Lukachukai, AZ to Tempe, AZ is 334.5 miles and takes about 7h 8m via Navajo Route 12 and South Beeline Highway, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Desert Southwest, offering a consistent regional feel for its entire duration. With a single day recommended for completion, this drive is manageable for most vehicles. You'll encounter a mix of highway and surface road conditions, so be prepared for varied driving experiences. Plan for about two stops along the way to break up the drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
167.2 miles from Lukachukai, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 36m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Lukachukai, AZ and Tempe, AZ.
1
Start on this road
278 ft·16 sec·this road
2
Turn left
81 ft·3 sec
3
Turn right onto N133
0.3 mi·37 sec·Navajo Route 133
4
Continue on N13
2.0 mi·3 min·Navajo Route 13
5
At end of road, turn left onto N12
41 mi·1 hr 1 min·Navajo Route 12
6
Continue on N12
1.6 mi·2 min·Cleveland Boulevard
7
Continue on N12
12 mi·19 min·Navajo Route 12
8
At end of road, turn left onto N12
5.0 mi·8 min·Navajo Route 12
9
Turn right onto AZ 264
1.9 mi·2 min·Arizona State Highway 264
10
Turn left onto N12
24 mi·33 min·Navajo Route 12
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
12
Merge onto I 40
70 mi·1 hr 9 min·Purple Heart Trail
13
Take the exit onto AZ 77
0.4 mi·50 sec·AZ 77
Toward I 40 Business, AZ 77 South, AZ 377 South, US 180 East: Show Low, Heber
14
Turn left onto I 40 Bus; AZ 77; US 66 Hist
1.2 mi·2 min·Navajo Boulevard
15
Continue on US 180; AZ 77
0.5 mi·56 sec·Holbrook-Springerville Highway
16
Continue on AZ 77
1.6 mi·2 min·Show Low-Holbrook Highway
17
Turn right onto AZ 377
31 mi·36 min·Heber Road
18
Turn straight onto AZ 377
2.9 mi·3 min·Heber-Holbrook Highway
19
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 277
4.9 mi·6 min·West 3rd Street North
20
Continue on AZ 277
1.9 mi·3 min·Highway 277
21
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 260
0.2 mi·19 sec·Highway 260
22
Continue on AZ 260
16 mi·22 min·Hwy 260
23
Continue on AZ 260
13 mi·17 min·Payson-Heber Highway
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on AZ 260
24 mi·30 min·Payson-Show Low Highway
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn left onto AZ 87
73 mi·1 hr 26 min·South Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
26
Turn right onto East McDowell Road
0.8 mi·1 min·East McDowell Road
27
Turn left onto North Alma School Road
0.7 mi·1 min·North Alma School Road
Use the left lane.
28
Turn right onto East McKellips Road
3.1 mi·4 min·East McKellips Road
29
Turn left onto North McClintock Drive
2.5 mi·4 min·North McClintock Drive
Use the left lane.
30
Turn right onto US 80 Hist
60 ft·1 sec·East Apache Boulevard
Use the right lane.
31
Arrive at destination
US 80 Hist
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour duration, starting early in the morning from Lukachukai is advisable to maximize daylight. You'll want to plan for two stops to stretch your legs and refuel; consider doing so before you hit the longer 81.4-mile stretch on Navajo Route 12. While the fuel cost is estimated at $59, it's always smart to have a little extra buffer, especially when driving through more remote areas. The mixed highway and surface road profile means paying attention to changing speed limits and road conditions as you progress towards Tempe.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 167.2 miles from Lukachukai, AZ, or about 3h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.4 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 74 miles or 1h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 167.2 miles or 3h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 53m
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 Lukachukai, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lukachukai, AZ
This is one driving day of about 334.5 miles and 7h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Lukachukai, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Navajo Route 12 for about 81.4 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 334.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.4 mi into trip|~4m in|N12 / Navajo Route 12
At end of road, turn left onto N12 / Navajo Route 12
Navigation decision point
5
157.4 mi into trip|~3h 22m in|AZ 77
Take the exit onto AZ 77 toward I 40 Business, AZ 77 South, AZ 377 South, US 180 East: Show Low, Heber
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 Business, AZ 77 South, AZ 377 South...
6
328.2 mi into trip|~6h 57m in|North Alma School Road
Turn left onto North Alma School Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
332 mi into trip|~7h 3m in|North McClintock Drive
Turn left onto North McClintock Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
334.5 mi into trip|~7h 8m in|US 80 Hist / East Apache Boulevard
Turn right onto US 80 Hist / East Apache Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$68.20 one way
$136.41 round trip
$5.18/gal25.4 MPG avg117 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.48
$72.22
$144.44
premium
$5.74
$75.53
$151.05
diesel
$6.18
$81.37
$162.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$68
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$93–$118
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 117 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
100.4
1
$35.12
$16.06
Efficient EV
83.6
0
$29.27
$13.38
EV Truck/SUV
133.8
1
$46.83
$21.41
Gas CO2
117 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Lukachukai, AZ
Late night
in Lukachukai on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 3 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tempe, AZ
Late night
in Tempe on Tuesday
Local time
3:00 AM
MST
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Clear
ENE 0 to 5 mph6% chanceLive 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
23 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
7h 8m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
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...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
$25
near mile 138.4
This canyon is home to Diné families who raise livestock, grow crops and live here. People have lived in these canyons for nearly 5,000 years, which is longer than anyone has lived continuously on the...
13 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 11.5
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
~57 min detour
$10
near mile 299.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features 31% highway driving, with the remaining portion on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 81.4 miles on Navajo Route 12. You'll notice a transition from more rural cruising on Navajo Route 12 to increased traffic and more frequent exits as you approach the Phoenix metropolitan area on the South Beeline Highway and Purple Heart Trail.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.4 mi on Navajo Route 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 2.4 miles in near N12 / Navajo Route 12.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 8m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 19 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (N12 / Navajo Route 12): Navigation decision point; at 157.4 miles (AZ 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 328.2 miles (North Alma School Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,414 ft1,181 ft
Total Climb
3,013 ft
Total Descent
8,377 ft
Highest Point
7,414 ft
~26.6 mi in
Elevation Range
6,234 ft
Notable High Points
7,414 ft at ~26.6 miles+314 ft prominence
7,409 ft at ~239.6 miles+1,238 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 Lukachukai, AZ to Tempe, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Heber along the way.
Tempe is a city of 180,587 (2020) in the Greater Phoenix area of Arizona, best known as the home of Arizona State University (ASU). Its younger, student-heavy population allows it to offer a vibrant nightlife that is relatively rare in Arizona.
Top landmarks
•Tempe Butte — mountain in United States of America
•Arizona State University Art Museum — art museum in Tempe, Arizona
•Gammage Memorial Auditorium — performing arts center in Tempe, Arizona
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 81.4 miles on Navajo Route 12. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (N12 / Navajo Route 12): Navigation decision point; at 157.4 miles (AZ 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 328.2 miles (North Alma School Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Petrified Forest National Park, Canyon de Chelly National Monument and Tonto National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tempe, AZ before the return drive.
