Spanning 147.7 miles, this route from Pima to Tempe Junction takes approximately 3 hours and 11 minutes to complete. Because the duration is relatively short, you can easily manage this as a one-day trip without needing an overnight stay. You will traverse the Desert Southwest, navigating a path that relies heavily on West Center Street, the Phoenix–Globe Highway, and the Superstition Freeway. Budgeting around $29 for fuel should cover your travel costs for the journey. It is a straightforward trek that works well if you are looking to move efficiently between these two Arizona points.
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
73.9 miles from Pima, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West Center Street
66.3 mi
1h 21m
Phoenix–Globe Highway
42.9 mi
55m
Superstition Freeway
25.5 mi
29m
US 60
4 mi
7m
East Ash Street
2.3 mi
4m
South Mill Avenue
2 mi
4m
West Live Oak Street
1.9 mi
3m
North Broad Street
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
West Center Street
— 66.3 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pima, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ.
1
Start on this road
190 ft·16 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto US 70
66 mi·1 hr 21 min·West Center Street
3
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
2.3 mi·4 min·East Ash Street
4
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·South Hill Street
5
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·11 sec·East Oak Street
6
Turn right onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·North Broad Street
7
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
8
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
9
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·West Live Oak Street
10
Continue on US 60
43 mi·55 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
25 mi·29 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 173Toward Mill AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto South Mill Avenue
2.0 mi·4 min·South Mill Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto West 13th Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·West 13th Street
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
West 13th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a 3-hour and 11-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time. You should aim to incorporate at least one stop to break up the 147.7-mile distance and keep your focus sharp. Given the high percentage of local roads, keep an eye on your speed and traffic flow as you navigate the turn-heavy sections. Fuel up before you depart Pima, as that $29 estimate is based on the full trip distance. Taking a break during that 66.3-mile stretch on West Center Street is a smart way to manage fatigue before hitting the busier freeway portions.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.9 miles from Pima, AZ, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.3 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 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.9 miles or 1h 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 2h 38m
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 Pima, 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 Pima, AZ
This is one driving day of about 147.7 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Pima, 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 West Center Street for about 66.3 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 147.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 70 / West Center Street
Turn right onto US 70 / West Center Street
Navigation decision point
4
69 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|East Oak Street
Turn left onto East Oak Street
Navigation decision point
7
145.2 mi into trip|~3h 6m in
Take the exit toward Mill Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 173
Toward Mill Avenue
5
145.6 mi into trip|~3h 7m in|South Mill Avenue
Turn right onto South Mill Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
147.5 mi into trip|~3h 11m in|West 13th Street
Turn left onto West 13th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.42 one way
$58.85 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$31.14
$62.28
premium
$5.59
$32.51
$65.02
diesel
$5.61
$32.61
$65.22
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: 51.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.3
0
$15.51
$7.09
Efficient EV
36.9
0
$12.92
$5.91
EV Truck/SUV
59.1
0
$20.68
$9.45
Gas CO2
52 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 20, 2026
Origin
Pima, AZ
Late night
in Pima on Tuesday
Local time
2:14 AM
MST
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tempe Junction, AZ
Late night
in Tempe Junction on Tuesday
Local time
2:14 AM
MST
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Miami, AZ
74 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
20 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
3h 11m 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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 107
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
~54 min detour
$10
near mile 81.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Only 20% of your travel occurs on major highways, meaning you will spend the majority of your time on local roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is a 66.3-mile stretch on West Center Street, which sets the pace for much of the trip. As you transition from the local segments onto the Superstition Freeway, the rhythm of the drive shifts noticeably. Be prepared for a varied experience that balances technical maneuvering with standard highway driving.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.3 mi on West Center Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 70 / West Center Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Pima, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ is easy. At 3h 11m with 20% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 70 / West Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 69 miles (East Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 145.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 11m. Total distance: 147.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.3 miles on West Center Street. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 70 / West Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 69 miles (East Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 145.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Tonto National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Tempe Junction, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
