The drive from Tempe, AZ to West Sedona, AZ covers 129.3 miles and takes about 2h 31m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Black Canyon Freeway, Arizona Veterans Highway, AZ 89A for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.3 miles on Black Canyon Freeway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.76 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
64.7 miles from Tempe, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 31m. Total distance: 129.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Tempe, AZ to West Sedona, AZ covers 129.3 miles and takes about 2h 31m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 40 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Black Canyon Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 38.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South Una Butte Avenue.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 129.3 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 0.2 miles (South Una Butte Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 25 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|South Una Butte Avenue
Turn right onto South Una Butte Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward AZ 202 Loop West
Navigation decision point
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
6
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
8
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
8
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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Tempe, AZ and West Sedona, AZ, road signs point toward Finnie Flat, 260 To 89A, Cottonwood, Payson and Jerome.
Finnie Flat
100.1 mi in|~1h 50m
260 To 89A
100.1 mi in|~1h 50m
Cottonwood
100.1 mi in|~1h 50m
Payson
100.1 mi in|~1h 50m
Jerome
100.1 mi in|~1h 50m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Black Canyon Freeway
38.3 mi
41m
Arizona Veterans Highway
38.2 mi
38m
AZ 89A
16.1 mi
20m
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
12.3 mi
18m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
8.9 mi
9m
Red Mountain Freeway
7.5 mi
8m
Papago Freeway
2.5 mi
2m
South McClintock Drive
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Black Canyon Freeway
— 38.3 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe, AZ and West Sedona, AZ.
1
Start on US 80 Hist
0.2 mi·24 sec·East Apache Boulevard
2
Turn right onto South Una Butte Avenue
321 ft·11 sec·South Una Butte Avenue
3
Turn right
22 ft·1 sec
4
Turn right onto South Butte Avenue
254 ft·10 sec·South Butte Avenue
5
Turn right onto East 12th Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·East 12th Street
6
Turn left onto South McClintock Drive
1.4 mi·2 min·South McClintock Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
8
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
7.5 mi·8 min·Red Mountain Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 WestUse the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 10
1.3 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
12
Continue on I 10
1.2 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 143A-BToward I 17 South, I 17 North: FlagstaffUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 143AToward I 17 North: FlagstaffUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 17; US 60
38 mi·41 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 17
8.9 mi·9 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 17
13 mi·13 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 17
25 mi·24 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward Finnie Flat, 260 to 89a, Cottonwood, Payson, Jerome
20
Turn left onto AZ 260
421 ft·11 sec·Finnie Flat Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Continue on AZ 260
0.5 mi·58 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
169 ft·7 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
23
Continue on AZ 260
0.4 mi·41 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
24
Keep slight right at fork onto AZ 260
0.8 mi·1 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
25
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
171 ft·7 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
26
Continue on AZ 260
1.1 mi·1 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
27
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
171 ft·2 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
28
Continue on AZ 260
1.0 mi·1 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
29
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
145 ft·6 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
30
Continue on AZ 260
0.8 mi·1 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
31
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
169 ft·7 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
32
Continue on AZ 260
2.1 mi·2 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
33
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
144 ft·6 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
34
Continue on AZ 260
0.8 mi·1 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
35
Enter roundabout onto AZ 260
188 ft·8 sec·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
36
Continue on AZ 260
4.7 mi·7 min·Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
37
Continue on AZ 260
420 ft·9 sec·South Main Street
38
Turn right onto AZ 89A
16 mi·20 min·AZ 89A
39
Turn left onto Andante Drive
0.3 mi·56 sec·Andante Drive
40
Arrive at destination
Andante Drive
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.7 miles from Tempe, AZ, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.3 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 28 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.7 miles or 1h 14m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Sedona, 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 129.3 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 Black Canyon Freeway for about 38.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.7 mi from Tempe, AZ
· 1h 14m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Tuzigoot National Monument
National Monument
Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs that well up from the ancient sedimentary ro...
Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
$10
near mile 102.6
Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived and traveled throughout Walnut Canyon’s dynamic landscape. Vibrant communities built their homes in the cliffs and farmed along the canyon’s rim. T...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
$25
near mile 129.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.76 one way
$51.52 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$27.26
$54.52
premium
$5.59
$28.46
$56.92
diesel
$5.61
$28.55
$57.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.8
0
$13.58
$6.21
Efficient EV
32.3
0
$11.31
$5.17
EV Truck/SUV
51.7
0
$18.10
$8.28
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Tempe, AZ
Late night
in Tempe on Saturday
Local time
5:09 AM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Sedona, AZ
Late night
in West Sedona on Saturday
Local time
5:09 AM
MST
Current temp
47°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
46 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
2h 31m 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 Tempe, AZ to West Sedona, AZ covers 129.3 miles and takes about 2h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Black Canyon Freeway, Arizona Veterans Highway, AZ 89A. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.7 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 $25.76 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 129.3 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South Una Butte Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Tempe, AZ and West Sedona, AZ, road signs point toward Finnie Flat, 260 To 89A, Cottonwood, Payson and Jerome.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
