Origin
Tempe Junction, AZ
Afternoon in Tempe Junction on Sunday
Local time
4:40 PM
MST
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe Junction, AZ to Tolleson, AZ
Drive Time
30m
Distance
21.8 mi
35 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Tolleson, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Tempe Junction to Tolleson, expect a straightforward 21.8-mile journey that typically takes about 30 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance is short enough that you won't need to consider an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Papago Freeway, Red Mountain Freeway, and West University Drive. Budgeting around $4 for fuel should keep you covered for the duration of the trip. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Desert Southwest, you can anticipate consistent terrain and climate conditions throughout the drive. It is a practical, efficient route that gets you from point A to point B without unnecessary complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
10.9 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 72% of this route consists of high-speed travel. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the Papago Freeway, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the journey at 11.3 miles. The character of the road is functional and designed for speed, shifting from the Red Mountain Freeway to the Papago Freeway as you transition toward your destination. While the drive is relatively brief, you will feel the intensity of the metropolitan freeway system rather than the isolation of a rural backroad. Be prepared for a steady, fast-paced commute that prioritizes efficiency over winding, scenic detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Papago Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 11.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Papago Freeway and Red Mountain Freeway. 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.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 21.8 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. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 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...
7
2.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 202 Loop West: Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Toward AZ 202 Loop West: Phoenix
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
7
20.3 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward 91st Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 134
Toward 91st Avenue
6
21.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
West Van Buren Street
Turn right onto West Van Buren Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Papago Freeway | 11.3 mi | 13m |
| Red Mountain Freeway | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| West University Drive | 1 mi | 1m |
| North 91st Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| 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:
Papago Freeway
— 11.3 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe Junction, AZ and Tolleson, 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
Use the none lane.
4
Turn right onto South Priest Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Priest Drive
Use the none lane.
5
Continue on North Priest Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Priest Drive
Use the left / none lanes.
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
Use the none lane.
8
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Red Mountain Freeway
Use the none / 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 none lane.
11
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
12
Continue on I 10
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 134
Toward 91st Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto North 91st Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North 91st Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
15
Turn right onto West Van Buren Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
West Van Buren Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto North 92nd Drive
176 ft
·
8 sec
·
North 92nd Drive
17
Turn right
168 ft
·
12 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Because this is a short 30-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a wise strategy. You won't need to plan for any scheduled stops, as the entire 21.8-mile distance is easily manageable in one go. Before you head out, ensure your tank has enough fuel to cover the trip, keeping the $4 estimated cost in mind as a baseline. Since you will be spending the majority of your time on major freeways, keep a close watch on signage when transitioning between the Red Mountain Freeway and the Papago Freeway. Taking advantage of the route's brevity allows you to focus on a quick, smooth transition between these two Desert Southwest locations.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 10.9 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, or about 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 11.3 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 21.8 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.9 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tolleson, 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 21.8 miles and 30m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Papago Freeway for about 11.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.9 mi from Tempe Junction, AZ · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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 21.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.9 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Tolleson, AZ
The final approach into Tolleson, 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 Tolleson, 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
$4.34 one way
$8.68 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $4.58 | $9.16 |
| premium | $5.59 | $4.80 | $9.59 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.84 | $9.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.29 | $1.05 |
| Efficient EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.91 | $0.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.05 | $1.40 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Tolleson, AZ
Afternoon in Tolleson on Sunday
Local time
4:40 PM
MST
Current temp
57°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
3 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
30m 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 Tolleson, AZ covers 21.8 miles and takes about 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Papago Freeway, Red Mountain Freeway, West University Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.9 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 $4.34 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 demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 21.8 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. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tempe Junction, AZ to Tolleson, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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