Spanning 105.6 miles through the heart of the Desert Southwest, this journey from Mammoth to Tempe is a straightforward trek that takes approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes. You can easily complete this trip in a single day, as it does not require an overnight stay. Budgeting around $21 for fuel should cover your travel costs for the drive. Since you are staying within Arizona, you will notice a consistent regional landscape throughout your journey. This route is ideal for those who prefer local roads over high-speed interstate travel, offering a practical way to connect these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.8 miles from Mammoth, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Phoenix–Globe Highway
27.3 mi
33m
Winkelman-Superior Highway
23.1 mi
40m
Superstition Freeway
21.9 mi
25m
Tucson-Globe Highway
19.9 mi
24m
North Highway 177
5.2 mi
9m
Ray Road
2.4 mi
4m
East Broadway Road
1.1 mi
2m
North Main Street
0.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Phoenix–Globe Highway
— 27.3 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mammoth, AZ and Tempe, AZ.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.7 mi·2 min·North Main Street
2
Turn right onto AZ 77
20 mi·24 min·Tucson-Globe Highway
3
Turn left onto AZ 177
0.3 mi·34 sec·2nd Street
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on AZ 177
1.2 mi·2 min·Winkelman-Superior Highway
5
Continue on AZ 177
0.3 mi·36 sec·Morris Road
6
Continue on AZ 177
18 mi·31 min·Winkelman-Superior Highway
7
Continue on AZ 177
5.2 mi·9 min·North Highway 177
8
Continue on AZ 177
4.1 mi·7 min·Winkelman-Superior Highway
9
Continue on AZ 177
2.4 mi·4 min·Ray Road
10
Continue on AZ 177
0.2 mi·25 sec·South Magma Avenue
11
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward US-60 West
12
Merge onto US 60
27 mi·33 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
22 mi·25 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
1.6 mi·2 min
Exit 176BToward AZ 101 Loop NorthUse the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
0.3 mi·23 sec·Price Freeway
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 53Toward Broadway Road, Apache BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn straight onto South Price Road
302 ft·7 sec·South Price Road
18
Turn left onto East Broadway Road
1.1 mi·2 min·East Broadway Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto South McClintock Drive
0.5 mi·57 sec·South McClintock Drive
20
Turn left onto US 80 Hist
137 ft·10 sec·East Apache Boulevard
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
US 80 Hist
Trip Plan
Given the 105.6-mile distance, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time to suit your schedule. Since there are no designated stops programmed into this route, be sure to handle any necessary fueling or rest breaks before you head out or upon your arrival in Tempe. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of these local roads can make the drive feel longer than the sub-two-hour duration suggests, so pace yourself accordingly. A smart tip for this specific path is to double-check your navigation before leaving Mammoth, as the reliance on local roads rather than major highways means you will be making several turns to stay on track.
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 52.8 miles from Mammoth, AZ, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.3 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 23 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.8 miles or 1h 22m 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 3m
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 Mammoth, 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 Mammoth, AZ
This is one driving day of about 105.5 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Mammoth, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Phoenix–Globe Highway for about 27.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 20.6 and 103.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
20.6 mi into trip|~26m in|AZ 177 / 2nd Street
Turn left onto AZ 177 / 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
52.2 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the ramp toward US-60 West
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward US-60 West
5
52.3 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|US 60 / Phoenix–Globe Highway
Merge onto US 60 / Phoenix–Globe Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
101.5 mi into trip|~2h 21m 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
103.4 mi into trip|~2h 24m 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
$21.02 one way
$42.03 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$22.24
$44.48
premium
$5.59
$23.22
$46.44
diesel
$5.61
$23.29
$46.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.7
0
$11.08
$5.06
Efficient EV
26.4
0
$9.23
$4.22
EV Truck/SUV
42.2
0
$14.77
$6.75
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Mammoth, AZ
Late night
in Mammoth on Tuesday
Local time
2:08 AM
MST
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tempe, AZ
Late night
in Tempe on Tuesday
Local time
2:08 AM
MST
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Superior, AZ
53 mi in
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
32 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 28m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route relies entirely on local roads like the Tucson-Globe Highway, 2nd Street, and the Winkelman-Superior Highway. With a 0% highway share, you will be navigating shifting road conditions that require your full attention behind the wheel. The path demands a more active driving style compared to a standard freeway commute. Because the route is composed of winding local segments, you will find the character of the road changes frequently as you transition between these specific thoroughfares.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.3 mi on Phoenix–Globe 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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 20.6 miles in near AZ 177 / 2nd Street.
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 105.5 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 20.6 miles (AZ 177 / 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 52.2 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 52.3 miles (US 60 / Phoenix–Globe Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Tempe is a city of 180,587 (2020) in the Greater Phoenix area of Arizona, best known as the home of Arizona State University (ASU). Its younger, student-heavy population allows it to offer a vibrant nightlife that is relatively rare in Arizona.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 28m. Total distance: 105.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (26%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.3 miles on Phoenix–Globe Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 20.6 miles (AZ 177 / 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 52.2 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 52.3 miles (US 60 / Phoenix–Globe Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
