Trip from Tempe, AZ to Tuba City, AZ

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

4h 22m

Distance

233.2 mi

375 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 9m ★

6 AM

4h 22m

8 AM

4h 49m

10 AM

4h 31m

12 PM

4h 29m

3 PM

4h 33m

5 PM

4h 47m

8 PM

4h 14m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Tempe, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Tuba City, AZ

Nikita Khandelwal

Trip Overview

The drive from Tempe, AZ to Tuba City, AZ covers 233.2 miles and takes about 4h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Arizona Veterans Highway, Flagstaff-Cameron Highway, Black Canyon Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 90.6 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.46 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

116.6 miles from Tempe, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 6m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 4h 22m drive with frequent turns across 233.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Arizona Veterans Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 90.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.7 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 233.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 22 key points

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

9.7 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward I 10 West

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 10 West

13.8 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Flagstaff

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 143A-B Toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Flagstaff

14 mi into trip | ~18m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 17 North: Flagstaff

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 143A Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff

158.9 mi into trip | ~2h 51m in | US 180; I 40 Bus / Country Club Drive

Turn left onto US 180; I 40 Bus / Country Club Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

159.4 mi into trip | ~2h 51m in | US 89 / Flagstaff-Cameron Highway

Turn right onto US 89 / Flagstaff-Cameron Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Tempe, AZ to Tuba City, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Albuquerque along the way.

Albuquerque

153.1 mi in | ~2h 43m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Arizona Veterans Highway	90.6 mi	1h 31m
Flagstaff-Cameron Highway	40.1 mi	47m
Black Canyon Freeway	38.3 mi	41m
Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway	15.3 mi	18m
Navajo Trail	10.3 mi	11m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway	8.9 mi	9m
Red Mountain Freeway	7.5 mi	8m
US Highway 89	6.4 mi	8m

Longest stretch: Arizona Veterans Highway — 90.6 mi, about 1h 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tempe, AZ and Tuba City, AZ.

Start on US 80 Hist

0.2 mi · 24 sec · East Apache Boulevard

Turn right onto South Una Butte Avenue

321 ft · 11 sec · South Una Butte Avenue

Turn right

22 ft · 1 sec

Turn right onto South Butte Avenue

254 ft · 10 sec · South Butte Avenue

Turn right onto East 12th Street

0.2 mi · 35 sec · East 12th Street

Turn left onto South McClintock Drive

1.4 mi · 2 min · South McClintock Drive

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 40 sec

Toward AZ 202 Loop West

Merge onto AZ 202 Loop

7.5 mi · 8 min · Red Mountain Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min

Toward I 10 West Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 10

1.3 mi · 1 min · Papago Freeway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Continue on I 10

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

Continue on I 10

1.2 mi · 1 min · Papago Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 16 sec

Exit 143A-B Toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Flagstaff Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min

Exit 143A Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 17; US 60

38 mi · 41 min · Black Canyon Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 17

8.9 mi · 9 min · Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 17

13 mi · 13 min · Arizona Veterans Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 17

77 mi · 1 hr 17 min · Arizona Veterans Highway

Continue on I 17; AZ 89A

0.6 mi · 43 sec · Prescott–Flagstaff Highway

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 40 East, Albuquerque

Merge onto I 40

5.1 mi · 5 min · Purple Heart Trail

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Toward US 89 North: Page

Turn left onto US 180; I 40 Bus

0.5 mi · 50 sec · Country Club Drive

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn right onto US 89

2.3 mi · 3 min · Flagstaff-Cameron Highway

Use the right lane.

Continue on US 89

6.4 mi · 8 min · US Highway 89

Continue on US 89

38 mi · 44 min · Flagstaff-Cameron Highway

Enter roundabout onto US 89

156 ft · 2 sec · Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway

Continue on US 89

1.4 mi · 2 min · Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway

Continue on US 89

0.3 mi · 27 sec · US 89

Continue on US 89

14 mi · 16 min · Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway

Turn right onto US 160

10 mi · 11 min · Navajo Trail

Turn left onto N1017

1.3 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Turn left onto Cedar Avenue

16 ft · 0 sec · Cedar Avenue

Arrive at destination

Cedar Avenue

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 116.6 miles from Tempe, AZ, or about 2h 6m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.6 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 30m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 116.6 miles or 2h 6m 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 31m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tuba City, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Tempe, 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 Tempe, AZ

This is one driving day of about 233.2 miles and 4h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Tempe, 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 Arizona Veterans Highway for about 90.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 116.6 mi from Tempe, AZ · 2h 6m into the drive

city in and county seat of Coconino County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Flagstaff, AZ

117 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

Surprise, AZ

Fuel and coffee

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

Flagstaff, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 116.6 miles from Tempe, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Arizona Veterans Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 90.6 miles.

Arriving in Tuba City, AZ

The final approach into Tuba City, 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 Tuba City, 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

$46.46 one way

$92.91 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 82 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.36	$49.16	$98.33
premium	$5.59	$51.33	$102.66
diesel	$5.61	$51.49	$102.98

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$46

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$71–$96

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 81.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	70	0	$24.49	$11.19
Efficient EV	58.3	0	$20.40	$9.33
EV Truck/SUV	93.3	1	$32.65	$14.92

Gas CO2

82 kg

EV CO2

27 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 5 days ago

Origin

Tempe, AZ

Late night in Tempe on Wednesday

Local time

3:11 AM

MST

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tuba City, AZ

Late night in Tuba City on Wednesday

Local time

4:11 AM

MDT

Current temp

40°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

1 hour later

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

19 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 22m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Tempe, AZ to Tuba City, AZ covers 233.2 miles and takes about 4h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Arizona Veterans Highway, Flagstaff-Cameron Highway, Black Canyon Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 116.6 miles from Tempe, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $46.46 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.