Origin
Tempe Junction, AZ
Night in Tempe Junction on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe Junction, AZ to Marana, 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 36m
Distance
87.6 mi
141 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 29m
★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Marana, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Tempe Junction, AZ to Marana, AZ is 87.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 36 minutes via Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Desert Southwest, primarily within Arizona, and covers a relatively short distance. Expect a local driving experience with frequent turns rather than a high-speed interstate journey. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, this is a budget-friendly trip perfect for a single day of travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.8 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 37.8 mi | 38m |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 36.3 mi | 36m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| West Broadway Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| North Sandario Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Hohokam Expressway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| South Roosevelt Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Moore Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
— 37.8 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe Junction, AZ and Marana, 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
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway Road
5
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto AZ 143
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Hohokam Expressway
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 10 East: East Tucson
8
Merge onto I 10
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
36 mi
·
36 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 236
Toward Marana Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto North Sandario Road
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Sandario Road
13
Enter roundabout onto North Sandario Road
126 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Sandario Road
14
Continue on North Sandario Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Sandario Road
15
At end of road, turn right onto West Moore Road
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
West Moore Road
16
Turn left onto North Whitney Lane
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Whitney Lane
17
Turn right onto West Swanson Street
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Swanson Street
18
Turn left onto North Steele Drive
214 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Steele Drive
19
Arrive at destination
North Steele Drive
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour 36 minutes, this trip is best suited for a single day. You have the flexibility to depart at any time, but consider leaving in the morning to avoid potential afternoon heat in the Desert Southwest. Since the longest continuous stretch is 37.8 miles, keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before heading out. The estimated fuel cost of $17 suggests a single fill-up should be more than sufficient for this journey. Plan for potential delays due to local traffic and the numerous turns involved.
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 43.8 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.8 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.8 miles or 49m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marana, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tempe Junction, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tempe Junction, AZ
This is one driving day of about 87.6 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway for about 37.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.8 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 85.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Turn left toward I 10 East: Tucson
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
5
4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: East Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 10 East: East Tucson
5
4.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 10 / Maricopa Freeway
Merge onto I 10 / Maricopa Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
85 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
Take the exit toward Marana Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 236
Toward Marana Road
5
85.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
|
North Sandario Road
Enter roundabout onto North Sandario Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.45 one way
$34.90 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $18.47 | $36.94 |
| premium | $5.59 | $19.28 | $38.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.34 | $38.68 |
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: 30.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.3 | 0 | $9.20 | $4.20 |
| Efficient EV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.66 | $3.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35 | 0 | $12.26 | $5.61 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Marana, AZ
Night in Marana on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
MST
Current temp
53°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
37 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 36m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 39.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll encounter numerous intersections and changes in direction. While only 9% of the drive is on highways, the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 37.8 miles on the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. You'll navigate through a mix of local roads and some highway portions, indicated by the use of the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, and Maricopa Freeway. Be prepared for varying speed limits and the need for constant attention to navigation.
Only 9% 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: 37.8 mi on Phoenix-Casa Grande 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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in.
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 87.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.2 miles (I 10 / 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 36m. Total distance: 87.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.8 miles on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. 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 Marana, 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 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.2 miles (I 10 / Maricopa Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins 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 Marana, 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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