Tempe to Star Valley is 84 miles and takes about 1 hour 44 minutes via Beeline Highway, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, transitioning from a more urbanized start to a more rural feel. It’s a straightforward drive, ideal for a quick getaway or a practical way to reach your destination without a significant time commitment. You'll find the majority of the route on well-maintained roads, making it an easy addition to your travel plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42 miles from Tempe, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Beeline Highway
68.4 mi
1h 20m
North Beeline Highway
4.2 mi
4m
AZ 260
3.9 mi
6m
East McDowell Road
2.6 mi
4m
Pima Freeway
1.7 mi
1m
East Apache Boulevard
1.4 mi
3m
South Price Road
1 mi
1m
Payson-Show Low Highway
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Beeline Highway
— 68.4 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe, AZ and Star Valley, AZ.
1
Start on US 80 Hist
0.2 mi·27 sec·East Apache Boulevard
2
Continue on US 80 Hist
1.3 mi·2 min·East Apache Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto South Price Road
1.0 mi·1 min·South Price Road
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·50 sec·this road
Toward AZ 101 Loop NorthUse the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
1.7 mi·1 min·Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 49Toward McDowell RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right onto East McDowell Road
2.6 mi·4 min·East McDowell Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto AZ 87
4.2 mi·4 min·North Beeline Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Continue on AZ 87
68 mi·1 hr 20 min·Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto AZ 260
3.9 mi·6 min·AZ 260
11
Arrive at destination
AZ 260
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 44 minute duration, this route is easily completed in a single day, so you can leave Tempe anytime that suits your schedule. With only 84 miles, you have the flexibility to make spontaneous stops if needed, though the data suggests no specific points of interest. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $17, and it’s always wise to fill up before heading out, especially as you move further from major urban centers. The longest stretch is 68.4 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with that duration on Beeline Highway before departing.
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 miles from Tempe, AZ, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.4 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42 miles or 53m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Star Valley, 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 84 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Tempe, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Beeline Highway for about 68.4 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 1.4 and 7.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in|South Price Road
Turn left onto South Price Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.8 mi into trip|~5m in|AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
4.5 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward McDowell Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49
Toward McDowell Road
5
5 mi into trip|~8m in|East McDowell Road
Turn right onto East McDowell Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
7.5 mi into trip|~12m in|AZ 87 / North Beeline Highway
Turn left onto AZ 87 / North Beeline Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.73 one way
$33.47 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$17.71
$35.42
premium
$5.59
$18.49
$36.98
diesel
$5.61
$18.55
$37.09
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: 29.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.2
0
$8.82
$4.03
Efficient EV
21
0
$7.35
$3.36
EV Truck/SUV
33.6
0
$11.76
$5.38
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Tempe, AZ
Late night
in Tempe on Tuesday
Local time
5:14 AM
MST
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Star Valley, AZ
Late night
in Star Valley on Tuesday
Local time
5:14 AM
MST
Current temp
66°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
18 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
1h 44m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly on surface roads, with only about 7% of the total mileage on the highway. You'll encounter the longest stretch without significant breaks on Beeline Highway for 68.4 miles. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface road driving at some point along AZ 260. The route’s profile suggests a less highway-intensive experience, so plan for more local road navigation.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.4 mi on Beeline Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 1.4 miles in near South Price Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 44m 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 1.4 miles (South Price Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 68.4 miles on Beeline Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 1.4 miles (South Price Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 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 Star Valley, AZ before heading back.
