Trip from Somerton, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ

Drive Time

3h 51m

Distance

206.8 mi

333 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$41

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

20 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 39m ★
6 AM
3h 52m
8 AM
4h 17m
10 AM
4h 1m
12 PM
3h 58m
3 PM
4h 2m
5 PM
4h 16m
8 PM
3h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Somerton, AZ, AZ

Somerton, AZ

Zsolt Pujsz

Downtown Tempe Junction, AZ, AZ

Tempe Junction, AZ

Abhishek Navlakha

Trip Overview

The drive from Somerton, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 206.8 miles and takes about 3h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Blue Star Memorial Highway, South John Wayne Parkway, Maricopa Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 143.4 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.16 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

103.4 miles from Somerton, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 51m drive with frequent turns across 206.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Blue Star Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 143.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 194.2 miles in.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 206.8 miles you will encounter 17 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 194.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 202.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 203.2 miles (South Priest Drive): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
194.2 mi into trip | ~3h 32m in

Turn left toward I 10 West: Phoenix

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
7
202.7 mi into trip | ~3h 42m 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
203.2 mi into trip | ~3h 44m in | South Priest Drive

Turn left onto South Priest Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
205.3 mi into trip | ~3h 48m in | West Broadway Road

Turn right onto West Broadway Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
206 mi into trip | ~3h 49m in | South Roosevelt Street

Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway 143.4 mi 2h 26m
South John Wayne Parkway 14.8 mi 18m
Maricopa Road 11.8 mi 13m
West 32nd Street 7.5 mi 12m
Maricopa Freeway 5.8 mi 6m
Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway 5.7 mi 6m
South Avenue B 4 mi 4m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway 2.3 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Blue Star Memorial Highway — 143.4 mi, about 2h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Somerton, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ.

1

Start on South Somerton Avenue

77 ft · 5 sec · South Somerton Avenue
2

Turn right onto US 95

1.8 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
3

Continue on US 95

0.7 mi · 49 sec · West County 16th Street
4

Continue on US 95

1.3 mi · 1 min · San Luis–Yuma–Quartzsite Highway
5

Continue on US 95

4.0 mi · 4 min · South Avenue B
Use the straight lane.
6

Turn right onto West 32nd Street

1.7 mi · 3 min · West 32nd Street
7

Continue on I 8 BUS; US 80 Hist

5.8 mi · 9 min · West 32nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Turn left onto AZ 195

0.5 mi · 37 sec · South Araby Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
9

Enter roundabout

113 ft · 1 sec
10

Continue

0.4 mi · 54 sec
11

Merge onto I 8

143 mi · 2 hr 26 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 35 sec
Toward AZ 84 East: Maricopa
13

Turn left onto AZ 84

5.7 mi · 6 min · Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
14

Turn left onto AZ 347

15 mi · 18 min · South John Wayne Parkway
Use the left lane.
15

Continue on AZ 347

12 mi · 13 min · Maricopa Road
16

Continue on AZ 347

1.9 mi · 2 min · West Queen Creek Road
17

Turn left

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix Use the left lane.
18

Merge onto I 10

2.3 mi · 2 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
19

Continue on I 10

5.8 mi · 6 min · Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Exit 155 Toward Baseline Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Turn right onto West Baseline Road

0.2 mi · 34 sec · West Baseline Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
22

Turn left onto South Priest Drive

2.0 mi · 4 min · South Priest Drive
Use the left lane.
23

Turn right onto West Broadway Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Broadway Road
Use the right lane.
24

Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Roosevelt Street
Use the left lane.
25

At end of road, turn right onto West 13th Street

0.3 mi · 47 sec · West 13th Street
26

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 103.4 miles from Somerton, AZ, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 143.4 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 103.4 miles or 1h 52m 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 2m

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 Somerton, 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 Somerton, AZ

This is one driving day of about 206.8 miles and 3h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Somerton, 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 Blue Star Memorial Highway for about 143.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 103.4 mi from Somerton, AZ · 1h 52m into the drive

Downtown Buckeye, AZ, AZ

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Buckeye, AZ

103 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.

Popular next leg

Buckeye, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ

48.6 mi · 54m

Pacing Suggestions

Yuma, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Buckeye, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 103.4 miles from Somerton, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Blue Star Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 143.4 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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

National Monument

An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...

30 mi from route ~74 min detour Free near mile 185.4
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$41.16 one way

$82.31 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 72 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.34 $43.46 $86.92
premium $5.59 $45.49 $90.98
diesel $5.64 $45.94 $91.89

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$41

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$66–$91

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 72.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

20 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Dateland Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger

Dateland, AZ

Tesla

40 DCFC

Circle K - Tesla Supercharger

Yuma, AZ

Tesla

16 DCFC

Carl's Jr. - Gila Bend - Tesla Supercharger

Gila Bend, AZ

Tesla

16 DCFC

The Groves - Tempe, AZ - Tesla Supercharger

Tempe, AZ

Tesla

16 DCFC

Arizona Mills Mall - Tesla Supercharger

Tempe, AZ

Tesla

14 DCFC

Chandler Pavillions - Tesla Supercharger

Chandler, AZ

Tesla

12 DCFC

The Park at San Tan - Tesla Supercharger

Chandler, AZ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Gateway Park - Tesla Supercharger

Yuma, AZ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Tesla: 9 Electrify America: 4 eVgo Network: 3 Blink Network: 1 RIVIAN_ADVENTURE: 1 FORD_CHARGE: 1 WALMART: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 62 0 $21.71 $9.93
Efficient EV 51.7 0 $18.10 $8.27
EV Truck/SUV 82.7 1 $28.95 $13.24

Gas CO2

72 kg

EV CO2

24 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.

Forecast data refreshed 25 minutes ago

Origin

Somerton, AZ

Morning in Somerton on Monday

Local time

7:23 AM

MST

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tempe Junction, AZ

Morning in Tempe Junction on Monday

Local time

7:23 AM

MST

Current temp

80°F

Partly Sunny

WSW 0 to 15 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 7:45PM MST until April 13 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ

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

23 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

3h 51m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Somerton, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 206.8 miles and takes about 3h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Blue Star Memorial Highway, South John Wayne Parkway, Maricopa Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 103.4 miles from Somerton, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.16 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 206.8 miles you will encounter 17 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 194.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 202.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 203.2 miles (South Priest Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Somerton, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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