Origin
Queen Creek, AZ
Late night in Queen Creek on Tuesday
Local time
1:12 AM
MST
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Queen Creek, AZ to Tempe, AZ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
27.3 mi
44 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Queen Creek, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Tempe, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Queen Creek to Tempe is a straightforward 27.3-mile journey that typically takes about 39 minutes. Because this trip stays entirely within the Desert Southwest, you won't experience major environmental shifts, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day outing. Budgeting around $5 for fuel should comfortably cover your gas needs for this direct route. You will navigate a combination of local roads and major freeways, which allows for a quick transit between these two Arizona cities. Since the drive is quite short, there is no need to worry about overnight lodging or complex trip logistics. It serves as an efficient connection for commuters or those looking to move between these points with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Superstition Freeway | 12.2 mi | 14m |
| South Ellsworth Road | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Santan Freeway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| East Broadway Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South Ellsworth Loop Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| South McClintock Drive | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Ocotillo Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Price Freeway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Superstition Freeway
— 12.2 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Queen Creek, AZ and Tempe, AZ.
1
Start on East Ocotillo Road
380 ft
·
35 sec
·
East Ocotillo Road
2
Turn uturn onto East Ocotillo Road
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Ocotillo Road
3
Turn right onto South Ellsworth Loop Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Ellsworth Loop Road
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on South Ellsworth Road
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
South Ellsworth Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward AZ 24 West
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto AZ 24
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
Gateway Freeway
7
Keep slight right at fork
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Toward AZ 202 Loop North
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Santan Freeway
9
Take the exit
1.5 mi
·
3 min
Exit 30B
Toward US 60 West: Phoenix
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 60
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.6 mi
·
2 min
Exit 176B
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Price Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 53
Toward Broadway Road, Apache Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto South Price Road
302 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Price Road
15
Turn left onto East Broadway Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Broadway Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto South McClintock Drive
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
South McClintock Drive
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
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 25.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Ocotillo Road
Turn uturn onto East Ocotillo Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
7
5.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 202 Loop North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward AZ 202 Loop North
7
9.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward US 60 West: Phoenix
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 30B
Toward US 60 West: Phoenix
7
23.3 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
25.3 mi into trip
|
~35m 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
$5.44 one way
$10.88 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $5.76 | $11.51 |
| premium | $5.59 | $6.01 | $12.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.03 | $12.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.87 | $1.31 |
| Efficient EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.39 | $1.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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 Tuesday
Local time
1:12 AM
MST
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
39m 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 27.3-mile route offers a mixed driving profile that balances local navigation with faster freeway transit. You will spend about 56% of your time on highways, utilizing both the Santan Freeway and the Superstition Freeway to cover ground efficiently. Behind the wheel, expect a transition from the surface streets of South Ellsworth Road to the high-speed flow of the freeway system. The most significant stretch of continuous highway driving occurs on the Superstition Freeway, where you will remain on the road for 12.2 miles. Overall, the experience is functional and predictable, providing a clear path that shifts from suburban local roads to major urban corridors.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.2 mi on Superstition Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Ocotillo Road.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 27.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Ocotillo Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Tempe, AZ
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 27.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.2 miles on Superstition Freeway. 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 0.1 miles (East Ocotillo Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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