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Trip from Tempe Junction, AZ to Desert Hills, AZ

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 7m

Distance

216.6 mi

349 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 54m ★
6 AM
4h 7m
8 AM
4h 33m
10 AM
4h 16m
12 PM
4h 14m
3 PM
4h 18m
5 PM
4h 32m
8 PM
3h 59m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Tempe Junction, AZ, AZ

Tempe Junction, AZ

Abhishek Navlakha

Downtown Desert Hills, AZ, AZ

Desert Hills, AZ

Mark Direen

Trip Overview

The drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Desert Hills, AZ covers 216.6 miles and takes about 4h 7m 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, Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway, Papago Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.15 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

108.3 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway 105 mi 1h 45m
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway 63.1 mi 1h 16m
Papago Freeway 21 mi 24m
Riverside Drive 7.1 mi 8m
Rio Vista Highway 4.4 mi 5m
Red Mountain Freeway 4.3 mi 4m
North Central Boulevard 3.1 mi 3m
East Main Street 1 mi 2m
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 Desert Hills, 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

0.9 mi · 1 min · California Avenue
21

Turn right onto AZ 95

4.4 mi · 5 min · Rio Vista Highway
22

Continue on AZ 95

6.6 mi · 7 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
23

Continue on AZ 95

7.1 mi · 8 min · Riverside Drive
Use the straight lane.
24

Continue on AZ 95

26 mi · 33 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Use the straight lane.
25

Turn left onto Chenoweth Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Chenoweth Road
26

Turn right onto London Bridge Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · London Bridge Road
27

Turn left onto Thrasher Drive

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Thrasher Drive
28

Turn left onto Mountain View Drive

0.1 mi · 34 sec · Mountain View Drive
29

Arrive at destination

Bayshore Road

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 108.3 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, or about 1h 57m 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 48 miles or 56m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 108.3 miles or 1h 57m 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 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Desert Hills, 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 216.6 miles and 4h 7m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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.

town in La Paz County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Quartzsite, AZ

108 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

Buckeye, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Salome, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 108.3 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Tempe Festival of the Arts

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Tempe, Arizona

+14803556060

Visit website

Tempe Town Lake

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Tempe, Arizona

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Tempe, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+14805657081

Visit website

Amusement Park Rides RandRrides(Phoenix Park & Swap)

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: Closed

+14809958653

Visit website

Riverview Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour

Mesa, Arizona

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+14806442352

Visit website

The Little Gym of Litchfield Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 30.9

Goodyear, Arizona

Hours: 9 am–7:30 pm

+16232505718

Visit website

Enchanted Island Amusement Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 15.5

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–4 pm

+16022541200

Visit website

Tyrannostorus

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour

Mesa, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–6 pm

+14805974467

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 8.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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
5
8.5 mi into trip | ~13m in | I 10 / Papago Freeway

Merge onto I 10 / Papago Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.15 one way

$86.30 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 76 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $45.67 $91.33
premium $5.59 $47.68 $95.36
diesel $5.61 $47.82 $95.65

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$43

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 75.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 65 0 $22.74 $10.40
Efficient EV 54.2 0 $18.95 $8.66
EV Truck/SUV 86.6 1 $30.32 $13.86

Gas CO2

76 kg

EV CO2

25 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Tempe Junction, AZ

Morning in Tempe Junction on Saturday

Local time

11:40 AM

MST

Current temp

90°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Desert Hills, AZ

Morning in Desert Hills on Saturday

Local time

11:40 AM

MST

Current temp

86°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

4 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

4h 7m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

216.6 mi in 4h 7m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near Red Mountain Freeeway.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 216.6 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

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.

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 Desert Hills, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Yuma along the way.

Yuma

135 mi in | ~2h 24m | via I 10 Business

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 7m. Total distance: 216.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 105 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Desert Hills, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

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.

Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Desert Hills, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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