Origin
Tempe Junction, AZ
Afternoon in Tempe Junction on Thursday
Local time
1:24 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe Junction, AZ to Colorado City, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
7h 31m
Distance
379.6 mi
611 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$76
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 21m
★
6 AM
7h 31m
8 AM
7h 51m
10 AM
7h 38m
12 PM
7h 36m
3 PM
7h 39m
5 PM
7h 50m
8 PM
7h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Colorado City, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Colorado City, AZ covers 379.6 miles and takes about 7h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Roosevelt Street, West Broadway Road, Maricopa Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $75.62 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
189.8 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 45m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 31m. Total distance: 379.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 31m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 31m drive with frequent turns across 379.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Roosevelt Street 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.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 31m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Colorado City, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Roosevelt Street | — | — |
| West Broadway Road | — | — |
| Maricopa Freeway | — | — |
| Black Canyon Freeway | — | — |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | — | — |
| Arizona Veterans Highway | — | — |
| Prescott–Flagstaff Highway | — | — |
| I 40 East | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South Roosevelt Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe Junction, AZ and Colorado City, AZ.
1
Start on West 13th Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
West 13th Street
2
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Roosevelt Street
3
Turn right onto West Broadway Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Broadway Road
4
Continue on West Broadway Road
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
West Broadway Road
5
Take the ramp slight right
0.6 mi
·
1 min
6
Merge slight left onto Maricopa Freeway
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
7
Keep slight right to continue on Maricopa Freeway
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
8
Continue on Black Canyon Freeway
41 mi
·
45 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
9
Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
8.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
10
Continue on Arizona Veterans Highway
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
11
Keep slight left to continue on Arizona Veterans Highway
77 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
12
Continue on Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 40 East, Albuquerque
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 40 East, Albuquerque
14
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
15
Take the exit slight right toward US 89 North: Page
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
US 89 North: Page
16
Turn left onto Country Club Drive
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Country Club Drive
17
Turn right onto Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
18
Continue on US Highway 89
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
US Highway 89
19
Continue on Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
38 mi
·
44 min
·
Flagstaff-Cameron Highway
20
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Cameron–Bitter Springs Highway
154 ft
·
3 sec
·
Cameron–Bitter Springs Highway
21
Exit the rotary onto Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway
22
Continue on US 89
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 89
23
Continue on Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway
57 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Cameron-Bitter Springs Highway
24
Turn left onto Bitter Springs–Fredonia Highway
84 mi
·
1 hr 53 min
·
Bitter Springs–Fredonia Highway
25
Continue on South Main Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
26
Turn left onto West Pratt Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Pratt Street
27
Continue on Short Creek–Fredonia Highway
30 mi
·
34 min
·
Short Creek–Fredonia Highway
28
Turn right onto South Central Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Central Street
29
Turn left onto West Township Avenue
449 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Township Avenue
30
Turn left onto Heritage Lane
69 ft
·
3 sec
·
Heritage Lane
31
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 189.8 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, or about 3h 45m 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 84 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.8 miles or 3h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colorado City, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tempe Junction, AZ
This is one driving day of about 379.6 miles and 7h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 189.8 mi from Tempe Junction, AZ · 3h 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
190 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 84 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 189.8 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Colorado City, AZ
The final approach into Colorado City, 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 Colorado City, 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
$75.62 one way
$151.24 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
133 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $80.03 | $160.06 |
| premium | $5.59 | $83.56 | $167.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $83.81 | $167.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$76
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$101–$126
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 113.9 | 1 | $39.86 | $18.22 |
| Efficient EV | 94.9 | 1 | $33.22 | $15.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 151.8 | 1 | $53.14 | $24.29 |
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (67% 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
Colorado City, AZ
Afternoon in Colorado City on Thursday
Local time
1:24 PM
MST
Current temp
76°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
14 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
7h 31m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Colorado City, AZ covers 379.6 miles and takes about 7h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Roosevelt Street, West Broadway Road, Maricopa Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 189.8 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 $75.62 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 31m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Colorado City, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Tempe Junction, AZ to Colorado City, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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