The drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to LeChee, AZ covers 210.3 miles and takes about 3h 45m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Arizona Veterans Highway, Purple Heart Trail, Black Canyon Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly surface roads.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 90.6 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.76 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
105.2 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 207.9 — 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
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
5
151.5 mi into trip|~2h 41m in
Take the exit toward I 40 East, Albuquerque
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 East, Albuquerque
5
207.9 mi into trip|~3h 39m in|I 40 Bus; AZ 99; US 66 Hist
Take the exit onto I 40 Bus; AZ 99; US 66 Hist toward I 40 Business: Hipkoe Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 252
Toward I 40 Business: Hipkoe Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.76 one way
$81.52 round trip
$4.92/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.20
$43.07
$86.14
premium
$5.44
$45.02
$90.03
diesel
$5.60
$46.36
$92.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
EV Charging Along Route
1 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: sparse
Tempe Marketplace
Tempe, AZ
MERCEDES_BENZ
10 DCFC
MERCEDES_BENZ: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.1
0
$22.08
$10.09
Efficient EV
52.6
0
$18.40
$8.41
EV Truck/SUV
84.1
1
$29.44
$13.46
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Sep 7, 2026
Origin
Tempe Junction, AZ
Evening
in Tempe Junction on Monday
Local time
6:43 PM
MST
Current temp
106°F
Sunny
WNW 5 to 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued September 7 at 8:39AM PDT until September 10 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Phoenix AZ
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued September 7 at 8:39AM PDT until September 10 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Phoenix AZ
Destination
LeChee, AZ
Evening
in LeChee on Monday
Local time
6:43 PM
MST
Current temp
91°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 10 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued September 7 at 8:39AM PDT until September 10 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Phoenix AZ
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued September 7 at 8:39AM PDT until September 10 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Phoenix AZ
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
15 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
3h 45m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
National Monument
Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
$10
near mile 101.5
Caution: Visiting During Monsoon Season (July-September)
Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived and traveled throughout Walnut Canyon’s dynamic landscape. Vibrant communities built their homes in the cliffs and farmed along the canyon’s rim. T...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
$25
near mile 159.5
The lava flow lies on the land like a dream, a wonderland of rock. A thousand years ago the ground was torn open and lava erupted into the sky, forever changing the landscape and the lives of the peop...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
$25
near mile 159.5
Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs that well up from the ancient sedimentary ro...
15 mi from route
~36 min detour
$10
near mile 101.5
Nestled between the Painted Desert and ponderosa highlands of northern Arizona, Wupatki National Monument is an unlikely landscape for a thriving community. The early 1100's marked a time of cooler an...
25 mi from route
~61 min detour
$25
near mile 166.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
210.3 mi in 3h 45m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.6 mi on Arizona Veterans Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 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 Effort6/10
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 210.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 2.8 miles (I 10; US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles (US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,990 ft1,110 ft
Total Climb
7,068 ft
Total Descent
3,254 ft
Highest Point
6,990 ft
~150.2 mi in
Elevation Range
5,881 ft
Notable High Points
4,486 ft at ~90.1 miles+701 ft prominence
6,990 ft at ~150.2 miles+507 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to LeChee, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Albuquerque along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 45m. Total distance: 210.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.6 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 LeChee, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (South Roosevelt Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (I 10; US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles (US 60 / Maricopa Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Montezuma Castle National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at LeChee, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
