Origin
New River, AZ
Afternoon in New River on Thursday
Local time
4:25 PM
MST
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New River, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
56m
Distance
45.3 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New River, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
This straightforward 45.3-mile drive from New River to Tempe Junction, Arizona, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 56 minutes. Predominantly following major freeways like the Black Canyon Freeway and Maricopa Freeway, this route offers a consistent highway experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $9, it's an economical option for a short excursion within the Desert Southwest region. This drive is ideal for a quick commute or a brief journey between these two Arizona locations, requiring no overnight stays.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 45.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 45.3-mile journey, with 84% of the route utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 30.6 miles on the Black Canyon Freeway, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. This route largely consists of freeway driving, with sections of North Black Canyon Highway also incorporated. It's a drive that prioritizes efficient travel over winding scenic byways, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Black Canyon Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 30.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Black Canyon Freeway and Maricopa Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near I-17 Frontage Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 45.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (I-17 Frontage Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 42.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I-17 Frontage Road
At end of road, turn left onto I-17 Frontage Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I-17 South: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I-17 South: Phoenix
8
42.3 mi into trip
|
~49m 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
42.5 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
42.7 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Black Canyon Freeway | 30.6 mi | 34m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| North Black Canyon Highway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| East Broadway Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| South Roosevelt Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West New River Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| New River Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I-17 Frontage Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Black Canyon Freeway
— 30.6 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New River, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ.
1
Start on North Kelley Road
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Kelley Road
2
Turn left onto West New River Road
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
West New River Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto I-17 Frontage Road
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
I-17 Frontage Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto New River Road
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
New River Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I-17 South: Phoenix
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 17
2.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 17
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 17
28 mi
·
32 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 17; US 60
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 153
Toward AZ 143: 48th Street, Broadway Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
501 ft
·
12 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on Maricopa Freeway
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Maricopa Freeway
14
Turn left onto East Broadway Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
East Broadway Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Roosevelt Street
Use the left lane.
16
At end of road, turn right onto West 13th Street
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
West 13th Street
17
Arrive at destination
West 13th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.6 mi from New River, AZ · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.6 miles from New River, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Tempe Junction, AZ
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Tempe Junction, AZ if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.02 one way
$18.05 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $9.55 | $19.10 |
| premium | $5.59 | $9.97 | $19.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.00 | $20.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.76 | $2.17 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.34 | $2.90 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Afternoon in Tempe Junction on Thursday
Local time
4:25 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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
56m 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 New River, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 45.3 miles and takes about 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Black Canyon Freeway, Maricopa Freeway, North Black Canyon Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.6 miles from New River, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.02 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 is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 45.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (I-17 Frontage Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 42.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from New River, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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