Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Lukachukai, 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

7h 11m

Distance

336.2 mi

541 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$67

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
7h 0m ★
6 AM
7h 11m
8 AM
7h 33m
10 AM
7h 19m
12 PM
7h 17m
3 PM
7h 20m
5 PM
7h 32m
8 PM
7h 5m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Lukachukai, AZ, AZ

Lukachukai, AZ

András Nyemczovszky

Downtown Tempe Junction, AZ, AZ

Tempe Junction, AZ

Abhishek Navlakha

Trip Overview

This 368.6-mile drive from Lukachukai, AZ, to Tempe Junction, AZ, is estimated to take around 6 hours and 11 minutes, making it a feasible day trip. You'll primarily navigate on Routes 133, 13, and 12, with no significant highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is $73. This route offers a turn-heavy local drive experience through the Desert Southwest region of Arizona. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your pace accordingly, but keep in mind the duration might feel long for some as a single-day endeavor.

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

168.1 miles from Lukachukai, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 37m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Navajo Route 12 81.4 mi 2h 2m
South Beeline Highway 73.1 mi 1h 26m
Purple Heart Trail 69.9 mi 1h 9m
Heber Road 30.9 mi 36m
Payson-Show Low Highway 24.2 mi 30m
Hwy 260 15.9 mi 22m
Payson-Heber Highway 12.7 mi 17m
West 3rd Street North 4.9 mi 6m
Longest stretch: Navajo Route 12 — 81.4 mi, about 2h 2m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lukachukai, AZ and Tempe Junction, 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

Continue on AZ 87

0.5 mi · 47 sec · North Country Club Drive
27

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
28

Merge onto AZ 202 Loop

4.8 mi · 5 min · Red Mountain Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Exit 7 Toward Scottsdale Road, Rural Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30

Keep slight left at fork

400 ft · 11 sec
Toward Arizona State University-Tempe Use the left lane.
31

Turn slight left onto North Scottsdale Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Scottsdale Road
32

Continue on South Rural Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Rural Road
Use the left lane.
33

Turn right onto US 80 Hist

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Apache Boulevard
34

Turn left onto East 13th Street

0.3 mi · 58 sec · East 13th Street
Use the left lane.
35

Arrive at destination

West 13th Street

Trip Plan

Given the 6-hour, 11-minute duration, starting your journey from Lukachukai, AZ, early in the morning is advisable to ensure a comfortable arrival in Tempe Junction, AZ, before evening. You'll want to account for fuel, with an estimated cost of $73 for the 368.6 miles. Since this is a turn-heavy local drive with no highway share, be mindful of your navigation and keep an eye on your fuel levels, as services may be more spaced out than on major interstates. Plan for one stop to break up the drive and stretch your legs.

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 168.1 miles from Lukachukai, AZ, or about 3h 37m 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 168.1 miles or 3h 37m 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 55m

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 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 336.2 miles and 7h 11m.

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.

town in Gila County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Payson, AZ

168 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

Window Rock, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 74 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Holbrook, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 168.1 miles from Lukachukai, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Navajo Route 12 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 81.4 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Tempe Festival of the Arts

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 336.2

Tempe, Arizona

+14803556060

Visit website

Tempe Town Lake

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 336.2

Tempe, Arizona

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 336.2

Tempe, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+14805657081

Visit website

Desert Dog Offroad Adventures

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 312.2

Fountain Hills, Arizona

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+14808373966

Visit website

Amusement Park Rides RandRrides(Phoenix Park & Swap)

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 336.2

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: Closed

+14809958653

Visit website

Riverview Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 336.2

Mesa, Arizona

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+14806442352

Visit website

Tyrannostorus

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 336.2

Mesa, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–6 pm

+14805974467

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 333.7 — 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...
5
328.2 mi into trip | ~6h 57m in

Take the exit toward AZ 202 Loop West

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward AZ 202 Loop West
8
333.3 mi into trip | ~7h 4m in

Take the exit toward Scottsdale Road, Rural Road

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 7 Toward Scottsdale Road, Rural Road
7
333.7 mi into trip | ~7h 5m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Arizona State University-Tempe

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward Arizona State University-Tempe

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$66.98 one way

$133.95 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 118 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $70.88 $141.76
premium $5.59 $74.00 $148.01
diesel $5.61 $74.23 $148.46

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$67

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$92–$117

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 117.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 100.9 1 $35.30 $16.14
Efficient EV 84.1 0 $29.42 $13.45
EV Truck/SUV 134.5 1 $47.07 $21.52

Gas CO2

118 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Lukachukai, AZ

Evening in Lukachukai on Saturday

Local time

7:14 PM

MDT

Current temp

39°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tempe Junction, AZ

Evening in Tempe Junction on Saturday

Local time

6:14 PM

MST

Current temp

90°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

44°F

Payson, AZ

168 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

1 hour earlier

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

51 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 11m 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

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 ~12 min detour $25 near mile 139.1
View on nps.gov
Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Canyon de Chelly National Monument

National Monument

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 11.6
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...

22 mi from route ~56 min detour $10 near mile 301.4
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

Prepare for a road with a "turn-heavy local drive" profile, meaning you'll encounter frequent changes in direction rather than long, straight stretches. The highway share is 0%, so expect a consistent local road experience throughout the entire 368.6 miles. While there isn't a specified longest uninterrupted stretch, the nature of this route suggests you'll be actively steering and navigating for much of the journey. The road character likely remains consistent, focusing on local connections rather than high-speed transit.

32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
35 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?

7/10

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 2.4 miles in near N12 / Navajo Route 12.

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 20 significant decision points across 336.2 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 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: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

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 Junction, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Heber along the way.

Heber

157.4 mi in | ~3h 22m | via AZ 77

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 11m. Total distance: 336.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 11m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

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.

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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

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: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

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 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tempe Junction, AZ before the return drive.

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

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Tempe Junction, AZ

Bullhead City, AZ 232.1 mi · 4h 48m Clifton, AZ 199.3 mi · 4h 23m Tombstone, AZ 178.5 mi · 3h 21m Swift Trail Junction, AZ 163.9 mi · 3h 39m

More trips to Tempe Junction, AZ

Tuba City, AZ 230.9 mi Kingman, AZ 199.6 mi Tombstone, AZ 177.8 mi Swift Trail Junction, AZ 163.8 mi Ehrenberg, AZ 155.1 mi Whetstone, AZ 151.4 mi
Escape planner: Lukachukai, AZ Scenic drives in AZ

Explore more options from Lukachukai, AZ or browse trips ending in Tempe Junction, AZ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.