Embarking on a journey from Whiteriver, AZ to Tempe, AZ covers a distance of 169.3 miles and will take approximately 3 hours and 18 minutes of driving time. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You'll primarily navigate along North Chief Avenue and the Globe-Show Low Highway before transitioning to East Ash Street. With an estimated fuel cost of $34, this drive through the Desert Southwest region offers a straightforward travel experience. Consider this a manageable and efficient option for your Arizona travels.
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
84.5 miles from Whiteriver, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Whiteriver, AZ and Tempe, AZ.
1
Start on East Walnut Street
118 ft·10 sec·East Walnut Street
2
Turn left onto AZ 73
28 mi·49 min·North Chief Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 60; AZ 77
62 mi·1 hr 10 min·Globe-Show Low Highway
4
Turn right onto US 60
1.1 mi·2 min·East Ash Street
5
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·South Hill Street
6
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·11 sec·East Oak Street
7
Turn right onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·North Broad Street
8
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
9
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
10
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·West Live Oak Street
11
Continue on US 60
43 mi·55 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
22 mi·25 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
1.6 mi·2 min
Exit 176BToward AZ 101 Loop NorthUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
0.3 mi·23 sec·Price Freeway
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 53Toward Broadway Road, Apache BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn straight onto South Price Road
302 ft·7 sec·South Price Road
17
Turn left onto East Broadway Road
1.1 mi·2 min·East Broadway Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto South McClintock Drive
0.5 mi·57 sec·South McClintock Drive
19
Turn left onto US 80 Hist
137 ft·10 sec·East Apache Boulevard
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
US 80 Hist
Trip Plan
For your 169.3-mile drive from Whiteriver to Tempe, aim to depart in the morning to make the most of daylight, especially given the local road nature of the route. With a duration of just over 3 hours, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. While there's only one suggested stop, you have flexibility to add more if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $34, and plan your fuel stops accordingly, particularly in the more rural stretches before reaching the greater Phoenix area. A useful tip for this 'turn-heavy' route is to familiarize yourself with the upcoming turns using your GPS before you begin.
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 84.5 miles from Whiteriver, AZ, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.5 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 80 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.5 miles or 1h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tempe, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Whiteriver, 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 Whiteriver, AZ
This is one driving day of about 169 miles and 3h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Whiteriver, 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 Globe-Show Low Highway for about 62.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 28.4 and 167 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
28.4 mi into trip|~50m in|US 60; AZ 77 / Globe-Show Low Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 60; AZ 77 / Globe-Show Low Highway
Navigation decision point
4
92.3 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|East Oak Street
Turn left onto East Oak Street
Navigation decision point
4
92.4 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|North Broad Street
Turn right onto North Broad Street
Navigation decision point
7
165 mi into trip|~3h 39m in
Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 176B
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
8
167 mi into trip|~3h 42m in
Take the exit toward Broadway Road, Apache Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 53
Toward Broadway Road, Apache Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.67 one way
$67.33 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$35.63
$71.26
premium
$5.59
$37.20
$74.40
diesel
$5.61
$37.31
$74.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.7
0
$17.74
$8.11
Efficient EV
42.3
0
$14.79
$6.76
EV Truck/SUV
67.6
0
$23.66
$10.82
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Whiteriver, AZ
Late night
in Whiteriver on Sunday
Local time
12:44 AM
MST
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tempe, AZ
Late night
in Tempe on Sunday
Local time
12:44 AM
MST
Current temp
93°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
54 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
3h 46m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive' with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be on surface streets and local roads for the entire 169.3-mile stretch. Expect a more engaged driving experience, as the profile suggests frequent turns rather than long, straightaways. While there isn't a specified longest uninterrupted stretch, the emphasis on local roads indicates a need for constant attention to navigation and traffic. This isn't a route for cruising on autopilot; rather, it's about navigating through communities and varied terrain.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Globe-Show Low Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 62.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 28.4 miles in near US 60; AZ 77 / Globe-Show Low Highway.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 46m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 28.4 miles (US 60; AZ 77 / Globe-Show Low Highway): Navigation decision point; at 92.3 miles (East Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 92.4 miles (North Broad Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 46m. Total distance: 169 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The drive from Whiteriver, AZ to Tempe, AZ covers 169 miles and takes about 3h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Globe-Show Low Highway, Phoenix–Globe Highway, North Chief Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.5 miles from Whiteriver, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.67 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 46m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 28.4 miles (US 60; AZ 77 / Globe-Show Low Highway): Navigation decision point; at 92.3 miles (East Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 92.4 miles (North Broad Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Whiteriver, AZ to Tempe, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
