The drive from Prescott Valley, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 101.4 miles and takes about 1h 58m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Black Canyon Freeway, Cordes Junction-Prescott Highway, Arizona Veterans Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.4 miles on Black Canyon Freeway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.20 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
50.7 miles from Prescott Valley, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 101.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Prescott Valley, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 101.4 miles and takes about 1h 58m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
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 38.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 98.5 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 101.4 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 98.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 98.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
98.5 mi into trip|~1h 52m 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
98.7 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
98.9 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
100.7 mi into trip|~1h 56m in|South Roosevelt Street
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
101.2 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|West 13th Street
At end of road, turn right onto West 13th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Black Canyon Freeway
38.4 mi
42m
Cordes Junction-Prescott Highway
25.2 mi
31m
Arizona Veterans Highway
16.7 mi
16m
Maricopa Freeway
7.3 mi
8m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5.8 mi
5m
North Black Canyon Highway
3.2 mi
3m
North Robert Road
1.6 mi
2m
East Broadway Road
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Black Canyon Freeway
— 38.4 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prescott Valley, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ.
1
Start on East Spouse Drive
0.3 mi·48 sec·East Spouse Drive
2
Turn left onto North Robert Road
1.6 mi·2 min·North Robert Road
3
Turn left onto AZ 69
25 mi·31 min·Cordes Junction-Prescott Highway
4
Merge onto I 17
17 mi·16 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
5
Continue on I 17
5.8 mi·5 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 17
10 mi·10 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / 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 153Toward AZ 143: 48th Street, Broadway RoadUse 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
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 50.7 miles from Prescott Valley, AZ, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.4 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 22 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.7 miles or 59m 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 34m
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 Prescott Valley, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Prescott Valley, AZ
This is one driving day of about 101.4 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Prescott Valley, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Black Canyon Freeway for about 38.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50.7 mi from Prescott Valley, AZ
· 59m into the drive
The midpoint is around 50.7 miles from Prescott Valley, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Tuzigoot National Monument
National Monument
Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs that well up from the ancient sedimentary ro...
Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.20 one way
$40.40 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$21.38
$42.76
premium
$5.59
$22.32
$44.64
diesel
$5.61
$22.39
$44.78
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: 35.5 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
30.4
0
$10.65
$4.87
Efficient EV
25.4
0
$8.87
$4.06
EV Truck/SUV
40.6
0
$14.20
$6.49
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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Prescott Valley, AZ
Afternoon
in Prescott Valley on Friday
Local time
4:09 PM
MST
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tempe Junction, AZ
Afternoon
in Tempe Junction on Friday
Local time
4:09 PM
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
20 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 58m 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 Prescott Valley, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 101.4 miles and takes about 1h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Black Canyon Freeway, Cordes Junction-Prescott Highway, Arizona Veterans Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.7 miles from Prescott Valley, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.20 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 101.4 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 98.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 98.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Prescott Valley, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Tuzigoot National Monument and Montezuma Castle National Monument.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
