Traveling from Tempe Junction to Tombstone covers 178.5 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 21 minutes of driving time. Since both locations are firmly rooted in the Desert Southwest, you will experience consistent arid terrain throughout the entire trip. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $36 for fuel to complete the journey comfortably. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, it offers a more engaged experience than a simple interstate cruise, making it a great option for travelers who prefer a bit of variety behind the wheel.
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
89.3 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.6 mi
55m
Tucson-Benson Highway
42.9 mi
44m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
37.8 mi
38m
AZ 80
23.7 mi
35m
Maricopa Freeway
6.7 mi
7m
North Freeway
6.1 mi
6m
I 10 Bus
2.1 mi
3m
West Broadway Road
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.6 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe Junction, AZ and Tombstone, 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: TucsonUse 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
55 mi·55 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
6.1 mi·6 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 10
43 mi·44 min·Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto I 10 Business
0.3 mi·34 sec·I 10 Business
Exit 303Toward I 10 Business: Tombstone, Douglas
14
Continue on I 10 Bus; US 80 Hist
2.1 mi·3 min·I 10 Bus; US 80 Hist
Toward I 10 BUS, AZ 80: Benson, Douglas
15
Turn slight right onto AZ 80; US 80 Hist
0.1 mi·26 sec·AZ 80; US 80 Hist
16
Keep slight right at fork onto AZ 80; US 80 Hist
24 mi·35 min·AZ 80; US 80 Hist
17
Turn right onto North 4th Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·North 4th Street
18
Turn right
295 ft·21 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 21-minute duration, plan to depart early in the morning to maximize your time at your destination. You have the flexibility to manage your pace easily, as the route is designed with just one recommended stop to keep your travel time efficient. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially since you should set aside $36 for gas to cover the full 178.5-mile distance. Since this is a turn-heavy drive, prioritize staying alert during the local road segments rather than relying on cruise control. Use that single planned stop to stretch your legs and refresh, as the winding nature of the path can be more demanding than a straight highway drive.
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 89.3 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.3 miles or 1h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tombstone, 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 178.5 miles and 3h 21m.
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 Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 54.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 178.5 — 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.
6
152.3 mi into trip|~2h 41m in|I 10 Business
Take the exit onto I 10 Business toward I 10 Business: Tombstone, Douglas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 303
Toward I 10 Business: Tombstone, Douglas
5
178.5 mi into trip|~3h 21m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.56 one way
$71.12 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$37.63
$75.27
premium
$5.59
$39.29
$78.58
diesel
$5.61
$39.41
$78.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.6
0
$18.74
$8.57
Efficient EV
44.6
0
$15.62
$7.14
EV Truck/SUV
71.4
0
$24.99
$11.42
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Tempe Junction, AZ
Morning
in Tempe Junction on Sunday
Local time
7:27 AM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tombstone, AZ
Morning
in Tombstone on Sunday
Local time
7:27 AM
MST
Current temp
80°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
9 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 21m 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.
Saguaro National Park
National Park
Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are pr...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
$25
near mile 117
Park Closure: Red Hills Visitor Center (TMD) theater closed for repairs
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
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 36.9
It was a journey of conquest filled with exploration, wonder - and cruelty. Inspired by tales of vast cities of gold, 339 European soldiers and over a thousand Aztec allies embarked on an epic journey...
27 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 178.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mix of driving conditions as you navigate through the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, and the Tucson-Benson Highway. With only 23% of the route consisting of major highways, the trip feels less like a monotonous interstate grind and more like a technical local drive. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 54.6 miles while traveling along the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. Be prepared for a turn-heavy experience that requires your full attention as the road transitions between these different segments. The character of the drive shifts as you move off the main arteries, providing a hands-on experience for those who enjoy navigating varied road layouts.
Only 23% 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: 54.6 mi on Casa Grande-Tucson 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 178.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Tombstone, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Douglas along the way.
Douglas
152.3 mi in|~2h 41m|via I 10 Business
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 21m. Total distance: 178.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.6 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Tombstone, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. 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 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 — Saguaro National Park, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Coronado National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Tombstone, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
