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Trip from Tempe, AZ to Holbrook, AZ

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 43m

Distance

176.2 mi

284 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 31m ★
6 AM
3h 43m
8 AM
4h 8m
10 AM
3h 52m
12 PM
3h 50m
3 PM
3h 53m
5 PM
4h 7m
8 PM
3h 36m

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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city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Tempe, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

city in Navajo County, Arizona, United States

Holbrook, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Tempe, AZ to Holbrook, AZ covers 176.2 miles and takes about 3h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Beeline Highway, AZ 260, Heber Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 68.4 miles on Beeline Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.10 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

88.1 miles from Tempe, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 43m. Total distance: 176.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (32%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Tempe, AZ to Holbrook, AZ covers 176.2 miles and takes about 3h 43m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Beeline Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 68.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near South Price Road.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 43m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (South Price Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
1.4 mi into trip | ~3m in | South Price Road

Turn left onto South Price Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
2.8 mi into trip | ~5m in | AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway

Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
4.5 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the exit toward McDowell Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 49 Toward McDowell Road
5
5 mi into trip | ~8m in | East McDowell Road

Turn right onto East McDowell Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
7.5 mi into trip | ~12m in | AZ 87 / North Beeline Highway

Turn left onto AZ 87 / North Beeline Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Beeline Highway 68.4 mi 1h 20m
AZ 260 53 mi 1h 11m
Heber Road 30.9 mi 36m
West 3rd Street North 4.9 mi 6m
North Beeline Highway 4.2 mi 4m
Heber-Holbrook Highway 2.9 mi 3m
East McDowell Road 2.6 mi 4m
Highway 277 1.9 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Beeline Highway — 68.4 mi, about 1h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tempe, AZ and Holbrook, AZ.

1

Start on US 80 Hist

0.2 mi · 27 sec · East Apache Boulevard
2

Continue on US 80 Hist

1.3 mi · 2 min · East Apache Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3

Turn left onto South Price Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Price Road
Use the left lane.
4

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 50 sec · this road
Toward AZ 101 Loop North Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5

Merge onto AZ 101 Loop

1.7 mi · 1 min · Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 49 Toward McDowell Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Turn right onto East McDowell Road

2.6 mi · 4 min · East McDowell Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
8

Turn left onto AZ 87

4.2 mi · 4 min · North Beeline Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
9

Continue on AZ 87

68 mi · 1 hr 20 min · Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
10

Turn right onto AZ 260

53 mi · 1 hr 11 min · AZ 260
Use the straight lane.
11

Turn left onto AZ 277

1.9 mi · 3 min · Highway 277
12

Continue on AZ 277

4.9 mi · 6 min · West 3rd Street North
13

Turn left onto AZ 377

2.9 mi · 3 min · Heber-Holbrook Highway
14

Turn straight onto AZ 377

31 mi · 36 min · Heber Road
15

Turn left onto AZ 77

1.6 mi · 2 min · Show Low-Holbrook Highway
16

Continue on US 180; AZ 77

0.5 mi · 56 sec · Holbrook-Springerville Highway
17

Continue on US 180; AZ 77

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Navajo Boulevard
18

Arrive at destination

I 40 Bus; AZ 77; US 66 Hist

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 88.1 miles from Tempe, AZ, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.4 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 39 miles or 49m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 88.1 miles or 1h 48m 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 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Holbrook, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Tempe, 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, AZ

This is one driving day of about 176.2 miles and 3h 43m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Tempe, 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 Beeline Highway for about 68.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 88.1 mi from Tempe, AZ · 1h 48m into the drive

town in Gila County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Payson, AZ

88 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

Scottsdale, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Payson, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 88.1 miles from Tempe, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Beeline Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68.4 miles.

Arriving in Holbrook, AZ

The final approach into Holbrook, 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 Holbrook, AZ.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park

National Park

A landscape where deep time lies fully on display, Petrified Forest National Park blends colorful badlands, vast grasslands, and one of the world’s largest and most vivid collections of petrified wood...

22 mi from route ~54 min detour $25 near mile 176.2
View on nps.gov
Tonto National Monument

Tonto National Monument

National Monument

Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...

23 mi from route ~58 min detour $10 near mile 36.5
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$35.10 one way

$70.20 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $37.15 $74.30
premium $5.59 $38.78 $77.57
diesel $5.61 $38.90 $77.81

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 61.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 52.9 0 $18.50 $8.46
Efficient EV 44.1 0 $15.42 $7.05
EV Truck/SUV 70.5 0 $24.67 $11.28

Gas CO2

62 kg

EV CO2

21 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Tempe, AZ

Morning in Tempe on Friday

Local time

11:59 AM

MST

Current temp

93°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Holbrook, AZ

Morning in Holbrook on Friday

Local time

11:59 AM

MST

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

44°F

Payson, AZ

88 mi in

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

17 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

3h 43m 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 Holbrook, AZ covers 176.2 miles and takes about 3h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Beeline Highway, AZ 260, Heber Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 88.1 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 $35.10 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 3h 43m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (South Price Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Tempe, AZ to Holbrook, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Petrified Forest National Park and Tonto National Monument.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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