Origin
Tempe Junction, AZ
Late night in Tempe Junction on Sunday
Local time
3:12 AM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe Junction, AZ to Cordes Lakes, 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 29m
Distance
76.1 mi
122 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Cordes Lakes, AZ
Emilio Sánchez Hernández
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Tempe Junction to Cordes Lakes, you are looking at a manageable 76.1-mile journey. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 29 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a straightforward day trip. You will primarily navigate via the Black Canyon Freeway, the Arizona Veterans Highway, and the Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway. Budgeting approximately $15 for fuel should cover your travel costs comfortably. Since the entire route stays within the Desert Southwest, you won't experience drastic shifts in climate or regional character. It is an efficient, highway-focused drive that requires no overnight stops, allowing you to reach your destination with ease.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Black Canyon Freeway | 41.3 mi | 45m |
| Arizona Veterans Highway | 13.4 mi | 13m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 8.9 mi | 9m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| West Broadway Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Stagecoach Trail | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| South Roosevelt Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Black Mountain Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Black Canyon Freeway
— 41.3 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe Junction, AZ and Cordes Lakes, AZ.
1
Start on West 13th Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
West 13th Street
2
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Roosevelt Street
3
Turn right onto West Broadway Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Broadway Road
4
Continue on West Broadway Road
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
West Broadway Road
5
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
6
Merge onto I 10; US 60
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 17; US 60
41 mi
·
45 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 17
8.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 17
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto AZ 69
0.3 mi
·
16 sec
·
AZ 69
Toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, Prescott
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward Cordes Lakes Rd
13
Enter roundabout onto Cordes Lakes Road
1 ft
·
0 sec
·
Cordes Lakes Road
14
Continue on Cordes Lakes Road
366 ft
·
12 sec
·
Cordes Lakes Road
15
Turn right onto Stagecoach Trail
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Stagecoach Trail
16
Turn right onto South Black Mountain Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Black Mountain Road
17
Turn left onto East Ash Creek Road
137 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Ash Creek Road
18
Arrive at destination
East Ash Creek Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 73.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Roosevelt Street
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
West Broadway Road
Turn right onto West Broadway Road
Navigation decision point
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 10; US 60 / Maricopa Freeway
Merge onto I 10; US 60 / Maricopa Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
5.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 60 / Maricopa Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60 / Maricopa Freeway toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
6
73.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
AZ 69
Keep slight right at fork onto AZ 69 toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, Prescott
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AZ 69 North: Cordes Lakes Rd, Prescott
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.16 one way
$30.32 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $16.04 | $32.09 |
| premium | $5.59 | $16.75 | $33.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.80 | $33.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$15
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.99 | $3.65 |
| Efficient EV | 19 | 0 | $6.66 | $3.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.4 | 0 | $10.65 | $4.87 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Cordes Lakes, AZ
Late night in Cordes Lakes on Sunday
Local time
3:12 AM
MST
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
9 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 29m 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 trip is defined by its reliance on major transit corridors, with 64% of the total distance spent on highways. You will settle into a steady rhythm on the Black Canyon Freeway, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch at 41.3 miles. Because the route is strictly highway-focused, you can anticipate a consistent, fast-paced driving experience rather than a winding backroad adventure. As you transition between the various segments of the Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway and the Arizona Veterans Highway, the road maintains a predictable, high-speed character. Prepare for a functional, direct drive that prioritizes speed and efficiency over technical maneuvering.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.3 mi on Black Canyon Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Black Canyon Freeway and Arizona Veterans Highway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near South Roosevelt Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.3 miles (South Roosevelt Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (West Broadway Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (I 10; US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 76.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.3 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 Cordes Lakes, 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 0.3 miles (South Roosevelt Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (West Broadway Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (I 10; US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Montezuma Castle 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 Cordes Lakes, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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