If you are planning to travel from Marana to Tempe, prepare for a 91.4-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 24 minutes. This drive is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations along the way. You should budget approximately $18 for fuel to complete the trek across the Desert Southwest. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you can expect a very different experience than a standard highway cruise. It is a straightforward trip that offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.5 miles from Marana, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38.1 mi
38m
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
36.1 mi
36m
Maricopa Freeway
5.9 mi
6m
Superstition Freeway
2.4 mi
2m
South McClintock Drive
2 mi
4m
North Sandario Road
1.6 mi
3m
West Moore Road
0.3 mi
<1m
West Swanson Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
— 38.1 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marana, AZ and Tempe, AZ.
1
Start on North Steele Drive
214 ft·12 sec·North Steele Drive
2
Turn right onto West Swanson Street
0.2 mi·49 sec·West Swanson Street
3
Turn left onto North Whitney Lane
0.1 mi·27 sec·North Whitney Lane
4
Turn right onto West Moore Road
0.3 mi·44 sec·West Moore Road
5
Turn left onto North Sandario Road
1.3 mi·2 min·North Sandario Road
6
Enter roundabout onto North Sandario Road
103 ft·3 sec·North Sandario Road
7
Continue on North Sandario Road
0.3 mi·59 sec·North Sandario Road
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
9
Merge onto I 10
36 mi·36 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
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of choosing a departure time that best fits your daily rhythm. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, stay alert during transitions between West Swanson Street, North Whitney Lane, and West Moore Road. You won't need to plan for any formal stops, but keeping a water bottle handy is always a good idea in the Desert Southwest climate. Since your fuel budget is estimated at $18, topping off your tank before you leave Marana ensures you won't have to hunt for a station along the local roads. Enjoy the freedom of a direct, non-stop drive that gets you to Tempe efficiently.
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 44.5 miles from Marana, AZ, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.1 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 20 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.5 miles or 48m 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 19m
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 Marana, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Marana, AZ
This is one driving day of about 89 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Marana, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway for about 38.1 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 0 and 86.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Swanson Street
Turn right onto West Swanson Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.3 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Navigation decision point
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
7
82.9 mi into trip|~1h 28m 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
83.5 mi into trip|~1h 29m 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
86.6 mi into trip|~1h 33m 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
$17.73 one way
$35.46 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$18.76
$37.53
premium
$5.59
$19.59
$39.18
diesel
$5.61
$19.65
$39.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.7
0
$9.34
$4.27
Efficient EV
22.3
0
$7.79
$3.56
EV Truck/SUV
35.6
0
$12.46
$5.70
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Marana, AZ
Morning
in Marana on Tuesday
Local time
6:53 AM
MST
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tempe, AZ
Morning
in Tempe on Tuesday
Local time
6:53 AM
MST
Current temp
84°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
2 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 38m 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 that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies on navigating roads like West Swanson Street, North Whitney Lane, and West Moore Road. With a 0% highway share, you will be traveling entirely on local thoroughfares that require frequent adjustments and careful navigation. The personality of this drive is intimate and technical, lacking the long, uninterrupted stretches found on high-speed freeways. Be prepared for a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged from start to finish.
Only 9% 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: 38.1 mi on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 early in the drive near West Swanson Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 89 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (West Swanson Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 82.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 1h 38m. Total distance: 89 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.1 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: near the start (West Swanson Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 82.9 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.
