Origin
Tempe, AZ
Afternoon in Tempe on Friday
Local time
1:19 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe, AZ to Black Canyon City, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
57.4 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Black Canyon City, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Tempe, AZ to Black Canyon City, AZ covers 57.4 miles and takes about 1h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Black Canyon Freeway, Red Mountain Freeway, Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.3 miles on Black Canyon Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.43 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 57.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 8m highway drive covering 57.4 miles, with most of the trip on Black Canyon Freeway and Red Mountain Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 38.3 miles on Black Canyon Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Black Canyon Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 38.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Black Canyon 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 0.2 miles in near South Una Butte Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.4 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.2 miles (South Una Butte Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Una Butte Avenue
Turn right onto South Una Butte Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
9.7 mi into trip
|
~13m 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
8
13.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Flagstaff
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 143A-B
Toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Flagstaff
8
14 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 143A
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
8
55.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward Rock Springs, Black Canyon City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 242
Toward Rock Springs, Black Canyon City
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Black Canyon Freeway | 38.3 mi | 41m |
| Red Mountain Freeway | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 2.6 mi | 2m |
| Papago Freeway | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| South McClintock Drive | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Old Black Canyon Highway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Apache Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Black Canyon Freeway
— 38.3 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe, AZ and Black Canyon City, AZ.
1
Start on US 80 Hist
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
2
Turn right onto South Una Butte Avenue
321 ft
·
11 sec
·
South Una Butte Avenue
3
Turn right
22 ft
·
1 sec
4
Turn right onto South Butte Avenue
254 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Butte Avenue
5
Turn right onto East 12th Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
East 12th Street
6
Turn left onto South McClintock Drive
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South McClintock Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
8
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
7.5 mi
·
8 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
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 143A-B
Toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Flagstaff
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 143A
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 17; US 60
38 mi
·
41 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 17
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 242
Toward Rock Springs, Black Canyon City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto Rock Springs Road
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Rock Springs Road
19
At end of road, turn right onto South Old Black Canyon Highway
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Old Black Canyon Highway
20
Turn right onto East Palm Lane
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Palm Lane
21
Arrive at destination
East Palm Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.7 mi from Tempe, AZ · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.7 miles from Tempe, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Black Canyon City, AZ
The final approach into Black Canyon City, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.43 one way
$22.87 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $12.10 | $24.20 |
| premium | $5.59 | $12.63 | $25.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.67 | $25.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.03 | $2.76 |
| Efficient EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.02 | $2.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23 | 0 | $8.04 | $3.67 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Black Canyon City, AZ
Afternoon in Black Canyon City on Friday
Local time
1:19 PM
MST
Current temp
58°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
35 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
1h 8m 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, AZ to Black Canyon City, AZ covers 57.4 miles and takes about 1h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Black Canyon Freeway, Red Mountain Freeway, Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.7 miles from Tempe, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.43 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.4 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South Una Butte Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Tempe, AZ to Black Canyon City, 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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