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Drive Time
3h 32m
Distance
164.5 mi
265 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Taylor, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
The drive from Taylor, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 164.5 miles and takes about 3h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Beeline Highway, Payson-Show Low Highway, West 3rd Street North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.1 miles on South Beeline Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.77 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
82.3 miles from Taylor, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .
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Expect a 3h 32m drive with frequent turns across 164.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 156.6 miles in.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 164.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 156.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 156.9 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 161.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward AZ 202 Loop West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Scottsdale Road, Rural Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward Arizona State University-Tempe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto East 13th Street
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Beeline Highway | 73.1 mi | 1h 26m |
| Payson-Show Low Highway | 24.2 mi | 30m |
| West 3rd Street North | 18.9 mi | 22m |
| Hwy 260 | 15.9 mi | 22m |
| Payson-Heber Highway | 12.7 mi | 17m |
| West Papermill Road | 6.2 mi | 9m |
| Red Mountain Freeway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Pulp Mill Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Taylor, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ.
Start on AZ 77
Continue on AZ 77
Turn left onto West Papermill Road
Continue on Pulp Mill Road
At end of road, turn left onto AZ 277
Continue on AZ 277
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 260
Continue on AZ 260
Continue on AZ 260
Continue on AZ 260
Turn left onto AZ 87
Continue on AZ 87
Take the exit
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn slight left onto North Scottsdale Road
Continue on South Rural Road
Turn right onto US 80 Hist
Turn left onto East 13th Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.3 miles or 1h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tempe Junction, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Taylor, 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 Taylor, AZ
This is one driving day of about 164.5 miles and 3h 32m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 82.3 mi from Taylor, AZ · 1h 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 82.3 miles from Taylor, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South Beeline Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.1 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$32.77 one way
$65.54 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $34.68 | $69.36 |
| premium | $5.59 | $36.21 | $72.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.32 | $72.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.4 | 0 | $17.27 | $7.90 |
| Efficient EV | 41.1 | 0 | $14.39 | $6.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.8 | 0 | $23.03 | $10.53 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Taylor on Wednesday
Local time
3:20 AM
MST
Current temp
62°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Tempe Junction on Wednesday
Local time
3:20 AM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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