Traveling from Tempe to Camp Verde covers 102.2 miles, making for a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 54 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $20 for fuel to complete the drive. Navigating through the Desert Southwest, you will utilize the Black Canyon Freeway, Arizona Veterans Highway, and the Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway. It is a highly practical connection between the two areas, providing a consistent experience as you transition north.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.1 miles from Tempe, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Black Canyon Freeway
38.3 mi
41m
Arizona Veterans Highway
36.5 mi
36m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
8.9 mi
9m
Red Mountain Freeway
7.5 mi
8m
Papago Freeway
2.5 mi
2m
South Access Road
1.6 mi
2m
South McClintock Drive
1.4 mi
2m
West General Crook Trail
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Black Canyon Freeway
— 38.3 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe, AZ and Camp Verde, AZ.
1
Start on US 80 Hist
0.2 mi·24 sec·East Apache Boulevard
2
Turn right onto South Una Butte Avenue
321 ft·11 sec·South Una Butte Avenue
3
Turn right
22 ft·1 sec
4
Turn right onto South Butte Avenue
254 ft·10 sec·South Butte Avenue
5
Turn right onto East 12th Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·East 12th Street
6
Turn left onto South McClintock Drive
1.4 mi·2 min·South McClintock Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
8
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
7.5 mi·8 min·Red Mountain Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 WestUse the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 10
1.3 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
12
Continue on I 10
1.2 mi·1 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 143A-BToward I 17 South, I 17 North: FlagstaffUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 143AToward I 17 North: FlagstaffUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 17; US 60
38 mi·41 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 17
8.9 mi·9 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 17
13 mi·13 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 17
23 mi·23 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward General Crook Trail
20
Turn right onto South Access Road
1.6 mi·2 min·South Access Road
21
Turn right onto AZ 260
1.3 mi·2 min·West General Crook Trail
22
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·South Main Street
23
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best to avoid peak traffic. You won't need to plan for any formal stops along the 102.2-mile path, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Tempe to ensure you stay within your $20 budget. Given the highway-heavy nature of the route, stay alert during the 38.3-mile stretch on the Black Canyon Freeway where traffic flow can be consistent and fast. Aim to keep a steady pace, as the directness of the route allows for a predictable arrival time. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider leaving early in the morning to take full advantage of the daylight hours once you arrive in Camp Verde.
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 51.1 miles from Tempe, AZ, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.3 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 22 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.1 miles or 59m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Camp Verde, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tempe, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tempe, AZ
This is one driving day of about 102.2 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Tempe, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Black Canyon Freeway for about 38.3 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 14 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|South Una Butte Avenue
Turn right onto South Una Butte Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward AZ 202 Loop West
Navigation decision point
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
6
9.7 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 10 West
8
13.8 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Flagstaff
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 143A-B
Toward I 17 South, I 17 North: Flagstaff
8
14 mi into trip|~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 143A
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.36 one way
$40.72 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$21.55
$43.09
premium
$5.59
$22.50
$44.99
diesel
$5.61
$22.56
$45.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.7
0
$10.73
$4.91
Efficient EV
25.6
0
$8.94
$4.09
EV Truck/SUV
40.9
0
$14.31
$6.54
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 14, 2026
Origin
Tempe, AZ
Night
in Tempe on Saturday
Local time
9:17 PM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
W 0 to 10 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Camp Verde, AZ
Night
in Camp Verde on Saturday
Local time
9:17 PM
MST
Current temp
80°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
21 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 54m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving profile that combines fast-paced highway segments with changing terrain. With 47% of your travel occurring on highways, you will encounter a blend of steady cruising and more focused stretches. The longest uninterrupted portion of your journey spans 38.3 miles along the Black Canyon Freeway, which serves as the primary backbone of the trip. As you progress from the desert landscape toward Camp Verde, the road transitions through different elevations and road types, keeping the experience varied. You will find that the shift from the Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway into the later stages of the drive keeps the pace engaging without feeling like a monotonous grind.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.3 mi on Black Canyon Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.2 miles in near South Una Butte Avenue.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 102.2 miles you will encounter 17 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: at 0.2 miles (South Una Butte Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.7 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 1h 54m. Total distance: 102.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.3 miles on Black Canyon Freeway. 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 Camp Verde, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.2 miles (South Una Butte Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Camp Verde, AZ before heading back.
