Skip to main content

Trip from Tempe Junction, AZ to Corona de Tucson, AZ

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

2h 25m

Distance

131.4 mi

211 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 16m ★
6 AM
2h 26m
8 AM
2h 45m
10 AM
2h 33m
12 PM
2h 31m
3 PM
2h 34m
5 PM
2h 44m
8 PM
2h 20m

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

Downtown Tempe Junction, AZ, AZ

Tempe Junction, AZ

Abhishek Navlakha

Trip Overview

The drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Corona de Tucson, AZ covers 131.4 miles and takes about 2h 25m 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, Tucson-Benson Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.6 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.18 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

65.7 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 25m drive with frequent turns across 131.4 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 54.6 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 2.3 miles in.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 131.4 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 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.2 miles (I 10 / Maricopa Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

8
2.3 mi into trip | ~5m in

Turn left toward I 10 East: Tucson

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 10 East: Tucson
5
4 mi into trip | ~7m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: East Tucson

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 10 East: East Tucson
5
4.2 mi into trip | ~7m in | I 10 / Maricopa Freeway

Merge onto I 10 / Maricopa Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
124 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in

Take the exit toward Houghton Road

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 275 Toward Houghton Road
8
124.4 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Pima County Fairgrounds, Motorsports Facilities

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward Pima County Fairgrounds, Motorsports Fac...

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Tempe Junction, AZ and Corona de Tucson, AZ, road signs point toward Pima County Fairgrounds and Motorsports Facilities.

Pima County Fairgrounds

124.4 mi in | ~2h 13m

Motorsports Facilities

124.4 mi in | ~2h 13m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway 54.6 mi 55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway 37.8 mi 38m
Tucson-Benson Highway 14.6 mi 16m
South Houghton Road 6.8 mi 11m
Maricopa Freeway 6.7 mi 7m
North Freeway 6.1 mi 6m
West Broadway Road 1.6 mi 3m
Hohokam Expressway 1.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Casa Grande-Tucson Highway — 54.6 mi, about 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tempe Junction, AZ and Corona de Tucson, AZ.

1

Start on West 13th Street

0.3 mi · 55 sec · West 13th Street
2

Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Roosevelt Street
3

Turn right onto West Broadway Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · West Broadway Road
4

Continue on West Broadway Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · West Broadway Road
5

Turn left

0.2 mi · 34 sec
Toward I 10 East: Tucson Use the left lane.
6

Merge onto AZ 143

1.4 mi · 1 min · Hohokam Expressway
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward I 10 East: East Tucson
8

Merge onto I 10

6.7 mi · 7 min · Maricopa Freeway
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

55 mi · 55 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on I 10

6.1 mi · 6 min · North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on I 10

15 mi · 16 min · Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Exit 275 Toward Houghton Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight right at fork

336 ft · 9 sec
Toward Pima County Fairgrounds, Motorsports Facilities Use the slight right lane.
15

Turn straight onto South Houghton Road

6.8 mi · 11 min · South Houghton Road
16

Turn right onto East Sahuarita Road

0.2 mi · 17 sec · East Sahuarita Road
17

Arrive at destination

East Sahuarita Road

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 65.7 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 26m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 65.7 miles or 1h 11m 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 Corona de Tucson, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Tempe Junction, 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 Junction, AZ

This is one driving day of about 131.4 miles and 2h 25m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Tempe Junction, 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 Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 54.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 65.7 mi from Tempe Junction, AZ · 1h 11m into the drive

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tucson, AZ

66 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

Tucson, AZ

Fuel and coffee

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

Casa Grande, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 65.7 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Corona de Tucson, AZ

The final approach into Corona de Tucson, 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 Corona de Tucson, 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

$26.18 one way

$52.35 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 46 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $27.70 $55.41
premium $5.59 $28.92 $57.85
diesel $5.61 $29.01 $58.02

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: 46 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 39.4 0 $13.80 $6.31
Efficient EV 32.9 0 $11.50 $5.26
EV Truck/SUV 52.6 0 $18.40 $8.41

Gas CO2

46 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 data refreshed 11 hours ago

Origin

Tempe Junction, AZ

Morning in Tempe Junction on Wednesday

Local time

10:22 AM

MST

Current temp

90°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Corona de Tucson, AZ

Morning in Corona de Tucson on Wednesday

Local time

10:22 AM

MST

Current temp

86°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

4 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 25m 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 Junction, AZ to Corona de Tucson, AZ covers 131.4 miles and takes about 2h 25m 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, Tucson-Benson Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 65.7 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.18 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 is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 131.4 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 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.2 miles (I 10 / Maricopa Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Tempe Junction, AZ and Corona de Tucson, AZ, road signs point toward Pima County Fairgrounds and Motorsports Facilities.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Tempe Junction, AZ or browse trips ending in Corona de Tucson, AZ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.

Explore maps for Tempe Junction, AZ or Corona de Tucson, AZ on MapSof.net.