Origin
Star Valley, AZ
Afternoon in Star Valley on Sunday
Local time
2:50 PM
MST
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Star Valley, 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
1h 47m
Distance
85.4 mi
137 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 40m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 3m
8 PM
1h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Star Valley, AZ
Krishna Mantripragada
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
Star Valley, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ is 85.4 miles and takes about 1h 47m via South Beeline Highway, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays within the Desert Southwest region, traversing Arizona for its entirety. Expect a local driving experience, characterized by frequent turns and a blend of highway and surface roads. This route is ideal for a straightforward journey, especially if you're looking for a relatively short drive with minimal planning required.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.7 miles from Star Valley, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Beeline Highway | 73.1 mi | 1h 26m |
| Red Mountain Freeway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Payson-Show Low Highway | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| South Rural Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| East Apache Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Scottsdale Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Country Club Drive | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East 13th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Beeline Highway
— 73.1 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Star Valley, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ.
1
Start on AZ 260
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Payson-Show Low Highway
2
Turn left onto AZ 87
73 mi
·
1 hr 26 min
·
South Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on AZ 87
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
North Country Club Drive
4
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
5
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Red Mountain Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 7
Toward Scottsdale Road, Rural Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
400 ft
·
11 sec
Toward Arizona State University-Tempe
Use the left lane.
8
Turn slight left onto North Scottsdale Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Scottsdale Road
9
Continue on South Rural Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Rural Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto US 80 Hist
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Apache Boulevard
11
Turn left onto East 13th Street
0.3 mi
·
58 sec
·
East 13th Street
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
West 13th Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 47 minutes, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart anytime without feeling rushed, but an early start is always a good idea to maximize daylight. While there are no specific stops noted, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you near the 73.1-mile mark on South Beeline Highway, to ensure you have enough to reach Tempe Junction. The $17 fuel cost estimate suggests this is an economical drive, so budget accordingly and enjoy the straightforward 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.7 miles from Star Valley, AZ, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.1 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.7 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
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 Star Valley, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Star Valley, AZ
This is one driving day of about 85.4 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Star Valley, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Beeline Highway for about 73.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.7 miles from Star Valley, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South Beeline Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 77.4 and 85.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
77.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward AZ 202 Loop West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
5
77.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
|
AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
82.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m 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
82.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m 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
5
85.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
East 13th Street
Turn left onto East 13th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.01 one way
$34.03 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $18.00 | $36.01 |
| premium | $5.59 | $18.80 | $37.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.86 | $37.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.97 | $4.10 |
| Efficient EV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.47 | $3.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.2 | 0 | $11.96 | $5.47 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Tempe Junction, AZ
Afternoon in Tempe Junction on Sunday
Local time
2:50 PM
MST
Current temp
89°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
48 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
1h 47m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is best described as a turn-heavy local experience, with a highway share of about 6%. You'll encounter a mix of South Beeline Highway, Red Mountain Freeway, and Payson-Show Low Highway, each contributing to the varied feel of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll cover is 73.1 miles on South Beeline Highway, offering a period of more consistent travel before you navigate more local roads. Be prepared for a dynamic route that requires attention to navigation as you transition between different road types.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.1 mi on South Beeline Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 77.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 47m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 77.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 77.8 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 85.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.1 miles on South Beeline Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 77.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 77.8 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tempe Junction, AZ before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Tempe Junction, AZ
More from Star Valley, AZ
More trips to Tempe Junction, AZ
Explore more options from Star Valley, AZ or browse trips ending in Tempe Junction, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.