Origin
Picture Rocks, AZ
Morning in Picture Rocks on Thursday
Local time
8:40 AM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Picture Rocks, AZ to Tempe, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 41m
Distance
100.9 mi
162 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 34m
★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Picture Rocks, AZ
Mark Direen
Tempe, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Picture Rocks, AZ to Tempe, AZ covers 100.9 miles and takes about 1h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Emigh Road, North Sanders Road, West Twin Peaks Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.10 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.
Midpoint
50.4 miles from Picture Rocks, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 100.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m 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 1h 41m drive with frequent turns across 100.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Emigh Road 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Picture Rocks, AZ to Tempe, AZ is easy. At 1h 41m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Picture Rocks, AZ to Tempe, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Emigh Road | — | — |
| North Sanders Road | — | — |
| West Twin Peaks Road | — | — |
| North Clayton Road | — | — |
| West Avra Valley Road | — | — |
| West Marana Road | — | — |
| Marana Main Street | — | — |
| North Sandario Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Emigh Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Picture Rocks, AZ and Tempe, AZ.
1
Start on North Avra Road
1.4 mi
·
5 min
·
North Avra Road
2
Turn slight right onto West Emigh Road
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
West Emigh Road
3
Turn left onto North Sanders Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Sanders Road
4
At the end of the road, turn left onto West Twin Peaks Road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Twin Peaks Road
5
Turn right onto North Clayton Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Clayton Road
6
Turn sharp right onto West Avra Valley Road
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West Avra Valley Road
7
Turn left onto North Sanders Road
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
North Sanders Road
8
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Marana Road
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
West Marana Road
9
Continue on Marana Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Marana Main Street
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward North Sandario Road
190 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Sandario Road
11
Exit the roundabout onto North Sandario Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Sandario Road
12
Take the ramp left toward I 10 West: Phoenix
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
I 10 West: Phoenix
13
Merge slight left onto Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
36 mi
·
36 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
14
Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
15
Continue on Maricopa Freeway
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
16
Take the exit slight right toward US 60 East: Mesa-Globe
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 60 East: Mesa-Globe
17
Keep slight right to continue on US 60 East: Mesa Globe
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 60 East: Mesa Globe
18
Merge slight left onto Superstition Freeway
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Superstition Freeway
19
Take the exit slight right toward McClintock Drive
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
McClintock Drive
20
Turn left onto South McClintock Drive
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
South McClintock Drive
21
Turn left onto East Apache Boulevard
138 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
22
Arrive at your destination
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.4 miles from Picture Rocks, AZ, or about 50m 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 22 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.4 miles or 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
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 Picture Rocks, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Picture Rocks, AZ
This is one driving day of about 100.9 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Picture Rocks, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50.4 mi from Picture Rocks, AZ · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 50.4 miles from Picture Rocks, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.10 one way
$40.20 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $21.27 | $42.54 |
| premium | $5.59 | $22.21 | $44.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.28 | $44.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.3 | 0 | $10.59 | $4.84 |
| Efficient EV | 25.2 | 0 | $8.83 | $4.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.4 | 0 | $14.13 | $6.46 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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, AZ
Morning in Tempe on Thursday
Local time
8:40 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
5 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
1h 41m 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 Picture Rocks, AZ to Tempe, AZ covers 100.9 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Emigh Road, North Sanders Road, West Twin Peaks Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.4 miles from Picture Rocks, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.10 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.
The drive from Picture Rocks, AZ to Tempe, AZ is easy. At 1h 41m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Picture Rocks, AZ to Tempe, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Picture Rocks, AZ to Tempe, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Tempe, AZ
More from Picture Rocks, AZ
More trips to Tempe, AZ
Explore more options from Picture Rocks, AZ or browse trips ending in Tempe, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.
Explore maps for Picture Rocks, AZ or Tempe, AZ on MapSof.net.