Origin
Mohave Valley, AZ
Late night in Mohave Valley on Saturday
Local time
4:51 AM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mohave Valley, AZ to Tempe, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 28m
Distance
256.3 mi
412 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$51
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 15m
★
6 AM
4h 29m
8 AM
4h 56m
10 AM
4h 38m
12 PM
4h 36m
3 PM
4h 40m
5 PM
4h 54m
8 PM
4h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mohave Valley, AZ
Brent Singleton
Tempe, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Mohave Valley, AZ to Tempe, AZ covers 256.3 miles and takes about 4h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Calle del Media, Valley Parkway, Cimarron Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $51.06 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
128.2 miles from Mohave Valley, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 28m. Total distance: 256.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 28m drive with frequent turns across 256.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Calle del Media 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 28m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mohave Valley, AZ to Tempe, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Calle del Media | — | — |
| Valley Parkway | — | — |
| Cimarron Boulevard | — | — |
| Mohave Valley Highway | — | — |
| Harbor Avenue | — | — |
| North K Street | — | — |
| Front Street | — | — |
| J Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Calle del Media
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mohave Valley, AZ and Tempe, AZ.
1
Start on Winter Haven Drive
10 ft
·
1 sec
·
Winter Haven Drive
2
Turn right onto Calle del Media
276 ft
·
14 sec
·
Calle del Media
3
Turn right onto Valley Parkway
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Valley Parkway
4
Turn slight left onto Cimarron Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
Cimarron Boulevard
5
At the end of the road, turn left onto Mohave Valley Highway
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Mohave Valley Highway
6
Continue on Harbor Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Harbor Avenue
7
Continue on North K Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North K Street
8
At the end of the road, turn left onto Front Street
466 ft
·
15 sec
·
Front Street
9
Turn right onto J Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
J Street
10
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
11
Merge slight left onto Needles Freeway
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
Needles Freeway
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 95 South: East Broadway, Blythe
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 95 South: East Broadway, Blythe
13
Turn right onto Route 95
47 mi
·
55 min
·
Route 95
14
Turn left onto Aqueduct Road
16 mi
·
24 min
·
Aqueduct Road
15
Turn right
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
16
Continue on California Avenue
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
California Avenue
17
Continue on Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
18
Continue on Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
19
Continue on North Central Boulevard
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Central Boulevard
20
Turn left onto East Main Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
21
Turn right onto Riggles Road
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Riggles Road
22
Take the ramp left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
23
Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
105 mi
·
1 hr 45 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
24
Continue on Papago Freeway
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Papago Freeway
25
Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
26
Continue on Papago Freeway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
27
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
28
Keep slight right to continue on Red Mountain Freeway
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Red Mountain Freeway
29
Keep slight left to continue on Red Mountain Freeway
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Red Mountain Freeway
30
Take the exit slight right toward McClintock Drive
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
McClintock Drive
31
Turn right onto South McClintock Drive
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South McClintock Drive
32
Turn right onto East Apache Boulevard
59 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
33
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 128.2 miles from Mohave Valley, AZ, or about 2h 14m 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 56 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.2 miles or 2h 14m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tempe, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mohave Valley, 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 Mohave Valley, AZ
This is one driving day of about 256.3 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Mohave Valley, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 128.2 mi from Mohave Valley, AZ · 2h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
128 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 128.2 miles from Mohave Valley, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Tempe, AZ
The final approach into Tempe, 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, 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
$51.06 one way
$102.12 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
90 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $54.03 | $108.07 |
| premium | $5.59 | $56.42 | $112.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $56.59 | $113.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.9 | 0 | $26.91 | $12.30 |
| Efficient EV | 64.1 | 0 | $22.43 | $10.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 102.5 | 1 | $35.88 | $16.40 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Tempe, AZ
Late night in Tempe on Saturday
Local time
4:51 AM
MST
Current temp
93°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
3 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
4h 28m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Mohave Valley, AZ to Tempe, AZ covers 256.3 miles and takes about 4h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Calle del Media, Valley Parkway, Cimarron Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 128.2 miles from Mohave Valley, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $51.06 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 28m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mohave Valley, AZ to Tempe, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Mohave Valley, AZ to Tempe, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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