Origin
Tempe Junction, AZ
Morning in Tempe Junction on Friday
Local time
9:11 AM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe Junction, AZ to Queen Creek, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
41m
Distance
29.3 mi
47 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Queen Creek, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Queen Creek, AZ covers 29.3 miles and takes about 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Superstition Freeway, South Ellsworth Road, Santan Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.1 miles on Superstition Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.84 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 41m. Total distance: 29.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 41m highway drive covering 29.3 miles, with most of the trip on Superstition Freeway and South Ellsworth Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 16.1 miles on Superstition Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Superstition Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 16.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Superstition Freeway and South Ellsworth Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 29.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 41m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Turn left toward US 60 East: Mesa
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 60 East: Mesa
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge onto US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
18.6 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward AZ Loop 202 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 190B
Toward AZ Loop 202 South
7
22.3 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward AZ 24 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 34A
Toward AZ 24 East
7
23.8 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward Ellsworth Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1
Toward Ellsworth Road
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 Queen Creek, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Az Loop 202 South along the way.
Az Loop 202 South
18.6 mi in
|
~24m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Superstition Freeway | 16.1 mi | 18m |
| South Ellsworth Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Santan Freeway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| South Mill Avenue | 2 mi | 4m |
| South Ellsworth Loop Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Gateway Freeway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Ocotillo Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 13th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Superstition Freeway
— 16.1 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe Junction, AZ and Queen Creek, AZ.
1
Start on West 13th Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
West 13th Street
2
Turn right onto South Mill Avenue
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
South Mill Avenue
3
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Toward US 60 East: Mesa
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto US 60
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 190B
Toward AZ Loop 202 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Santan Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Exit 34A
Toward AZ 24 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on AZ 24
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
Gateway Freeway
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1
Toward Ellsworth Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto South Ellsworth Road
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
South Ellsworth Road
11
Continue on South Ellsworth Loop Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Ellsworth Loop Road
12
Turn left onto East Ocotillo Road
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Ocotillo Road
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
East Ocotillo Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.84 one way
$11.67 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $6.18 | $12.35 |
| premium | $5.59 | $6.45 | $12.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.47 | $12.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.08 | $1.41 |
| Efficient EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.56 | $1.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.88 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Destination
Queen Creek, AZ
Morning in Queen Creek on Friday
Local time
9:11 AM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
31 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
41m 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 Queen Creek, AZ covers 29.3 miles and takes about 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Superstition Freeway, South Ellsworth Road, Santan Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.6 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 $5.84 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 short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 29.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 41m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Queen Creek, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Az Loop 202 South along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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