Origin
Sun Lakes, AZ
Evening in Sun Lakes on Sunday
Local time
5:23 PM
MST
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sun Lakes, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ
Drive Time
28m
Distance
18.8 mi
30 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sun Lakes, AZ
Kris Møklebust
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through the Desert Southwest, the 18.8-mile stretch from Sun Lakes to Tempe Junction is a straightforward trip. You can expect to spend about 28 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting around $4 for fuel will cover your transit across the region. The route utilizes a combination of the Maricopa Freeway, the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, and East Riggs Road. Because the drive is short, it offers excellent flexibility for your schedule, allowing you to easily complete the journey in under half an hour.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
9.4 miles from Sun Lakes, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .
Drive Character
This drive features a mixed profile that transitions between local roads and faster highway segments. You will spend roughly 31% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 5.8 miles on the Maricopa Freeway. Expect a shift in pace as you move from the quieter streets of Sun Lakes toward the busier connections near Tempe Junction. The combination of surface roads and freeway driving keeps the experience varied, though the limited distance ensures you are never stuck in a long, monotonous grind. It is a practical, utilitarian route that gets you to your destination efficiently.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Maricopa Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 5.8 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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near East Riggs Road.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 18.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.6 miles (East Riggs Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
East Riggs Road
Turn left onto East Riggs Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
7
14.7 mi into trip
|
~19m 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
15.3 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
South Priest Drive
Turn left onto South Priest Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
17.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
West Broadway Road
Turn right onto West Broadway Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maricopa Freeway | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| East Riggs Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| South Priest Drive | 2 mi | 4m |
| West Broadway Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Roosevelt Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West 13th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Dobson Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Maricopa Freeway
— 5.8 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sun Lakes, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ.
1
Start on East Bud Court
144 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Bud Court
2
Turn left onto South Glenburn Drive
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
South Glenburn Drive
3
Turn left onto East Foster Avenue
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
East Foster Avenue
4
Turn left onto East Palomino Place
182 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Palomino Place
5
Turn right onto South Dobson Road
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
South Dobson Road
6
Turn left onto East Riggs Road
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East Riggs Road
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 10
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 155
Toward Baseline Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto West Baseline Road
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Baseline Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto South Priest Drive
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
South Priest Drive
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto West Broadway Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway Road
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Roosevelt Street
Use the left lane.
15
At end of road, turn right onto West 13th Street
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
West 13th Street
16
Arrive at destination
West 13th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 28-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 18.8-mile journey without needing to schedule any stops for rest or refueling. Keep an eye on your speed when transitioning from East Riggs Road onto the Maricopa Freeway, as traffic patterns can change quickly. Because the total fuel cost is estimated at only $4, you won't need to worry about planning your gas stops along the way. Use the brevity of this trip to your advantage by scheduling your departure to avoid peak local traffic hours at Tempe Junction.
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 9.4 miles from Sun Lakes, AZ, or about 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.8 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 18.8 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.4 miles or 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 22m
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 Sun Lakes, 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 Sun Lakes, AZ
This is one driving day of about 18.8 miles and 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sun Lakes, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Maricopa Freeway for about 5.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.4 mi from Sun Lakes, AZ · 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
9 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 18.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9.4 miles from Sun Lakes, 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.
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
$3.74 one way
$7.48 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $3.95 | $7.90 |
| premium | $5.59 | $4.14 | $8.27 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.18 | $8.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.97 | $0.90 |
| Efficient EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Evening in Tempe Junction on Sunday
Local time
5:23 PM
MST
Current temp
60°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
28m 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 Sun Lakes, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 18.8 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Maricopa Freeway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, East Riggs Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.4 miles from Sun Lakes, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.74 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 18.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.6 miles (East Riggs Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Sun Lakes, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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