Origin
Tempe Junction, AZ
Night in Tempe Junction on Saturday
Local time
9:25 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe Junction, AZ to Sacaton, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
32.3 mi
52 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Sacaton, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 32.3-mile drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Sacaton, AZ is a quick 48-minute journey primarily through the Desert Southwest region. It's easily manageable as a single-day trip, with a modest estimated fuel cost of $6. The route offers a fairly direct path, making it a straightforward option for getting between these two Arizona locations. Given its short duration and minimal stops, you can plan this trip with flexibility. It’s a practical choice for a quick transit rather than an extended exploration.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 14 mi | 14m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| Casa Blanca Road | 6 mi | 14m |
| West Broadway Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Hohokam Expressway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| South Roosevelt Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Sacaton Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Sacaton-Casa Blanca Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
— 14 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe Junction, AZ and Sacaton, 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
14 mi
·
14 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 175
Toward AZ 587 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto AZ 587
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
AZ 587
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto Casa Blanca Road
6.0 mi
·
14 min
·
Casa Blanca Road
13
Continue on Sacaton-Casa Blanca Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Sacaton-Casa Blanca Road
14
Turn right onto North Sacaton Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Sacaton Road
15
Turn left onto South Main Street
72 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.1 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 25 — 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
24.8 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward AZ 587 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 175
Toward AZ 587 North
5
25 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
AZ 587
Turn right onto AZ 587
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.43 one way
$12.87 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $6.81 | $13.62 |
| premium | $5.59 | $7.11 | $14.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.13 | $14.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.39 | $1.55 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.07 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Sacaton, AZ
Night in Sacaton on Saturday
Local time
9:25 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
90°F
Guadalupe, AZ
16 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
48m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with only 26% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate using the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Maricopa Freeway, and Casa Blanca Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14 miles along the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. This suggests a driving experience that involves more frequent adjustments and potentially varied speed limits as you transition between different road types and local areas. It's not a high-speed interstate cruise, but rather a more engaged local transit.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14 mi on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 32.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
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 48m. Total distance: 32.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14 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 Sacaton, 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 Sacaton, 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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