Tortolita to Tempe Junction is 98.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 52 minutes via Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward, same-day journey. Expect a local feel with frequent turns rather than long, uninterrupted highway cruising. It's a practical route for getting from point A to point B without extensive planning, ideal for a quick transit between these two Arizona locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.4 miles from Tortolita, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
40.2 mi
40m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38.1 mi
38m
West Tangerine Road
8.9 mi
14m
Maricopa Freeway
5.8 mi
6m
South Priest Drive
2 mi
4m
North La Cholla Boulevard
1 mi
1m
West Broadway Road
0.7 mi
1m
South Roosevelt Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 40.2 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tortolita, AZ and Tempe Junction, AZ.
1
Start on this road
21 ft·3 sec·this road
2
Continue on West Naranja Drive
0.3 mi·48 sec·West Naranja Drive
3
Turn left onto North La Cholla Boulevard
1.0 mi·1 min·North La Cholla Boulevard
4
Turn left onto West Tangerine Road
8.9 mi·14 min·West Tangerine Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto North Casa Grande Highway
0.2 mi·14 sec·North Casa Grande Highway
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
7
Merge onto I 10
40 mi·40 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 10
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
5.8 mi·6 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 155Toward Baseline RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto West Baseline Road
0.2 mi·34 sec·West Baseline Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto South Priest Drive
2.0 mi·4 min·South Priest Drive
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto West Broadway Road
0.7 mi·1 min·West Broadway Road
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Roosevelt Street
Use the left lane.
15
At end of road, turn right onto West 13th Street
0.3 mi·47 sec·West 13th Street
16
Arrive at destination
West 13th Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 1 hour 52 minute duration and 98.8 mile distance, this route offers flexibility. You can easily complete it in a single day, so consider leaving in the morning to avoid any potential afternoon traffic. The fuel cost is estimated at $20, so ensure you have enough before setting off. Since there are no designated stops, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps around the 40.2-mile mark on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. Keep an eye out for the numerous turns characteristic of this local route.
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 49.4 miles from Tortolita, AZ, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.2 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 22 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.4 miles or 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 1h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tempe Junction, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tortolita, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tortolita, AZ
This is one driving day of about 98.8 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Tortolita, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 40.2 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 10.6 and 98 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
10.6 mi into trip|~17m in|I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
94.6 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward Baseline Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 155
Toward Baseline Road
6
95.2 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|South Priest Drive
Turn left onto South Priest Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
97.3 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|West Broadway Road
Turn right onto West Broadway Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
98 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|South Roosevelt Street
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.68 one way
$39.36 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$20.83
$41.66
premium
$5.59
$21.75
$43.50
diesel
$5.61
$21.81
$43.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.6
0
$10.37
$4.74
Efficient EV
24.7
0
$8.65
$3.95
EV Truck/SUV
39.5
0
$13.83
$6.32
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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 15, 2026
Origin
Tortolita, AZ
Late night
in Tortolita on Sunday
Local time
1:13 AM
MST
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tempe Junction, AZ
Late night
in Tempe Junction on Sunday
Local time
1:13 AM
MST
Current temp
89°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
33 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 52m 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.
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 57.9
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 6% of the route on highways. You'll spend most of your time navigating local roads, including segments of West Tangerine Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 40.2 miles along the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. Be prepared for a less predictable driving experience with more frequent changes in direction and speed compared to a pure interstate trip.
Only 6% 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: 40.2 mi on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10.6 miles in near I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
Driving Effort5/10
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 98.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 10.6 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 95.2 miles (South Priest Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 98.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.2 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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. 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 10.6 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 95.2 miles (South Priest Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Saguaro National Park. 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 Tempe Junction, AZ before heading back.
