Origin
Tempe Junction, AZ
Night in Tempe Junction on Friday
Local time
10:57 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe Junction, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 10m
Distance
112.7 mi
181 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 2m
★
6 AM
2h 11m
8 AM
2h 29m
10 AM
2h 17m
12 PM
2h 15m
3 PM
2h 18m
5 PM
2h 28m
8 PM
2h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Cottonwood, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ covers 112.7 miles and takes about 2h 10m 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 $22.45 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.4 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 10m. Total distance: 112.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 10m drive with frequent turns across 112.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 32 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ is easy. At 2h 10m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Cottonwood, 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 | — | — |
| Finnie Flat | — | — |
| Finnie Flat Road | — | — |
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 Cottonwood, 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
25 mi
·
24 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
12
Take the exit slight right toward Finnie Flat, 260 to 89a, Cottonwood, Payson, Jerome
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Finnie Flat, 260 to 89a, Cottonwood, Payson, Jerome
13
Turn left onto Finnie Flat Road
420 ft
·
12 sec
·
Finnie Flat Road
14
Continue on Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
167 ft
·
8 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
16
Exit the roundabout onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
17
Keep slight right to continue on Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway
171 ft
·
7 sec
·
Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway
19
Exit the rotary onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
20
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
171 ft
·
3 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
21
Exit the roundabout onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway
144 ft
·
6 sec
·
Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway
23
Exit the rotary onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
24
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
167 ft
·
7 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
25
Exit the roundabout onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway
144 ft
·
6 sec
·
Cottonwood-Camp Verde-Mogollon Rim Highway
27
Exit the rotary onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
28
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
187 ft
·
8 sec
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
29
Exit the roundabout onto Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Camp Verde-Bridgeport Highway
30
Continue on South Main Street
420 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Main Street
31
Continue on South Main Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
32
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 56.4 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, or about 1h 5m 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 25 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.4 miles or 1h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cottonwood, 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 112.7 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.4 mi from Tempe Junction, AZ · 1h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56.4 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cottonwood, AZ
The final approach into Cottonwood, 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 Cottonwood, 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
$22.45 one way
$44.90 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $23.76 | $47.52 |
| premium | $5.59 | $24.81 | $49.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.88 | $49.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.8 | 0 | $11.83 | $5.41 |
| Efficient EV | 28.2 | 0 | $9.86 | $4.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.1 | 0 | $15.78 | $7.21 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% 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
Cottonwood, AZ
Night in Cottonwood on Friday
Local time
10:57 PM
MST
Current temp
81°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
9 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
2h 10m 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 Cottonwood, AZ covers 112.7 miles and takes about 2h 10m 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 56.4 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 $22.45 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.
The drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ is easy. At 2h 10m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Tempe Junction, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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