If you are planning a trip from Tempe to Marana, you are looking at a 89.4-mile journey across the Desert Southwest. This drive typically takes about 1 hour and 39 minutes to complete, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You should budget approximately $18 for fuel to cover the distance. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight highway shot, you won't need to worry about splitting the trip into multiple days. It is a straightforward transit between two Arizona desert communities that offers a clear, manageable route for any driver.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.7 miles from Tempe, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
37.8 mi
38m
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
36.3 mi
36m
Maricopa Freeway
6.1 mi
7m
Superstition Freeway
2.5 mi
2m
South McClintock Drive
2 mi
3m
North Sandario Road
1.6 mi
3m
East Apache Boulevard
0.4 mi
1m
West Moore Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
— 37.8 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe, AZ and Marana, 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: PhoenixUse 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: TucsonUse 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
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
36 mi·36 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 236Toward Marana RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto North Sandario Road
0.2 mi·41 sec·North Sandario Road
13
Enter roundabout onto North Sandario Road
126 ft·4 sec·North Sandario Road
14
Continue on North Sandario Road
1.3 mi·2 min·North Sandario Road
15
At end of road, turn right onto West Moore Road
0.3 mi·44 sec·West Moore Road
16
Turn left onto North Whitney Lane
0.1 mi·27 sec·North Whitney Lane
17
Turn right onto West Swanson Street
0.2 mi·50 sec·West Swanson Street
18
Turn left onto North Steele Drive
214 ft·9 sec·North Steele Drive
19
Arrive at destination
North Steele Drive
Trip Plan
Since this 89.4-mile trip is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the drive in under two hours, so there is no pressure to rush or schedule extensive rest stops. Keep in mind that because the route relies on local roads rather than a highway system, traffic density on those specific streets can impact your travel time. Your best bet is to check local road conditions before heading out to ensure your route is clear. Since you aren't planning for any scheduled stops, make sure your vehicle is fueled up with your $18 budget before you leave Tempe to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted arrival in Marana.
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 44.7 miles from Tempe, AZ, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.8 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 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.7 miles or 50m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marana, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tempe, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tempe, AZ
This is one driving day of about 89.4 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Tempe, 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 37.8 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 86.8 — 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
5
2.7 mi into trip|~5m in|US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge onto US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
7
86.8 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward Marana Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 236
Toward Marana Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.81 one way
$35.62 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$18.85
$37.70
premium
$5.59
$19.68
$39.36
diesel
$5.61
$19.74
$39.48
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: 31.3 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
26.8
0
$9.39
$4.29
Efficient EV
22.4
0
$7.82
$3.58
EV Truck/SUV
35.8
0
$12.52
$5.72
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 15, 2026
Origin
Tempe, AZ
Night
in Tempe on Saturday
Local time
9:16 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Marana, AZ
Night
in Marana on Saturday
Local time
9:16 PM
MST
Current temp
53°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
40 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
1h 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a very different experience than a standard interstate cruise, as this route is a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. With 0% of the journey spent on traditional highways, you will be navigating through East Apache Boulevard, South McClintock Drive, and US 60 West. The road lacks long, monotonous stretches, requiring your full attention as you transition between local roads. You will find that the personality of the drive remains consistent throughout, prioritizing local navigation over high-speed highway travel. Plan for a hands-on driving experience that demands frequent adjustments rather than cruise control.
Only 10% 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: 37.8 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 around 0.4 miles in near South McClintock Drive.
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 89.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.4 miles (South McClintock Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 89.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.8 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 Marana, 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 2.7 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): 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 Marana, AZ before heading back.
