Lake Montezuma to Tempe is 109.5 miles and takes about 2 hours 2 minutes via Arizona Veterans Highway and I-17, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip travels within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward drive from a more rural setting to a major metropolitan area. Given its relatively short duration and manageable fuel costs, it's a practical choice for a single-day excursion. You'll experience a transition in landscape and activity as you head south towards the Phoenix metro area.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.8 miles from Lake Montezuma, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Arizona Veterans Highway
47.2 mi
47m
Black Canyon Freeway
35.3 mi
38m
Red Mountain Freeway
8.3 mi
10m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5.8 mi
5m
North Black Canyon Highway
3.2 mi
3m
Papago Freeway
2.7 mi
3m
East Beaver Creek Road
1.9 mi
4m
South McClintock Drive
1.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Arizona Veterans Highway
— 47.2 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Montezuma, AZ and Tempe, AZ.
1
Start on North Montezuma Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·North Montezuma Avenue
2
Keep slight left at fork onto North Montezuma Avenue
328 ft·9 sec·North Montezuma Avenue
3
Turn straight onto East Beaver Creek Road
1.9 mi·4 min·East Beaver Creek Road
4
Continue on CR 30
0.1 mi·17 sec·East Cornville Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
6
Merge onto I 17
47 mi·47 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
7
Continue on I 17
5.8 mi·5 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 17
10 mi·10 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on I 17
3.2 mi·3 min·North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 17
25 mi·28 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 200AToward I 10 East, I 10 West: Central Phoenix, Los AngelesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 East: Central Phoenix, TucsonUse the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto I 10
1.2 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·35 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
15
Continue on I 10
1.4 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto Red Mountain Freeway
0.1 mi·7 sec·Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147Toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway
0.3 mi·41 sec·Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147AToward AZ 202 Loop East
18
Keep slight left at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway
7.9 mi·9 min·Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147AToward AZ 202 Loop EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 8Toward McClintock DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto South McClintock Drive
1.5 mi·3 min·South McClintock Drive
Use the right lane.
21
Turn right onto US 80 Hist
60 ft·1 sec·East Apache Boulevard
Use the right lane.
22
Arrive at destination
US 80 Hist
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from Lake Montezuma in the morning will allow you to take advantage of the full daylight hours for the approximately 2-hour trip to Tempe. With a total distance of 109.5 miles and a fuel cost estimated at $22, this is a route where you can be flexible with stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 47.2-mile stretch on Arizona Veterans Highway, as services may be less frequent there compared to the interstates. Planning to depart earlier in the day ensures a relaxed arrival in Tempe.
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 54.8 miles from Lake Montezuma, AZ, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.2 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 24 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.8 miles or 59m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tempe, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lake Montezuma, 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 Lake Montezuma, AZ
This is one driving day of about 109.5 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Lake Montezuma, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Arizona Veterans Highway for about 47.2 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 95.1 and 107.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
95.1 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Central Phoenix, Los Angeles
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 200A
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Central Phoenix, L...
8
95.2 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Central Phoenix, Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 10 East: Central Phoenix, Tucson
8
99.2 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|Red Mountain Freeway
Take the exit onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
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 147
Toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
8
99.7 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|Red Mountain Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 202 Loop East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 147A
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
7
107.6 mi into trip|~1h 58m in
Take the exit toward McClintock Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8
Toward McClintock Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.81 one way
$43.63 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$23.09
$46.17
premium
$5.59
$24.10
$48.21
diesel
$5.61
$24.18
$48.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.9
0
$11.50
$5.26
Efficient EV
27.4
0
$9.58
$4.38
EV Truck/SUV
43.8
0
$15.33
$7.01
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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 16, 2026
Origin
Lake Montezuma, AZ
Morning
in Lake Montezuma on Sunday
Local time
10:49 AM
MST
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tempe, AZ
Morning
in Tempe on Sunday
Local time
10:49 AM
MST
Current temp
93°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
48 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 2m 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.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
National Monument
Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff...
Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs that well up from the ancient sedimentary ro...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a mixed drive, with 42% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 47.2 miles on the Arizona Veterans Highway, which likely offers a more open-road feel before merging onto the Black Canyon Freeway and then the Red Mountain Freeway. Expect a progression from potentially less-trafficked roads to busier interstate conditions as you approach Tempe. The change in road types means you'll need to adjust your driving style throughout the trip.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.2 mi on Arizona Veterans Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 95.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 109.5 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 95.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.2 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lake Montezuma, AZ and Tempe, AZ, road signs point toward Los Angeles and Tucson.
Los Angeles
95.1 mi in|~1h 43m
Tucson
95.2 mi in|~1h 43m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 109.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.2 miles on Arizona Veterans 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, 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 95.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.2 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Montezuma Castle National Monument and Tuzigoot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tempe, AZ before heading back.
