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Trip from Tempe Junction, AZ to Ehrenberg, AZ

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

2h 45m

Distance

155 mi

249 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 34m ★
6 AM
2h 45m
8 AM
3h 7m
10 AM
2h 53m
12 PM
2h 51m
3 PM
2h 54m
5 PM
3h 6m
8 PM
2h 39m

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

Downtown Ehrenberg, AZ, AZ

Ehrenberg, AZ

Boris Hamer

Trip Overview

The drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Ehrenberg, AZ covers 155 miles and takes about 2h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Papago Freeway, Red Mountain Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 124.3 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.88 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

77.5 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 45m. Total distance: 155 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 45m drive with frequent turns across 155 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 124.3 miles.

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 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near Red Mountain Freeeway.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 155 miles you will encounter 12 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 2.7 miles (Red Mountain Freeeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.2 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

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

7
2.7 mi into trip | ~6m in | Red Mountain Freeeway

Take the ramp onto Red Mountain Freeeway toward AZ 202 Loop West, AZ-143 South: Sky Harbor Airport

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward AZ 202 Loop West, AZ-143 South: Sky Harb...
5
2.8 mi into trip | ~6m in

Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 202 Loop West: Phoenix

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward AZ 202 Loop West: Phoenix
5
3.2 mi into trip | ~7m in | AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway

Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
7.5 mi into trip | ~12m 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
5
8.5 mi into trip | ~13m in | I 10 / Papago Freeway

Merge onto I 10 / Papago Freeway

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

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway 124.3 mi 2h 5m
Papago Freeway 21 mi 24m
Red Mountain Freeway 4.3 mi 4m
West University Drive 1 mi 1m
North Priest Drive 0.6 mi 1m
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel 0.5 mi <1m
South Priest Drive 0.5 mi 1m
South Farmer Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway — 124.3 mi, about 2h 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tempe Junction, AZ and Ehrenberg, AZ.

1

Start on West 13th Street

236 ft · 13 sec · West 13th Street
2

Turn right onto South Farmer Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Farmer Avenue
3

Turn left onto West University Drive

1.0 mi · 1 min · West University Drive
4

Turn right onto South Priest Drive

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Priest Drive
5

Continue on North Priest Drive

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Priest Drive
Use the left lane.
6

Take the ramp onto Red Mountain Freeeway

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Red Mountain Freeeway
Toward AZ 202 Loop West, AZ-143 South: Sky Harbor Airport Use the left lane.
7

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 36 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West: Phoenix
8

Merge onto AZ 202 Loop

4.3 mi · 4 min · Red Mountain Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min
Toward I 10 West Use 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

20 mi · 22 min · Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on I 10

124 mi · 2 hr 5 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 28 sec
Toward Ehrenberg, Parker
15

Turn right onto Poston Road

185 ft · 10 sec · Poston Road
16

Turn left onto Frontage Road North

0.4 mi · 58 sec · Frontage Road North
17

Turn right onto Ehrenberg Parker Highway

156 ft · 3 sec · Ehrenberg Parker Highway
18

Arrive at destination

Ehrenberg Parker Highway

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 77.5 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124.3 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 34 miles or 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 77.5 miles or 1h 26m 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 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ehrenberg, 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 155 miles and 2h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Tempe Junction, 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 Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 124.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 77.5 mi from Tempe Junction, AZ · 1h 26m into the drive

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Buckeye, AZ

78 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

Goodyear, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Salome, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 77.5 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 124.3 miles.

Arriving in Ehrenberg, AZ

The final approach into Ehrenberg, 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 Ehrenberg, AZ.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.88 one way

$61.76 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 54 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $32.68 $65.36
premium $5.59 $34.12 $68.24
diesel $5.61 $34.22 $68.44

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 54.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 46.5 0 $16.28 $7.44
Efficient EV 38.8 0 $13.56 $6.20
EV Truck/SUV 62 0 $21.70 $9.92

Gas CO2

54 kg

EV CO2

18 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 Junction, AZ

Night in Tempe Junction on Thursday

Local time

11:54 PM

MST

Current temp

90°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ehrenberg, AZ

Night in Ehrenberg on Thursday

Local time

11:54 PM

MST

Current temp

56°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

34 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 45m 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 Ehrenberg, AZ covers 155 miles and takes about 2h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Papago Freeway, Red Mountain Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 77.5 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 $30.88 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 155 miles you will encounter 12 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 2.7 miles (Red Mountain Freeeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.2 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tempe Junction, AZ to Ehrenberg, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Ehrenberg, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ

Plan the drive back the other way.

155.1 mi 2h 46m

Explore more options from Tempe Junction, AZ or browse trips ending in Ehrenberg, AZ.

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