Origin
Nogales, AZ
Morning in Nogales on Thursday
Local time
9:38 AM
MST
Current temp
94°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nogales, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 8m
Distance
171.5 mi
276 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 57m
★
6 AM
3h 8m
8 AM
3h 32m
10 AM
3h 17m
12 PM
3h 14m
3 PM
3h 18m
5 PM
3h 31m
8 PM
3h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nogales, AZ
András Nyemczovszky
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
The drive from Nogales, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 171.5 miles and takes about 3h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Nogales–Tucson Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 60 miles on Nogales–Tucson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.16 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
85.8 miles from Nogales, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 171.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 8m drive with frequent turns across 171.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Nogales–Tucson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 60 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 72.8 miles in near I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 171.5 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 72.8 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 167.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 168 miles (South Priest Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
72.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
167.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 59m in
Take the exit toward Baseline Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 155
Toward Baseline Road
6
168 mi into trip
|
~3h in
|
South Priest Drive
Turn left onto South Priest Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
170 mi into trip
|
~3h 5m in
|
West Broadway Road
Turn right onto West Broadway Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
170.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 6m in
|
South Roosevelt Street
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Nogales–Tucson Highway | 60 mi | 1h 5m |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.5 mi | 55m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 38.1 mi | 38m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| South Freeway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| South Priest Drive | 2 mi | 4m |
| North Grand Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| West Broadway Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Nogales–Tucson Highway
— 60 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nogales, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ.
1
Start on North Wayside Drive
91 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Wayside Drive
2
Turn right onto North Morley Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Morley Avenue
3
Turn left
129 ft
·
9 sec
4
Turn right onto I 19 BUS
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Grand Avenue
5
Turn left onto AZ 189
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Mariposa Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 19 North: Tucson
7
Merge onto I 19
60 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
Nogales–Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
9
Merge onto I 10
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
51 mi
·
51 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 10
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 10
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 155
Toward Baseline Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto West Baseline Road
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Baseline Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto South Priest Drive
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
South Priest Drive
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto West Broadway Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway Road
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Roosevelt Street
Use the left lane.
19
At end of road, turn right onto West 13th Street
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
West 13th Street
20
Arrive at destination
West 13th Street
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 85.8 miles from Nogales, AZ, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60 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 38 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.8 miles or 1h 36m 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 31m
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 Nogales, 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 Nogales, AZ
This is one driving day of about 171.5 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Nogales, 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 Nogales–Tucson Highway for about 60 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 85.8 mi from Nogales, AZ · 1h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 85.8 miles from Nogales, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Nogales–Tucson Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.16 one way
$68.33 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $36.16 | $72.31 |
| premium | $5.59 | $37.75 | $75.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.87 | $75.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.4 | 0 | $18.01 | $8.23 |
| Efficient EV | 42.9 | 0 | $15.01 | $6.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.6 | 0 | $24.01 | $10.98 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
Tempe Junction, AZ
Morning in Tempe Junction on Thursday
Local time
9:38 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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 8m 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 Nogales, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 171.5 miles and takes about 3h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Nogales–Tucson Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 85.8 miles from Nogales, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.16 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 171.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 72.8 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 167.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 168 miles (South Priest Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Nogales, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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