Origin
Tempe Junction, AZ
Late night in Tempe Junction on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe Junction, AZ to Tolleson, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
30m
Distance
21.8 mi
35 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe Junction, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Tolleson, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Tempe Junction to Tolleson, expect a straightforward 21.8-mile journey that typically takes about 30 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance is short enough that you won't need to consider an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Papago Freeway, Red Mountain Freeway, and West University Drive. Budgeting around $4 for fuel should keep you covered for the duration of the trip. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Desert Southwest, you can anticipate consistent terrain and climate conditions throughout the drive. It is a practical, efficient route that gets you from point A to point B without unnecessary complexity.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Papago Freeway | 11.3 mi | 13m |
| Red Mountain Freeway | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| West University Drive | 1 mi | 1m |
| North 91st Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| North Priest Drive | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Priest Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Farmer Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Papago Freeway
— 11.3 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe Junction, AZ and Tolleson, AZ.
1
Start on West 13th Street
236 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 13th Street
2
Turn right onto South Farmer Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Farmer Avenue
3
Turn left onto West University Drive
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West University Drive
4
Turn right onto South Priest Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Priest Drive
5
Continue on North Priest Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Priest Drive
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp onto Red Mountain Freeeway
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Red Mountain Freeeway
Toward AZ 202 Loop West, AZ-143 South: Sky Harbor Airport
Use the left lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West: Phoenix
8
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Red Mountain Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 West
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 10
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
12
Continue on I 10
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 134
Toward 91st Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto North 91st Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North 91st Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
15
Turn right onto West Van Buren Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
West Van Buren Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto North 92nd Drive
176 ft
·
8 sec
·
North 92nd Drive
17
Turn right
168 ft
·
12 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 21.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
Red Mountain Freeeway
Take the ramp onto Red Mountain Freeeway toward AZ 202 Loop West, AZ-143 South: Sky Harbor Airport
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward AZ 202 Loop West, AZ-143 South: Sky Harb...
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 202 Loop West: Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward AZ 202 Loop West: Phoenix
6
7.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 10 West
7
20.3 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward 91st Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 134
Toward 91st Avenue
6
21.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
West Van Buren Street
Turn right onto West Van Buren Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.34 one way
$8.69 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $4.60 | $9.19 |
| premium | $5.59 | $4.80 | $9.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.81 | $9.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.29 | $1.05 |
| Efficient EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.91 | $0.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.05 | $1.40 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Tolleson, AZ
Late night in Tolleson on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
30m 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 highway-focused experience, as 72% of this route consists of high-speed travel. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the Papago Freeway, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the journey at 11.3 miles. The character of the road is functional and designed for speed, shifting from the Red Mountain Freeway to the Papago Freeway as you transition toward your destination. While the drive is relatively brief, you will feel the intensity of the metropolitan freeway system rather than the isolation of a rural backroad. Be prepared for a steady, fast-paced commute that prioritizes efficiency over winding, scenic detours.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.3 mi on Papago Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Papago Freeway and Red Mountain Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near Red Mountain Freeeway.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 21.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 30m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (Red Mountain Freeeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 21.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.3 miles on Papago Freeway. 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 Tolleson, 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 2.7 miles (Red Mountain Freeeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tolleson, 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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