Salt River Canyon Rest Area
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Trip from Tempe Junction, AZ to Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 45m
Distance
175 mi
282 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 33m
★
6 AM
3h 46m
8 AM
4h 11m
10 AM
3h 55m
12 PM
3h 52m
3 PM
3h 56m
5 PM
4h 10m
8 PM
3h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Tempe Junction to Pinetop-Lakeside is 175 miles and takes about 3 hours 45 minutes via Globe-Show Low Highway, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip moves you from the Desert Southwest region of Arizona to another part of the same arid landscape. Expect mostly surface roads for this drive, which is a good option for a single-day excursion. The route is straightforward, making it a practical choice if you're looking for a direct path to your destination without extensive highway time.
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
87.5 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Globe-Show Low Highway | 83.5 mi | 1h 35m |
| Phoenix–Globe Highway | 43 mi | 55m |
| Superstition Freeway | 25.3 mi | 29m |
| West White Mountain Boulevard | 5.7 mi | 10m |
| US 60 | 4 mi | 7m |
| South White Mountain Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| South Mill Avenue | 2 mi | 4m |
| North Broad Street | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Globe-Show Low Highway
— 83.5 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe Junction, AZ and Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ.
1
Start on West 13th Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
West 13th Street
2
Turn right onto South Mill Avenue
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
South Mill Avenue
3
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Toward US 60 East: Mesa
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto US 60
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
43 mi
·
55 min
·
Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Live Oak Street
7
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
US 60
8
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
9
Turn left onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broad Street
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Oak Street
11
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Hill Street
12
Turn left onto US 60
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Ash Street
13
Turn left onto US 60; AZ 77
83 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
Globe-Show Low Highway
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on US 60; AZ 77
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Deuce of Clubs
15
Turn right onto West Whipple Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Whipple Street
16
Turn right onto South Central Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Central Avenue
17
Continue on East Woolford
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
East Woolford
18
Turn right onto AZ 260
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South White Mountain Road
19
Continue on AZ 260
5.7 mi
·
10 min
·
West White Mountain Boulevard
20
Turn right onto West Summer Haven Lane
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
West Summer Haven Lane
21
Continue on West Summer Haven Lane
478 ft
·
20 sec
·
West Summer Haven Lane
22
Arrive at destination
West Summer Haven Lane
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour 45 minute duration, leaving Tempe Junction in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance, this trip is easily done in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially since the longest stretch is 83.5 miles on the Globe-Show Low Highway, and plan your refueling accordingly. The $34 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting your trip, so ensure you have enough to cover it before you depart.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 87.5 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.5 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 39 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.5 miles or 1h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pinetop-Lakeside, 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.
+
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 Junction, AZ
This is one driving day of about 175 miles and 3h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Globe-Show Low Highway for about 83.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
88 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 87.5 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Globe-Show Low Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 80.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Turn left toward US 60 East: Mesa
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 60 East: Mesa
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge onto US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
78.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
|
North Broad Street
Turn left onto North Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
78.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
|
East Oak Street
Turn left onto East Oak Street
Navigation decision point
5
80.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
|
US 60; AZ 77 / Globe-Show Low Highway
Turn left onto US 60; AZ 77 / Globe-Show Low Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.92 one way
$67.84 round trip
$4.92/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.20 | $35.84 | $71.68 |
| premium | $5.44 | $37.46 | $74.92 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $38.58 | $77.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.5 | 0 | $18.38 | $8.40 |
| Efficient EV | 43.8 | 0 | $15.31 | $7.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70 | 0 | $24.50 | $11.20 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Origin
Tempe Junction, AZ
Late night in Tempe Junction on Friday
Local time
12:41 AM
MST
Current temp
102°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 10 mph
15% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ
Late night in Pinetop-Lakeside on Friday
Local time
12:41 AM
MST
Current temp
79°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 7 to 10 mph
34% chance
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
23 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.
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 42.2
View on nps.gov
Tonto National Monument
National Monument
Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
$10
near mile 66.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive involves 17% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch without needing to navigate a turn-off is 83.5 miles along the Globe-Show Low Highway. You'll transition from freeway driving on Superstition Freeway to more rural cruising as you head east. Be prepared for a more gradual pace as you leave the urban areas behind.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.5 mi on Globe-Show Low 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 2.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 45m 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 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.3 miles (North Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,799 ft
1,164 ft
Total Climb
6,822 ft
Total Descent
1,187 ft
Highest Point
6,799 ft
~175 mi in
Elevation Range
5,635 ft
Notable High Points
4,446 ft at ~62.5 miles
+1,134 ft prominence
4,846 ft at ~100 miles
+47 ft prominence
About the Cities
Arriving in Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ
Full guide →Founded 1984
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 3h 45m. Total distance: 175 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (17%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.5 miles on Globe-Show Low Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas 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, 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 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.3 miles (North Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Tonto National Monument. 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 Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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