Origin
Tempe Junction, AZ
Late night in Tempe Junction on Monday
Local time
2:25 AM
MST
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe Junction, AZ to Fort Defiance, AZ
Drive Time
5h 45m
Distance
280.5 mi
451 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$56
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 32m
★
6 AM
5h 45m
8 AM
6h 11m
10 AM
5h 54m
12 PM
5h 52m
3 PM
5h 56m
5 PM
6h 10m
8 PM
5h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Fort Defiance, AZ
Mark Direen
Trip Overview
The drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Fort Defiance, AZ covers 280.5 miles and takes about 5h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Apache Boulevard, South Rural Road, North Scottsdale Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.82 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
140.2 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 52m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 45m drive with frequent turns across 280.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Apache Boulevard is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 45m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Fort Defiance, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Apache Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Rural Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Scottsdale Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| AZ 202 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Red Mountain Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| AZ 87 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Country Club Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Beeline Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Apache Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe Junction, AZ and Fort Defiance, AZ.
1
Start on West 13th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West 13th Street
2
Turn straight onto East Apache Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Apache Boulevard
3
Turn left onto South Rural Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Rural Road
4
Continue on North Scottsdale Road
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
North Scottsdale Road
5
Take the ramp slight right toward AZ 202 Loop East: Red Mountain Freeway
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
AZ 202 Loop East: Red Mountain Freeway
6
Merge slight left onto Red Mountain Freeway
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Red Mountain Freeway
7
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Payson
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
AZ 87: Country Club Drive, Payson
8
Turn left onto North Country Club Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Country Club Drive
9
Continue on North Beeline Highway
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
North Beeline Highway
10
Continue on Beeline Highway
68 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Beeline Highway
11
Turn right
53 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
12
Turn left onto Highway 277
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 277
13
Continue on West 3rd Street North
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
West 3rd Street North
14
Turn left onto Heber-Holbrook Highway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Heber-Holbrook Highway
15
Turn straight onto Heber Road
31 mi
·
36 min
·
Heber Road
16
Turn left onto Show Low-Holbrook Highway
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Show Low-Holbrook Highway
17
Continue on Holbrook-Springerville Highway
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Holbrook-Springerville Highway
18
Continue on Navajo Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Navajo Boulevard
19
Take the exit right
0.6 mi
·
1 min
20
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
70 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
21
Take the exit slight right toward BIA 12 North: Window Rock
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
BIA 12 North: Window Rock
22
Turn left onto Navajo Route 12
24 mi
·
33 min
·
Navajo Route 12
23
Turn right onto Arizona State Highway 264
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Arizona State Highway 264
24
Turn left onto Navajo Route 12
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Navajo Route 12
25
Continue on Kit Carson Drive
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Kit Carson Drive
26
Turn right onto Old Red Lake Road
56 ft
·
2 sec
·
Old Red Lake Road
27
Arrive at your destination
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 140.2 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
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 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.2 miles or 2h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Defiance, 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 280.5 miles and 5h 45m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 140.2 mi from Tempe Junction, AZ · 2h 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
140 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 140.2 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fort Defiance, AZ
The final approach into Fort Defiance, 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 Fort Defiance, 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
$55.82 one way
$111.65 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
98 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $58.95 | $117.90 |
| premium | $5.59 | $61.70 | $123.40 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $62.32 | $124.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.1 | 1 | $29.45 | $13.46 |
| Efficient EV | 70.1 | 0 | $24.54 | $11.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 112.2 | 1 | $39.27 | $17.95 |
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Destination
Fort Defiance, AZ
Late night in Fort Defiance on Monday
Local time
3:25 AM
MDT
Current temp
34°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
26 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
5h 45m 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 Junction, AZ to Fort Defiance, AZ covers 280.5 miles and takes about 5h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Apache Boulevard, South Rural Road, North Scottsdale Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 140.2 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 $55.82 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.
This is a straightforward 5h 45m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Fort Defiance, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Tempe Junction, AZ to Fort Defiance, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Fort Defiance, AZ
More trips to Fort Defiance, AZ
Explore more options from Tempe Junction, AZ or browse trips ending in Fort Defiance, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.
Explore maps for Tempe Junction, AZ or Fort Defiance, AZ on MapSof.net.