This 146.8-mile drive from Mountainaire to Tempe Junction, Arizona, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 39 minutes. You'll navigate primarily on the Arizona Veterans Highway, Black Canyon Freeway, and Maricopa Freeway. With a projected fuel cost of around $29, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Desert Southwest region. The drive is designed for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. Consider this a practical option for a quick transit within Arizona.
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
73.4 miles from Mountainaire, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Mountainaire, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ.
1
Start on North Shoshone Street
119 ft·10 sec·North Shoshone Street
2
Turn left onto West Osage
352 ft·17 sec·West Osage
3
Turn right onto Tonowanda
0.2 mi·24 sec·Tonowanda
4
Continue on Mountainaire Road
1.5 mi·3 min·Mountainaire Road
5
Continue on Kachina Boulevard
411 ft·17 sec·Kachina Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·57 sec
7
Merge onto I 17
87 mi·1 hr 27 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
8
Continue on I 17
5.8 mi·5 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 17
10 mi·10 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on I 17
3.2 mi·3 min·North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 17
28 mi·32 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 17; US 60
7.1 mi·8 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 153Toward AZ 143: 48th Street, Broadway RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
501 ft·12 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on Maricopa Freeway
0.1 mi·16 sec·Maricopa Freeway
17
Turn left onto East Broadway Road
1.6 mi·3 min·East Broadway Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Roosevelt Street
Use the left lane.
19
At end of road, turn right onto West 13th Street
0.3 mi·47 sec·West 13th Street
20
Arrive at destination
West 13th Street
Trip Plan
Given its 2-hour and 39-minute duration, this drive is well-suited for a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to take advantage of lighter traffic, especially as you approach Tempe Junction. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your pace. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch on the Arizona Veterans Highway is 87 miles. Planning your fuel stop before this longer segment will ensure a smooth continuation of your journey.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.4 miles from Mountainaire, AZ, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87 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 32 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.4 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 5m
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 Mountainaire, 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 Mountainaire, AZ
This is one driving day of about 146.8 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Mountainaire, 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 Arizona Veterans Highway for about 87 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 146.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Osage
Turn left onto West Osage
Navigation decision point
8
143.9 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Take the exit toward AZ 143: 48th Street, Broadway 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 153
Toward AZ 143: 48th Street, Broadway Road
7
144.1 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
144.3 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
146.1 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|South Roosevelt Street
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.24 one way
$58.49 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$30.95
$61.90
premium
$5.59
$32.31
$64.63
diesel
$5.61
$32.41
$64.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44
0
$15.41
$7.05
Efficient EV
36.7
0
$12.85
$5.87
EV Truck/SUV
58.7
0
$20.55
$9.40
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Mountainaire, AZ
Night
in Mountainaire on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
MST
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tempe Junction, AZ
Night
in Tempe Junction on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
MST
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Clear
S 0 to 5 mph0% 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 39m 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.
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...
Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived and traveled throughout Walnut Canyon’s dynamic landscape. Vibrant communities built their homes in the cliffs and farmed along the canyon’s rim. T...
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...
15 mi from route
~36 min detour
$10
near mile 45.6
The lava flow lies on the land like a dream, a wonderland of rock. A thousand years ago the ground was torn open and lava erupted into the sky, forever changing the landscape and the lives of the peop...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with 31% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 87 miles along the Arizona Veterans Highway. This segment likely offers a consistent pace, allowing you to settle into a rhythm. As you transition to the Black Canyon Freeway and Maricopa Freeway, the character of the drive may shift, potentially incorporating more traffic or urban elements as you approach your destination.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87 mi on Arizona Veterans Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Osage.
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 146.8 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (West Osage): Navigation decision point; at 143.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 39m. Total distance: 146.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). 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 87 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 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: near the start (West Osage): Navigation decision point; at 143.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Montezuma Castle National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument and Tuzigoot National Monument (4 total within detour distance). 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 Junction, AZ before heading back.
