East Sahuarita, AZ to Tempe, AZ is 131.4 miles and takes about 2 hours 27 minutes via Casa Grande-Tucson Highway and Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Desert Southwest, primarily traversing Arizona. Expect a drive that is mostly on surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate cruise. With only one day recommended, you can easily make this drive without needing an overnight stop, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
65.7 miles from East Sahuarita, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.5 mi
55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38.1 mi
38m
Nogales–Tucson Highway
16 mi
19m
Maricopa Freeway
5.9 mi
6m
South Freeway
5.4 mi
6m
East Sahuarita Road
3.3 mi
5m
Superstition Freeway
2.4 mi
2m
South McClintock Drive
2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Sahuarita, AZ and Tempe, AZ.
1
Start on East El Toro Road
316 ft·10 sec·East El Toro Road
2
Turn right onto South Country Club Road
1.0 mi·2 min·South Country Club Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto East Sahuarita Road
3.3 mi·5 min·East Sahuarita Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 19 North: Tucson
5
Merge onto I 19
16 mi·19 min·Nogales–Tucson Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
7
Merge onto I 10
5.4 mi·6 min·South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 10
3.7 mi·4 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
51 mi·51 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
5.9 mi·6 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 154Toward US 60 East: Mesa-GlobeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 154Toward US 60 East: Mesa Globe
14
Merge onto US 60
2.4 mi·2 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 175Toward McClintock DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto South McClintock Drive
2.0 mi·4 min·South McClintock Drive
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto US 80 Hist
137 ft·10 sec·East Apache Boulevard
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
US 80 Hist
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 2 hour 27 minute drive time and 131.4 mile distance, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Starting in the morning will give you plenty of daylight and flexibility for any brief stops you might want to make. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $26. The longest continuous stretch without a major road change is 54.5 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, so plan accordingly if you prefer to refuel or take a break before then.
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 65.7 miles from East Sahuarita, AZ, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 29 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.7 miles or 1h 15m 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 58m
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 East Sahuarita, 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 East Sahuarita, AZ
This is one driving day of about 131.4 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from East Sahuarita, 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 54.5 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 128.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|East Sahuarita Road
At end of road, turn left onto East Sahuarita Road
Navigation decision point
6
30.5 mi into trip|~39m in|I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
125.3 mi into trip|~2h 16m 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
125.8 mi into trip|~2h 18m 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
128.9 mi into trip|~2h 22m 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
$26.18 one way
$52.35 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$27.70
$55.41
premium
$5.59
$28.92
$57.85
diesel
$5.61
$29.01
$58.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.4
0
$13.80
$6.31
Efficient EV
32.9
0
$11.50
$5.26
EV Truck/SUV
52.6
0
$18.40
$8.41
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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
East Sahuarita, AZ
Late night
in East Sahuarita on Sunday
Local time
3:18 AM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tempe, AZ
Late night
in Tempe on Sunday
Local time
3:18 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
8 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
2h 27m 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 route is predominantly surface roads, with only about 10% on highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 54.5 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway before transitioning to other main roads. Expect to navigate a series of exits and intersections as you move between these primary routes, rather than continuous high-speed cruising.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.5 mi on Casa Grande-Tucson 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 1.1 miles in near East Sahuarita Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 131.4 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 1.1 miles (East Sahuarita Road): Navigation decision point; at 30.5 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.3 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 2h 27m. Total distance: 131.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.5 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.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. There are 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (East Sahuarita Road): Navigation decision point; at 30.5 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.3 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.
