Origin
Tempe, AZ
Late night in Tempe on Tuesday
Local time
1:07 AM
MST
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe, AZ to Salome, AZ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 21m
Distance
128.7 mi
207 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 12m
★
6 AM
2h 22m
8 AM
2h 41m
10 AM
2h 29m
12 PM
2h 27m
3 PM
2h 30m
5 PM
2h 40m
8 PM
2h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Salome, AZ
cottonbro studio
Trip Overview
This 128.7-mile drive from Tempe, AZ to Salome, AZ is easily managed as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 21 minutes. You'll navigate primarily local roads, including South Una Butte Avenue, South Butte Avenue, and East 12th Street, with no highway driving to speak of. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $26. Given the relatively short duration and turn-heavy nature, it's a straightforward excursion perfect for a relaxed day trip within the Desert Southwest region. This route offers a practical way to traverse the landscape without the demands of extended highway travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
64.3 miles from Tempe, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 79.6 mi | 1h 20m |
| Papago Freeway | 21 mi | 24m |
| Quartzsite–Wickenburg Highway | 10.3 mi | 12m |
| Red Mountain Freeway | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| Vicksburg Road | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| South McClintock Drive | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Avenue A | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 79.6 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe, AZ and Salome, 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 West
Use 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
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 10
80 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward Vicksburg Road
15
Turn right onto Vicksburg Road
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Vicksburg Road
16
Enter roundabout onto US 60
5 ft
·
0 sec
·
Quartzsite–Wickenburg Highway
17
Continue on US 60
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Quartzsite–Wickenburg Highway
18
Continue on US 60
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Avenue A
19
Arrive at destination
US 60
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just over two hours, this trip from Tempe to Salome offers plenty of flexibility. It's best to depart in the morning to maximize your time at your destination or for the return journey. Since there are no designated stops listed and the drive is relatively short, you can decide on rest breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you move away from larger towns; the estimated $26 fuel cost is a good guideline. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to posted speed limits and local road signage, as the frequent turns require constant awareness.
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 64.3 miles from Tempe, AZ, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.6 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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.3 miles or 1h 12m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salome, 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.
+
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 Tempe, AZ
This is one driving day of about 128.7 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Tempe, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 79.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.3 miles from Tempe, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.6 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 10.7 — 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
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~5m 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.
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
5
10.7 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
I 10 / Papago Freeway
Merge onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.64 one way
$51.28 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $27.13 | $54.27 |
| premium | $5.59 | $28.33 | $56.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.42 | $56.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.6 | 0 | $13.51 | $6.18 |
| Efficient EV | 32.2 | 0 | $11.26 | $5.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.5 | 0 | $18.02 | $8.24 |
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.
Destination
Salome, AZ
Late night in Salome on Tuesday
Local time
1:07 AM
MST
Current temp
77°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
7 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 21m 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the entirety of this 128.7-mile journey, with a 0% highway share. This means you'll be frequently adjusting your course on local streets and roads, rather than cruising on high-speed interstates. The profile suggests a consistent experience without long, uninterrupted stretches of driving. The character of the road remains focused on navigating through the local terrain, making it a more engaged driving experience than a typical highway run. You'll be actively steering and observing your surroundings more often.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.6 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial 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 0.2 miles in near South Una Butte Avenue.
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 2h 21m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 2.2 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Tempe, AZ
Full guide →Tempe is a city of 180,587 (2020) in the Greater Phoenix area of Arizona, best known as the home of Arizona State University (ASU). Its younger, student-heavy population allows it to offer a vibrant nightlife that is relatively rare in Arizona.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 21m. Total distance: 128.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (22%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.6 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 0.2 miles (South Una Butte Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Salome, 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.
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