Sells, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ is 127.5 miles and takes about 2h 42m via Indian Route 15, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, and West Tucson-Ajo Highway, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward drive. With a relatively short duration and manageable distance, it’s a practical choice for a single-day trip. You’ll find the costs predictable, making it easy to budget for. Consider this trip if you need to get between these two points efficiently.
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
63.7 miles from Sells, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Indian Route 15
46.8 mi
1h 4m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
37.5 mi
37m
West Tucson-Ajo Highway
21.2 mi
24m
Maricopa Freeway
5.8 mi
6m
South Chuichu Road
5.4 mi
8m
Phoenix Bypass Route
3 mi
3m
South Priest Drive
2 mi
4m
West Hanna Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Indian Route 15
— 46.8 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sells, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ.
1
Start on this road
19 ft·0 sec·this road
2
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·34 sec·this road
3
Turn right
0.1 mi·34 sec
4
Turn left onto Main Road
0.2 mi·45 sec·Main Road
5
Continue on BIA 19
0.6 mi·1 min·San Miguel Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto AZ 86
21 mi·24 min·West Tucson-Ajo Highway
7
Turn right onto BIA 15
47 mi·1 hr 4 min·Indian Route 15
8
Continue on BIA 15
5.4 mi·8 min·South Chuichu Road
9
Turn right onto West Hanna Street
1.0 mi·1 min·West Hanna Street
10
Turn left onto South Trekell Road
0.4 mi·47 sec·South Trekell Road
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 8 East: Tucson
12
Merge onto I 8
3.0 mi·3 min·Phoenix Bypass Route
13
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 178BToward I 10 West: Phoenix
14
Merge onto I 10
37 mi·37 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 10
5.8 mi·6 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 155Toward Baseline RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto West Baseline Road
0.2 mi·34 sec·West Baseline Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto South Priest Drive
2.0 mi·4 min·South Priest Drive
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto West Broadway Road
0.7 mi·1 min·West Broadway Road
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Roosevelt Street
Use the left lane.
21
At end of road, turn right onto West 13th Street
0.3 mi·47 sec·West 13th Street
22
Arrive at destination
West 13th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a single-day trip covering 127.5 miles and taking under 3 hours, you have flexibility with your departure time. Aim to leave in the morning to make the most of daylight, especially considering the 46.8-mile stretch on Indian Route 15. Fuel costs are estimated at $25, so ensure your tank is full before you depart Sells, as services can be spread out in this region. There's one recommended stop, so plan your breaks accordingly to stay comfortable during the drive.
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 63.7 miles from Sells, AZ, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.8 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 28 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.7 miles or 1h 24m 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 13m
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 Sells, 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 Sells, AZ
This is one driving day of about 127.5 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Sells, 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 Indian Route 15 for about 46.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 79.2 and 126.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
79.2 mi into trip|~1h 46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 178B
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
7
123.4 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Take the exit toward Baseline Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 155
Toward Baseline Road
6
123.9 mi into trip|~2h 35m in|South Priest Drive
Turn left onto South Priest Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
126 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|West Broadway Road
Turn right onto West Broadway Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
126.7 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|South Roosevelt Street
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.40 one way
$50.80 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$26.88
$53.76
premium
$5.59
$28.07
$56.13
diesel
$5.61
$28.15
$56.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.3
0
$13.39
$6.12
Efficient EV
31.9
0
$11.16
$5.10
EV Truck/SUV
51
0
$17.85
$8.16
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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 21, 2026
Origin
Sells, AZ
Late night
in Sells on Tuesday
Local time
3:50 AM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tempe Junction, AZ
Late night
in Tempe Junction on Tuesday
Local time
3:50 AM
MST
Current temp
62°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
23 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 42m 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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 87.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is about 41% highway, meaning you’ll spend a good portion of the drive on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch without a major road change is 46.8 miles on Indian Route 15. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving as you transition between main routes. The profile is listed as 'Mixed highway & surface,' so be prepared for varying speed limits and road conditions.
41% 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: 46.8 mi on Indian Route 15.
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 79.2 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 127.5 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 79.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 123.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 123.9 miles (South Priest Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 127.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). 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 46.8 miles on Indian Route 15. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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 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. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 79.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 123.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 123.9 miles (South Priest Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins 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 Junction, AZ before heading back.
