street

At end of road, turn right onto West 13th Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Arizona Veterans Highway 93.9 mi 1h 34m
Black Canyon Freeway 38.4 mi 42m
Maricopa Freeway 7.3 mi 8m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway 5.8 mi 5m
North Black Canyon Highway 3.2 mi 3m
South Milton Road 1.8 mi 4m
East Broadway Road 1.6 mi 3m
South Roosevelt Street 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Arizona Veterans Highway — 93.9 mi, about 1h 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Flagstaff, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ.

1

Start on US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist

500 ft · 15 sec · West Historic Route 66
2

Turn slight left onto South Milton Road

1.8 mi · 4 min · South Milton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
3

Continue on I 17; AZ 79

94 mi · 1 hr 34 min · Arizona Veterans Highway
4

Continue on I 17

5.8 mi · 5 min · Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Continue on I 17

10 mi · 10 min · Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Continue on I 17

3.2 mi · 3 min · North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
7

Continue on I 17

28 mi · 32 min · Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I 17; US 60

7.1 mi · 8 min · Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 153 Toward AZ 143: 48th Street, Broadway Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork

501 ft · 12 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on Maricopa Freeway

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Maricopa Freeway
13

Turn left onto East Broadway Road

1.6 mi · 3 min · East Broadway Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
14

Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Roosevelt Street
Use the left lane.
15

At end of road, turn right onto West 13th Street

0.3 mi · 47 sec · West 13th Street
16

Arrive at destination

West 13th Street

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.7 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.9 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 76.7 miles or 1h 19m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 10m

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 Flagstaff, 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 Flagstaff, AZ

This is one driving day of about 153.3 miles and 2h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Flagstaff, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Arizona Veterans Highway for about 93.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 76.7 mi from Flagstaff, AZ · 1h 19m into the drive

Downtown Surprise, AZ, AZ

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Surprise, AZ

77 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.

Popular next leg

Surprise, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ

36.1 mi · 45m

Pacing Suggestions

Surprise, 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 76.7 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Arizona Veterans Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93.9 miles.

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 ~4 min detour $10 near mile 47.6
Caution: High Levels of Visitation
View on nps.gov
Walnut Canyon National Monument

Walnut Canyon National Monument

National Monument

Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived and traveled throughout Walnut Canyon’s dynamic landscape. Vibrant communities built their homes in the cliffs and farmed along the canyon’s rim. T...

9 mi from route ~22 min detour $25
View on nps.gov
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

National Monument

The lava flow lies on the land like a dream, a wonderland of rock. A thousand years ago the ground was torn open and lava erupted into the sky, forever changing the landscape and the lives of the peop...

14 mi from route ~36 min detour $25
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 52.9
View on nps.gov
Wupatki National Monument

Wupatki National Monument

National Monument

Nestled between the Painted Desert and ponderosa highlands of northern Arizona, Wupatki National Monument is an unlikely landscape for a thriving community. The early 1100's marked a time of cooler an...

29 mi from route ~72 min detour $25
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.51 one way

$61.02 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 54 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.34 $32.22 $64.43
premium $5.59 $33.72 $67.44
diesel $5.64 $34.06 $68.12

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 53.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 46 0 $16.10 $7.36
Efficient EV 38.3 0 $13.41 $6.13
EV Truck/SUV 61.3 0 $21.46 $9.81

Gas CO2

54 kg

EV CO2

18 kg (67% 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 hours ago

Origin

Flagstaff, AZ

Morning in Flagstaff on Monday

Local time

10:47 AM

MST

Current temp

55°F

Chance Rain Showers

SW 15 to 26 mph 52% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 7:45PM MST until April 13 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ

Destination

Tempe Junction, AZ

Morning in Tempe Junction on Monday

Local time

10:47 AM

MST

Current temp

80°F

Partly Sunny

WSW 0 to 15 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 7:45PM MST until April 13 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ

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

25 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 45m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 153.3 miles and takes about 2h 45m 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, Maricopa Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 76.7 miles from Flagstaff, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.51 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 153.3 miles you will encounter 7 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: at 150.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 150.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Flagstaff, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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