Origin
East Sahuarita, AZ
Morning in East Sahuarita on Sunday
Local time
9:34 AM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Sahuarita, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 25m
Distance
129.2 mi
208 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
17 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 16m
★
6 AM
2h 26m
8 AM
2h 45m
10 AM
2h 32m
12 PM
2h 30m
3 PM
2h 33m
5 PM
2h 44m
8 PM
2h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
The drive from East Sahuarita, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 129.2 miles and takes about 2h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Nogales–Tucson Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.5 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.74 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
64.6 miles from East Sahuarita, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.5 mi | 55m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 38.1 mi | 38m |
| Nogales–Tucson Highway | 16 mi | 19m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| South Freeway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| East Sahuarita Road | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| South Priest Drive | 2 mi | 4m |
| South Country Club Road | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Sahuarita, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ.
1
Start on East El Toro Road
316 ft
·
10 sec
·
East El Toro Road
2
Turn right onto South Country Club Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Country Club Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto East Sahuarita Road
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
East Sahuarita Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 19 North: Tucson
5
Merge onto I 19
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Nogales–Tucson Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
7
Merge onto I 10
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 10
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
51 mi
·
51 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 155
Toward Baseline Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto West Baseline Road
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Baseline Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto South Priest Drive
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
South Priest Drive
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto West Broadway Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway Road
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Roosevelt Street
Use the left lane.
17
At end of road, turn right onto West 13th Street
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
West 13th Street
18
Arrive at destination
West 13th Street
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 64.6 miles from East Sahuarita, AZ, or about 1h 14m 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 28 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.6 miles or 1h 14m 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 56m
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 East Sahuarita, 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 East Sahuarita, AZ
This is one driving day of about 129.2 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from East Sahuarita, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.6 miles from East Sahuarita, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 30.5 and 128.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
30.5 mi into trip
|
~39m 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
125.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m 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
125.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m in
|
South Priest Drive
Turn left onto South Priest Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
127.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m in
|
West Broadway Road
Turn right onto West Broadway Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
128.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 23m in
|
South Roosevelt Street
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.74 one way
$51.48 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $27.24 | $54.48 |
| premium | $5.59 | $28.44 | $56.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.53 | $57.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
17 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Starbucks - Tesla Supercharger
Tucson, AZ
Tesla
12 DCFC
Environmental and General Services
Tucson, AZ
Blink Network
4 DCFC
FasCharge 4614 Fast Market Valero Tucson Drexel Rd
Tucson, AZ
RED_E
2 DCFC
FasCharge 4611 Fast Market Valero Tucson Prince Rd
Tucson, AZ
RED_E
2 DCFC
Holmes Tuttle Ford
Tucson, AZ
FORD_CHARGE
2 DCFC
Tucson Subaru
Tucson, AZ
Blink Network
2 DCFC
JC HYUNDAI GV DC FAST 1
Green Valley, AZ
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
JC HYUNDAI GV DC FAST 2
Green Valley, AZ
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 9
RED_E: 2
Blink Network: 2
Non-Networked: 1
Tesla: 1
FORD_CHARGE: 1
IN_CHARGE: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.8 | 0 | $13.57 | $6.20 |
| Efficient EV | 32.3 | 0 | $11.30 | $5.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.7 | 0 | $18.09 | $8.27 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Tempe Junction, AZ
Morning in Tempe Junction on Sunday
Local time
9:34 AM
MST
Current temp
89°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 25m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 89.1
View on nps.gov
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
$25
near mile 22.3
View on nps.gov
Tumacácori National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Tumacácori sits at a cultural crossroads in the Santa Cruz River valley. Here O’odham, Yaqui, and Apache people met and mingled with European Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries, settlers, and soldiers...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
$10
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
129.2 mi in 2h 25m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 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?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 30.5 miles in near I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 129.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 30.5 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.6 miles (South Priest Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Discover Along the Route
Interesting stops within a short detour of your drive.
Cartel Roasting Co.
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
mile 129.2
Tempe, AZ
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Su 06:00-20:00
Visit websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
0.6 mi from route
~1 min detour
mile 129.2
Tempe, AZ
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
mile 129.2
Tempe, AZ
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Th 08:00-17:30, Fr 08:00-15:00
Visit websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
mile 129.2
Tempe, AZ
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
1.4 mi from route
~4 min detour
mile 28.7
Tucson, AZ
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteSan Giorgi's Coffee
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
mile 28.7
AZ
Visit websiteFilthy Animal
Restaurant
Near the end, right off the route
0.6 mi from route
~1 min detour
mile 129.2
Tempe, AZ
Visit websiteEinstein Bros. Bagels
Fast_food
Near the end, right off the route
0.6 mi from route
~1 min detour
mile 129.2
Tempe, AZ
Cuisine: bagel
Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-14:30; Sa 11:00-14:00
Visit websiteFamous Sam's
Restaurant
Early in the drive, right off the route
0.6 mi from route
~2 min detour
mile 28.7
Tucson, AZ
Cuisine: burger
Visit websiteFive Guys
Fast_food
Near the end, right off the route
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
mile 129.2
Tempe, AZ
Cuisine: burger
Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-22:00
Visit websiteCornish Pasty Co.
Restaurant
Near the end, right off the route
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
mile 129.2
Tempe, AZ
Cuisine: cornish
Hours: Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-25:00; Su...
Visit websiteMed Fresh Grill
Restaurant
Near the end, right off the route
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
mile 129.2
Tempe, AZ
Cuisine: mediterranean;grill
Visit websiteBrickyard Artisan Courtyard
Park
Near the end, right off the route
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
mile 129.2
Alberta B Farrington Softball Stadium
Park
Near the end, short detour
1.4 mi from route
~3 min detour
mile 129.2
Tempe Municipal Stadium
Park
Near the end, short detour
1.8 mi from route
~5 min detour
mile 129.2
Washington Mini Park Site
Park
Around the midpoint, short detour
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
mile 71.8
Eloy, AZ
Papago Park-Tempe
Park
Near the end, short detour
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
mile 129.2
Tempe Park
Park
Near the end, short detour
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
mile 129.2
Arizona State University Art Museum
Museum
Near the end, right off the route
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
mile 129.2
Tempe, AZ
Hours: Tu,We,Fr,Sa 11:00-17:00, Th 11:00-20:00
Visit websiteDesert Diamond Casino Hotel
Hotel
Near the start, short detour
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
mile 14.4
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 129.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 30.5 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.6 miles (South Priest Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tempe Junction, AZ before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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