The drive from Tanque Verde, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 119.7 miles and takes about 2h 21m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, East Grant Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.5 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.85 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
59.9 miles from Tanque Verde, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 21m. Total distance: 119.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 21m drive with frequent turns across 119.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 54.5 miles.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,644 ft1,164 ft
Total Climb
160 ft
Total Descent
1,640 ft
Highest Point
2,644 ft
Elevation Range
1,480 ft
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 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7 miles in near East Grant Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 119.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 7 miles (East Grant Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 21 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
7 mi into trip|~12m in|East Grant Road
Turn right onto East Grant Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
21 mi into trip|~36m 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
115.6 mi into trip|~2h 12m 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
116.2 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|South Priest Drive
Turn left onto South Priest Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
118.2 mi into trip|~2h 18m in|West Broadway Road
Turn right onto West Broadway Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.5 mi
55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38.1 mi
38m
East Grant Road
8.4 mi
16m
East Tanque Verde Road
7 mi
12m
Maricopa Freeway
5.8 mi
6m
South Priest Drive
2 mi
4m
North Freeway
1.4 mi
1m
West Broadway Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tanque Verde, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ.
1
Start on East Tanque Verde Road
7.0 mi·12 min·East Tanque Verde Road
2
Turn right onto East Grant Road
6.2 mi·12 min·East Grant Road
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on East Grant Road
2.2 mi·4 min·East Grant Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto North Freeway Road
0.1 mi·10 sec·North Freeway Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 10 West
6
Merge onto I 10
1.4 mi·1 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 10
3.7 mi·4 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
51 mi·51 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
5.8 mi·6 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 155Toward Baseline RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto West Baseline Road
0.2 mi·34 sec·West Baseline Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto South Priest Drive
2.0 mi·4 min·South Priest Drive
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto West Broadway Road
0.7 mi·1 min·West Broadway Road
Use the right lane.
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 59.9 miles from Tanque Verde, AZ, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 26 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.9 miles or 1h 15m 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 54m
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 Tanque Verde, 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 Tanque Verde, AZ
This is one driving day of about 119.7 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Tanque Verde, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 54.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.9 mi from Tanque Verde, AZ
· 1h 15m into the drive
The midpoint is around 59.9 miles from Tanque Verde, 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.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Rainforest Cafe
4.2
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Tempe, Arizona
Near the end, short detour
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
$20 to $30
mile 119.7
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Saguaro National Park
National Park
Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are pr...
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 78.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.85 one way
$47.69 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$25.24
$50.47
premium
$5.59
$26.35
$52.70
diesel
$5.61
$26.43
$52.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.9
0
$12.57
$5.75
Efficient EV
29.9
0
$10.47
$4.79
EV Truck/SUV
47.9
0
$16.76
$7.66
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Tanque Verde, AZ
Late night
in Tanque Verde on Saturday
Local time
1:57 AM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tempe Junction, AZ
Late night
in Tempe Junction on Saturday
Local time
1:57 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
36 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
2h 21m 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 Tanque Verde, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 119.7 miles and takes about 2h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, East Grant Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.9 miles from Tanque Verde, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.85 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 119.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 7 miles (East Grant Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 21 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tanque Verde, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 1,164 ft to 2,644 ft elevation with about 160 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Saguaro National Park and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
