Bisbee, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ is 204.7 miles and takes about 3h 51m via Casa Grande-Tucson Highway and Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Desert Southwest, moving from southeastern Arizona towards the Phoenix metropolitan area. Expect a drive that primarily uses surface roads with some highway stretches, making it a fairly straightforward, single-day excursion. It's a practical route for getting between these two points without significant detours.
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
102.3 miles from Bisbee, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.5 mi
55m
Tucson-Benson Highway
41.4 mi
43m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38.1 mi
38m
State Route 90
17.1 mi
20m
Whetstone TI-Junction SR 80 Highway
12.7 mi
15m
Huachuca Boulevard
9 mi
10m
AZ 80
6.7 mi
9m
South Freeway
6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bisbee, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ.
1
Start on this road
86 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Moon Canyon
47 ft·4 sec·Moon Canyon
3
Turn right onto US 80 Hist
0.4 mi·1 min·Tombstone Canyon Road
4
Take the ramp onto Tombstone Canyon Road
0.3 mi·39 sec·Tombstone Canyon Road
5
Merge onto AZ 80
6.7 mi·9 min·AZ 80
6
Turn left onto AZ 90
12 mi·14 min·Whetstone TI-Junction SR 80 Highway
7
Continue on AZ 90
2.1 mi·2 min·State Route 90
8
Continue on AZ 90
1.0 mi·1 min·Whetstone TI-Junction SR 80 Highway
9
Turn right onto AZ 90
4.4 mi·6 min·State Route 90 Bypass
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on AZ 90
3.0 mi·3 min·State Route 90
11
Continue on AZ 90
2.2 mi·3 min·South Huachuca Boulevard
12
Continue on AZ 90
12 mi·13 min·State Route 90
13
Continue on AZ 90
9.0 mi·10 min·Huachuca Boulevard
14
Continue on AZ 90
1.3 mi·2 min·South State Highway 90
15
Turn left
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
16
Merge onto I 10
41 mi·43 min·Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 10
6.0 mi·6 min·South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 10
3.7 mi·4 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
51 mi·51 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 10
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 10
5.8 mi·6 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 155Toward Baseline RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn right onto West Baseline Road
0.2 mi·34 sec·West Baseline Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
24
Turn left onto South Priest Drive
2.0 mi·4 min·South Priest Drive
Use the left lane.
25
Turn right onto West Broadway Road
0.7 mi·1 min·West Broadway Road
Use the right lane.
26
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Roosevelt Street
Use the left lane.
27
At end of road, turn right onto West 13th Street
0.3 mi·47 sec·West 13th Street
28
Arrive at destination
West 13th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 51m estimated drive time, leaving Bisbee in the morning allows ample time to reach Tempe Junction before evening. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short distance, you have flexibility in when and where you might pull over. Keep an eye on fuel, especially before departing Bisbee, as the longest stretch on surface roads could be between services. The $41 fuel cost is a good estimate for planning. Since this is a single-day trip, you can depart at your leisure, but an early start will make for a more relaxed pace.
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 102.3 miles from Bisbee, AZ, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 45 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.3 miles or 2h 1m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tempe Junction, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bisbee, 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 Bisbee, AZ
This is one driving day of about 204.7 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Bisbee, 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 Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 54.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 22.3 and 201.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
22.3 mi into trip|~30m in|AZ 90 / State Route 90 Bypass
Turn right onto AZ 90 / State Route 90 Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
54.2 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Turn left toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
6
105.9 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
200.5 mi into trip|~3h 42m in
Take the exit toward Baseline Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 155
Toward Baseline Road
6
201.1 mi into trip|~3h 44m in|South Priest Drive
Turn left onto South Priest Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.27 one way
$72.55 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$38.84
$77.69
premium
$5.04
$40.63
$81.27
diesel
$4.80
$38.65
$77.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
EV Charging Along Route
16 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Rudy's Country Store & BBQ - Tesla Supercharger
Tucson, AZ
Tesla
12 DCFC
Tucson, AZ - Tesla Supercharger
Tucson, AZ
Tesla
10 DCFC
Pilot Travel Center 593
Tucson, AZ
eVgo Network
6 DCFC
Walmart 3807 (Benson, AZ)
Benson, AZ
Electrify America
4 DCFC
Environmental and General Services
Tucson, AZ
Blink Network
4 DCFC
Porsche - Tucson
Tucson, AZ
Non-Networked
2 DCFC
5151 E Broadway
Tucson, AZ
Non-Networked
2 DCFC
FasCharge 4614 Fast Market Valero Tucson Drexel Rd
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.4
0
$21.49
$9.83
Efficient EV
51.2
0
$17.91
$8.19
EV Truck/SUV
81.9
1
$28.66
$13.10
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Forecast as of Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Bisbee, AZ
Night
in Bisbee on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
MST
Current temp
65°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
WNW 7 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 7:00PM PDT until July 18 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 6:58PM MST until July 18 at 10:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Destination
Tempe Junction, AZ
Night
in Tempe Junction on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
MST
Current temp
80°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
N 0 to 5 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 7:00PM PDT until July 18 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 6:58PM MST until July 18 at 10:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
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
15 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 51m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Saguaro National Park
National Park
Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are pr...
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 162.3
It was a journey of conquest filled with exploration, wonder - and cruelty. Inspired by tales of vast cities of gold, 339 European soldiers and over a thousand Aztec allies embarked on an epic journey...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 21.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll cover 204.7 miles, with 26% of that on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 54.5 miles along the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. After the highway segments, the profile shifts to mostly surface roads. This means you'll experience periods of open cruising followed by more local traffic and varied speed limits.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.5 mi on Casa Grande-Tucson 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 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 22.3 miles in near AZ 90 / State Route 90 Bypass.
Driving Effort6/10
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 204.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 22.3 miles (AZ 90 / State Route 90 Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 54.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 105.9 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,524 ft1,164 ft
Total Climb
439 ft
Total Descent
4,799 ft
Highest Point
5,524 ft
Elevation Range
4,360 ft
Notable High Points
4,551 ft at ~43.9 miles+61 ft prominence
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 Bisbee, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Tuscon along the way.
Bisbee is a town in Southeast Arizona, and the county seat for Cochise County. This former mining town has reinvented itself as an artist community, and it now attracts tourists for its vibrant cultural scene and well-preserved architecture. Notable are its many Victorian-era houses built into the hillsides, some of which can only be accessed by foot.
Top landmarks
•Evergreen Cemetery — cemetery in Bisbee, Arizona, United States
•Walter Douglas House — house in Bisbee, Arizona
•Muheim House — historic house in Bisbee, Arizona, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 51m. Total distance: 204.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.5 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson 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 Tempe Junction, 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 22.3 miles (AZ 90 / State Route 90 Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 54.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 105.9 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Saguaro National Park, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Coronado National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Tempe Junction, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
