If you are planning to travel from Pima to Tempe, prepare for a 145.8-mile journey through the heart of the Desert Southwest. Expect to spend approximately 2 hours and 33 minutes behind the wheel for this trip. Given the duration, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of roughly $29, this drive is quite manageable for most travelers. Because you are staying within the same region, the transition between these two Arizona hubs feels like a natural progression across the desert landscape. It is a straightforward trip if you prefer a steady, local pace over high-speed highway travel.
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
72.9 miles from Pima, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West Center Street
66.3 mi
1h 21m
Phoenix–Globe Highway
42.9 mi
55m
Superstition Freeway
21.9 mi
25m
US 60
4 mi
7m
East Ash Street
2.3 mi
4m
West Live Oak Street
1.9 mi
3m
North Broad Street
1.9 mi
3m
East Broadway Road
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
West Center Street
— 66.3 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pima, AZ and Tempe, AZ.
1
Start on this road
190 ft·16 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto US 70
66 mi·1 hr 21 min·West Center Street
3
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
2.3 mi·4 min·East Ash Street
4
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·South Hill Street
5
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·11 sec·East Oak Street
6
Turn right onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·North Broad Street
7
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
8
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
9
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·West Live Oak Street
10
Continue on US 60
43 mi·55 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
22 mi·25 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
1.6 mi·2 min
Exit 176BToward AZ 101 Loop NorthUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
0.3 mi·23 sec·Price Freeway
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 53Toward Broadway Road, Apache BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto South Price Road
302 ft·7 sec·South Price Road
16
Turn left onto East Broadway Road
1.1 mi·2 min·East Broadway Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto South McClintock Drive
0.5 mi·57 sec·South McClintock Drive
18
Turn left onto US 80 Hist
137 ft·10 sec·East Apache Boulevard
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
US 80 Hist
Trip Plan
Since you are navigating local roads for the duration of the trip, you should prioritize a departure time that avoids heavy local traffic to keep your travel time closer to the 2-hour and 33-minute estimate. Plan for at least one stop along the way to break up the technical driving and stretch your legs, which will help keep you alert on the winding sections. Keep $29 earmarked for fuel, but consider topping off your tank before leaving Pima to ensure you have a buffer for the local roads ahead. Because this is a shorter trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace if you encounter unexpected road work or congestion. My best advice for this specific route is to stay focused on your navigation apps, as the reliance on local streets rather than major highways can make turns come up faster than you expect.
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 72.9 miles from Pima, AZ, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.3 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 32 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.9 miles or 1h 34m 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 36m
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 Pima, 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 Pima, AZ
This is one driving day of about 145.7 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Pima, 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 West Center Street for about 66.3 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 143.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 70 / West Center Street
Turn right onto US 70 / West Center Street
Navigation decision point
4
69 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|East Oak Street
Turn left onto East Oak Street
Navigation decision point
4
69 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|North Broad Street
Turn right onto North Broad Street
Navigation decision point
7
141.7 mi into trip|~3h 2m 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
143.6 mi into trip|~3h 5m 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
$29.03 one way
$58.05 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$30.72
$61.43
premium
$5.59
$32.07
$64.14
diesel
$5.61
$32.17
$64.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.7
0
$15.30
$6.99
Efficient EV
36.4
0
$12.75
$5.83
EV Truck/SUV
58.3
0
$20.40
$9.32
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 15, 2026
Origin
Pima, AZ
Evening
in Pima on Saturday
Local time
7:45 PM
MST
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tempe, AZ
Evening
in Tempe on Saturday
Local time
7:45 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Miami, AZ
73 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
44 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 9m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 110.6
Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
$10
near mile 85.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Forget the monotony of high-speed interstates; this route relies entirely on local roads like West Center Street, East Ash Street, and South Hill Street. With a highway share of 0%, you are in for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention. The road's personality is defined by its winding nature rather than long, straight stretches of asphalt. Navigating these local thoroughfares means you will experience a constant, rhythmic change in scenery and steering input as you move from Pima toward your destination in Tempe. Prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local geography throughout the entire 145.8-mile transit.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.3 mi on West Center Street.
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 early in the drive near US 70 / West Center Street.
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 9m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 70 / West Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 69 miles (East Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 69 miles (North Broad Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,620 ft1,181 ft
Total Climb
1,978 ft
Total Descent
3,632 ft
Highest Point
4,620 ft
~83.3 mi in
Elevation Range
3,439 ft
Notable High Points
4,620 ft at ~83.3 miles+1,308 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 9m. Total distance: 145.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.3 miles on West Center Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: near the start (US 70 / West Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 69 miles (East Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 69 miles (North Broad Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Tonto National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Tempe, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
