Traveling from Tempe to Pima covers 146.2 miles through the heart of the Desert Southwest. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 10 minutes behind the wheel, making this a very manageable one-day trip. You will primarily navigate via the Superstition Freeway, the Phoenix–Globe Highway, and the Globe-Lordsburg Highway. With a fuel budget of roughly $29, this route is an affordable excursion for those looking to explore more of Arizona. Because the drive is straightforward, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. It serves as a practical connection between two distinct desert communities, offering a consistent regional feel from start to finish.
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
73.1 miles from Tempe, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
66.3 mi
1h 21m
Phoenix–Globe Highway
43 mi
55m
Superstition Freeway
23.5 mi
27m
US 60
4 mi
7m
East Ash Street
2.3 mi
4m
South McClintock Drive
2 mi
3m
North Broad Street
2 mi
3m
Live Oak Street
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
— 66.3 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe, AZ and Pima, 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
Turn left
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward US 60 East: GlobeUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto US 60
23 mi·27 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
43 mi·55 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·Live Oak Street
8
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
9
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
10
Turn left onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Broad Street
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·9 sec·East Oak Street
12
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·South Hill Street
13
Turn left onto US 60
2.3 mi·4 min·East Ash Street
14
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
0.8 mi·1 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70; AZ 77
66 mi·1 hr 20 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
16
Turn left
190 ft·13 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart at your leisure, though planning for one strategic stop will help you break up the 3-hour and 10-minute duration. Keep a close eye on your fuel levels before leaving the Phoenix metro area to ensure you stay within your $29 budget throughout the journey. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, stay focused on the changing road signs as you transition between the Phoenix–Globe Highway and the Globe-Lordsburg Highway. Use your one planned stop to stretch your legs, especially since the drive requires more concentration than a typical freeway haul. Being prepared for technical turns will make your transit between Tempe and Pima much smoother.
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 73.1 miles from Tempe, AZ, or about 1h 35m 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 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.1 miles or 1h 35m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pima, 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.
+
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 Tempe, AZ
This is one driving day of about 146.2 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Tempe, 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 Globe-Lordsburg Highway 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 0.2 and 76.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 80 Hist / East Apache Boulevard
Continue onto US 80 Hist / East Apache Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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
2.4 mi into trip|~5m in
Turn left toward US 60 East: Globe
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 60 East: Globe
5
2.8 mi into trip|~6m 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.
5
76.7 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|North Broad Street
Turn left onto North Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.12 one way
$58.25 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$30.82
$61.65
premium
$5.59
$32.18
$64.36
diesel
$5.61
$32.28
$64.56
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: 51.2 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
43.9
0
$15.35
$7.02
Efficient EV
36.6
0
$12.79
$5.85
EV Truck/SUV
58.5
0
$20.47
$9.36
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
Tempe, AZ
Night
in Tempe on Saturday
Local time
10:59 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pima, AZ
Night
in Pima on Saturday
Local time
10:59 PM
MST
Current temp
49°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 10m 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 40.3
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 60.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a drive that favors local navigation over high-speed interstate cruising, as only 19% of this route consists of major highways. The journey is classified as a turn-heavy local drive, requiring you to stay alert through changing road conditions. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 66.3 miles while traveling along the Globe-Lordsburg Highway. Because the path relies heavily on local roads, the experience is less about monotonous cruising and more about active, hands-on driving. Expect the character of the road to shift as you transition between these smaller highway segments.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.3 mi on Globe-Lordsburg Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 80 Hist / East Apache Boulevard.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 146.2 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.2 miles (US 80 Hist / East Apache Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (South McClintock Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 10m. Total distance: 146.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (19%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.3 miles on Globe-Lordsburg Highway. 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: at 0.2 miles (US 80 Hist / East Apache Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (South McClintock Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Pima, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
