Origin
Tempe Junction, AZ
Afternoon in Tempe Junction on Thursday
Local time
1:12 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe Junction, AZ to Mohave Valley, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 50m
Distance
246.5 mi
397 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 37m
★
6 AM
4h 51m
8 AM
5h 17m
10 AM
5h 0m
12 PM
4h 57m
3 PM
5h 1m
5 PM
5h 16m
8 PM
4h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Mohave Valley, AZ
Brent Singleton
Trip Overview
The drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Mohave Valley, AZ covers 246.5 miles and takes about 4h 50m 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, Route 95, Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $49.11 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
123.3 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 12m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 50m. Total distance: 246.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Mohave Valley, AZ covers 246.5 miles and takes about 4h 50m, 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 35 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 105 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 2.7 miles in near Red Mountain Freeeway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 246.5 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 2.7 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 23 key pointsThese 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
6
238.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 32m in
|
Front Street
At end of road, turn left onto Front Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Mohave Valley, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Yuma along the way.
Yuma
135 mi in
|
~2h 24m
|
via I 10 Business
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 105 mi | 1h 45m |
| Route 95 | 47.5 mi | 55m |
| Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway | 30.9 mi | 35m |
| Papago Freeway | 21 mi | 24m |
| Aqueduct Road | 16.5 mi | 24m |
| Mohave Valley Highway | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| Red Mountain Freeway | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| North Central Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 105 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe Junction, AZ and Mohave Valley, 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
105 mi
·
1 hr 45 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto I 10 Business
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 10 Business
Toward US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma
15
Turn right onto I 10 Bus
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Riggles Road
16
Turn left onto I 10 Bus
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
17
Turn right onto AZ 95
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Central Boulevard
18
Continue on AZ 95
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn left onto AZ 95
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
20
Continue on AZ 95
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
California Avenue
21
Continue on CA 62
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
CA 62
22
At end of road, turn left onto CA 62
16 mi
·
24 min
·
Aqueduct Road
23
Turn sharp right onto US 95
48 mi
·
55 min
·
Route 95
24
Take the exit onto US 95
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 95
25
Merge onto I 40; US 95
0.8 mi
·
51 sec
·
Needles Freeway
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
Toward J Street
27
Turn right onto J Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
J Street
28
At end of road, turn left onto Front Street
465 ft
·
14 sec
·
Front Street
29
Turn right onto North K Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North K Street
30
Continue on AZ 95
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Harbor Avenue
31
Continue on AZ 95
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Mohave Valley Highway
32
Turn right onto Hulet Avenue
1.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Hulet Avenue
33
At end of road, turn right onto CR 391; BIA 1
157 ft
·
8 sec
·
Mountain View Road
34
Turn right onto Winter Haven Drive
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Winter Haven Drive
35
Arrive at destination
Winter Haven Drive
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 123.3 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, or about 2h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105 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 54 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.3 miles or 2h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mohave Valley, 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 246.5 miles and 4h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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 105 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 123.3 mi from Tempe Junction, AZ · 2h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
123 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 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 123.3 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 105 miles.
Arriving in Mohave Valley, AZ
The final approach into Mohave Valley, 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 Mohave Valley, 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
$49.11 one way
$98.21 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
86 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $51.97 | $103.94 |
| premium | $5.59 | $54.26 | $108.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $54.42 | $108.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74 | 0 | $25.88 | $11.83 |
| Efficient EV | 61.6 | 0 | $21.57 | $9.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 98.6 | 1 | $34.51 | $15.78 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Mohave Valley, AZ
Afternoon in Mohave Valley on Thursday
Local time
1:12 PM
MST
Current temp
90°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 50m 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 Mohave Valley, AZ covers 246.5 miles and takes about 4h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Route 95, Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 123.3 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 $49.11 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 demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 246.5 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 2.7 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.
On the drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Mohave Valley, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Yuma along the way.
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