Origin
Tempe, AZ
Late night in Tempe on Sunday
Local time
12:35 AM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe, AZ to Casa Grande, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
44.5 mi
72 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Casa Grande, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 44.3 miles, this trek from Tempe to Casa Grande is a straightforward connection across the Desert Southwest. You can expect to spend about 50 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $9, the journey is both efficient and budget-friendly. Because you remain within the same region, the landscape stays consistent as you transition between these two Arizona cities. This route is best suited for travelers looking for a quick, direct passage rather than a slow-paced sightseeing excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 23.1 mi | 23m |
| North Pinal Avenue | 7.9 mi | 13m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 6.1 mi | 7m |
| Superstition Freeway | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| South McClintock Drive | 2 mi | 3m |
| State Route 387 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Apache Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West Gila Bend Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
— 23.1 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe, AZ and Casa Grande, AZ.
1
Start on US 80 Hist
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
2
Continue on US 80 Hist
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto South McClintock Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South McClintock Drive
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward US 60 West: Phoenix
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto US 60
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
8
Merge onto I 10
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
23 mi
·
23 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 185
Toward AZ 187, AZ 387: Casa Grande, Coolidge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward AZ 387 South: Casa Grande, Casa Grande Airport
12
Turn straight onto AZ 387
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
State Route 387
13
Continue on AZ 387
7.9 mi
·
13 min
·
North Pinal Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
AZ 287
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.3 miles from Tempe, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 36.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South McClintock Drive
Turn right onto South McClintock Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward US 60 West: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 60 West: Phoenix
6
5.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East: Tucson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
8
35.8 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward AZ 187, AZ 387: Casa Grande, Coolidge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 185
Toward AZ 187, AZ 387: Casa Grande, Coolidge
6
36.1 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 387 South: Casa Grande, Casa Grande Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AZ 387 South: Casa Grande, Casa Grande A...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.86 one way
$17.73 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $9.38 | $18.76 |
| premium | $5.59 | $9.80 | $19.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.83 | $19.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.67 | $2.14 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.89 | $1.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.23 | $2.85 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Casa Grande, AZ
Late night in Casa Grande on Sunday
Local time
12:35 AM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
88°F
Guadalupe, AZ
22 mi in
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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
56m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate through urban and suburban environments. You will utilize East Apache Boulevard, South McClintock Drive, and US 60 West to make your way toward your destination. Unlike an interstate grind, this path lacks long, uninterrupted highway stretches, meaning you will frequently encounter intersections and local traffic. Since the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a steady, hands-on driving experience. The lack of a significant longest stretch on any single road highlights the technical, winding nature of this commute.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.1 mi on Phoenix-Casa Grande 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 0.4 miles in near South McClintock Drive.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 44.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (South McClintock Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Tempe, AZ and Casa Grande, AZ, road signs point toward Coolidge and Casa Grande Airport.
Coolidge
35.8 mi in
|
~42m
Casa Grande Airport
36.1 mi in
|
~42m
About the Cities
Arriving in Casa Grande, AZ
Full guide →Casa Grande is a city in South Central Arizona that is largely a commuter town for people working in Tucson or Phoenix. It was the site of an internment camp for Japanese-Americans during World War II, and has played a prominent role in baseball in the United States.
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 56m. Total distance: 44.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.1 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 Casa Grande, 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 0.4 miles (South McClintock Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 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 Casa Grande, 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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