Grand Canyon National Park
National Park
Entirely within the state of Arizona, the park encompasses 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. Located on the ancestral homelands of 11 present day Tribal Communities, Grand...
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Create accountDrive Time
4h 31m
Distance
238.3 mi
384 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grand Canyon Village, AZ
Strange Happenings
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
The drive from Grand Canyon Village, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 238.3 miles and takes about 4h 31m 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, Williams–Grand Canyon–Cameron Highway, Black Canyon Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 93 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.43 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
119.2 miles from Grand Canyon Village, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 22m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 31m drive with frequent turns across 238.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near Village Loop Drive.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 238.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (Village Loop Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 87.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 235.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn right onto Village Loop Drive
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Keep slight right at fork toward I 17 South, AZ 89A: Sedona, Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Between Grand Canyon Village, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ, road signs point toward Flagstaff and Phoenix.
Flagstaff
Phoenix
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Veterans Highway | 93 mi | 1h 33m |
| Williams–Grand Canyon–Cameron Highway | 51.4 mi | 1h 3m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 38.4 mi | 42m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 28.6 mi | 28m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 5.8 mi | 5m |
| South Entrance Road | 3.3 mi | 6m |
| North Black Canyon Highway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Grand Canyon Village, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ.
Start on Forest Service Road 328A
Turn right onto Maswik Laundry Road
Continue on Aspen Road
At end of road, turn right
At end of road, turn right onto Village Loop Drive
Continue on Village Loop Drive
Turn right onto Center Road
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 64
Continue on US 180; AZ 64
Enter roundabout onto US 180; AZ 64
Continue on US 180; AZ 64
Enter roundabout onto US 180; AZ 64
Continue on US 180; AZ 64
Take the ramp onto I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist
Merge onto I 40
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 17; AZ 89A
Continue on I 17
Continue on I 17
Continue on I 17
Continue on I 17
Continue on I 17; US 60
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on Maricopa Freeway
Turn left onto East Broadway Road
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
At end of road, turn right onto West 13th Street
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.2 miles or 2h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tempe Junction, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Grand Canyon Village, 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 Grand Canyon Village, AZ
This is one driving day of about 238.3 miles and 4h 31m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 119.2 mi from Grand Canyon Village, AZ · 2h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
119 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 119.2 miles from Grand Canyon Village, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Arizona Veterans Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93 miles.
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Park
Entirely within the state of Arizona, the park encompasses 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. Located on the ancestral homelands of 11 present day Tribal Communities, Grand...
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$47.43 one way
$94.85 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $50.08 | $100.16 |
| premium | $5.59 | $52.42 | $104.83 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $52.94 | $105.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 71.5 | 0 | $25.02 | $11.44 |
| Efficient EV | 59.6 | 0 | $20.85 | $9.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 95.3 | 1 | $33.36 | $15.25 |
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Grand Canyon Village on Monday
Local time
8:36 AM
MST
Current temp
27°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Tempe Junction on Monday
Local time
8:36 AM
MST
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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Return Trip
Tempe Junction, AZ to Grand Canyon Village, AZPlan the drive back the other way.
Explore more options from Grand Canyon Village, AZ or browse trips ending in Tempe Junction, AZ.
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