Origin
Tempe Junction, AZ
Late night in Tempe Junction on Sunday
Local time
3:37 AM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe Junction, AZ to San Carlos, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 19m
Distance
103.1 mi
166 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 10m
★
6 AM
2h 20m
8 AM
2h 39m
10 AM
2h 26m
12 PM
2h 24m
3 PM
2h 27m
5 PM
2h 38m
8 PM
2h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
San Carlos, AZ
Andrea Hinojosa
Trip Overview
Tempe Junction to San Carlos is 103.1 miles and takes about 2 hours 19 minutes via the Phoenix–Globe Highway, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward drive. You'll transition from freeway to highway, so expect a change in pace as you approach your destination. It's a manageable distance, making it a good option for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.6 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix–Globe Highway | 43 mi | 55m |
| Superstition Freeway | 25.3 mi | 29m |
| Globe-Lordsburg Highway | 17.9 mi | 22m |
| US 60 | 4 mi | 7m |
| Indian Route 170 | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| East Ash Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| South Mill Avenue | 2 mi | 4m |
| North Broad Street | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Phoenix–Globe Highway
— 43 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe Junction, AZ and San Carlos, 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
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Ash Street
13
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70; AZ 77
17 mi
·
20 min
·
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
15
Turn left onto BIA 170
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Indian Route 170
16
At end of road, turn left onto BIA 170
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Indian Route 170
17
Keep slight left at fork onto Aravaipa Road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Aravaipa Road
18
Arrive at destination
Aravaipa Road
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour 19-minute duration, departing in the morning from Tempe Junction allows ample time to reach San Carlos comfortably. The 103.1-mile distance means you can easily complete this trip in one day, offering flexibility in your schedule. While there are no designated stops mentioned, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 43-mile stretch on the Phoenix–Globe Highway, as services might be less frequent. Budgeting around $21 for fuel should cover the trip, but it's always wise to start with a full tank.
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 51.6 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43 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 23 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.6 miles or 1h 5m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Carlos, 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 103.1 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 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–Globe Highway for about 43 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.6 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 78.9 — 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
4
78.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
|
South Hill Street
Turn right onto South Hill Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.54 one way
$41.08 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $21.74 | $43.47 |
| premium | $5.59 | $22.69 | $45.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.76 | $45.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.9 | 0 | $10.83 | $4.95 |
| Efficient EV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.02 | $4.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.43 | $6.60 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
San Carlos, AZ
Late night in San Carlos on Sunday
Local time
3:37 AM
MST
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
87°F
Superior, AZ
52 mi in
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
6 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
2h 19m 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 route offers a mixed drive experience, with 32% of the journey on highways. You'll begin on the Superstition Freeway before transitioning to the Phoenix–Globe Highway, which constitutes the longest uninterrupted stretch at 43 miles. This segment will likely feel more like a traditional highway drive compared to the initial freeway portion. As you get closer to San Carlos, the road character will continue to evolve, providing a varied driving experience throughout the 103.1-mile journey.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43 mi on Phoenix–Globe Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 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 103.1 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 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 19m. Total distance: 103.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43 miles on Phoenix–Globe 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 San Carlos, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at San Carlos, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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