Origin
Arizona City, AZ
Late night in Arizona City on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
MST
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arizona City, AZ to Tempe, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
54.2 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arizona City, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Tempe, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Arizona City to Tempe covers a straightforward 56.5-mile journey through the heart of the Desert Southwest. Expect the drive to take approximately 57 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a quick day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-8 West, I-10 West, and the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. With an estimated fuel cost of just $11, this is an economical route for commuters or weekend travelers. Because both the origin and destination sit within the same region, you will experience a consistent desert landscape throughout the entire transition.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 36.7 mi | 37m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| South Sunland Gin Road | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Superstition Freeway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| South McClintock Drive | 2 mi | 4m |
| East Apache Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
— 36.7 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arizona City, AZ and Tempe, AZ.
1
Start on South Sunland Gin Road
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
South Sunland Gin Road
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 8 West, I 10 West: San Diego, Phoenix
Use the left lane.
3
Keep slight right at fork
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
4
Merge onto I 10
37 mi
·
37 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 10
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa-Globe
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa Globe
8
Merge onto US 60
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 175
Toward McClintock Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto South McClintock Drive
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
South McClintock Drive
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 80 Hist
137 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
US 80 Hist
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.1 miles from Arizona City, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 51.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 8 West, I 10 West: San Diego, Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 8 West, I 10 West: San Diego, Phoenix
5
4.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
7
48 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward US 60 East: Mesa-Globe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa-Globe
6
48.6 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 60 East: Mesa Globe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa Globe
7
51.7 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward McClintock Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 175
Toward McClintock Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.80 one way
$21.59 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $11.43 | $22.85 |
| premium | $5.59 | $11.93 | $23.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.97 | $23.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.69 | $2.60 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.59 | $3.47 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Tempe, AZ
Late night in Tempe on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
88°F
Guadalupe, AZ
27 mi in
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
40 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 5m 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 trip functions as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a long-haul interstate cruise. You will find yourself navigating a mix of highway transitions and local roads as you head toward the Phoenix metropolitan area. Since the highway share is minimal, your focus will shift frequently between different road types rather than settling into a singular, monotonous stretch of pavement. The route demands your full attention as you navigate the turns required to reach your destination. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that feels more like a regional transit than a standard highway trek.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.7 mi on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 3.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 48 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
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 Arizona City, AZ to Tempe, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Phoenix along the way.
Phoenix
3.8 mi in
|
~6m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 54.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.7 miles on Phoenix-Casa Grande 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 Tempe, 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 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 48 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 Tempe, 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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