Origin
Tempe Junction, AZ
Night in Tempe Junction on Thursday
Local time
11:54 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Ehrenberg, AZ
Boris Hamer
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 .
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.
Expect a 2h 45m drive with frequent turns across 155 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 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.
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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 202 Loop West: Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe Junction, AZ and Ehrenberg, AZ.
Start on West 13th Street
Turn right onto South Farmer Avenue
Turn left onto West University Drive
Turn right onto South Priest Drive
Continue on North Priest Drive
Take the ramp onto Red Mountain Freeeway
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
Take the exit
Merge onto I 10
Continue on I 10
Continue on I 10
Continue on I 10
Take the exit
Turn right onto Poston Road
Turn left onto Frontage Road North
Turn right onto Ehrenberg Parker Highway
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
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
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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 checkTop up before Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 124.3 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$30.88 one way
$61.76 round trip
| 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Tempe Junction on Thursday
Local time
11:54 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Ehrenberg on Thursday
Local time
11:54 PM
MST
Current temp
56°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
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.
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