Origin
Cave Creek, AZ
Afternoon in Cave Creek on Sunday
Local time
4:40 PM
MST
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cave Creek, AZ to Tempe, AZ
Drive Time
49m
Distance
33.1 mi
53 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cave Creek, AZ
Pho Tomass
Tempe, AZ
Vladimir Srajber
Trip Overview
Traveling from Cave Creek to Tempe is a straightforward 33.1-mile journey that typically takes about 49 minutes to complete. Because this trip is entirely within the Desert Southwest, you will notice a consistent regional feel as you transition between these two Arizona hubs. It is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations or complicated itineraries. With a fuel budget of approximately $7, the trip is quite economical for most vehicles. Whether you are heading south for business or leisure, the brevity of this drive allows for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
16.6 miles from Cave Creek, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience that balances local navigation with faster highway transit. You will spend roughly 51% of your time on highways, utilizing North Tom Darlington Drive, North Scottsdale Road, and the Pima Freeway to bridge the distance. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Pima Freeway, which spans 16.7 miles and provides the most consistent pace of the trip. As you move away from the smaller roads of Cave Creek, the character of the drive shifts into the more structured flow of the freeway system before entering Tempe. It is a functional route that keeps you moving efficiently throughout the entire 49-minute duration.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pima Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 16.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 13.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 33.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 13.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
13.6 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Turn left toward AZ 101 Loop East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward AZ 101 Loop East
5
14 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
30.7 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward Rio Salado Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 52
Toward Rio Salado Parkway
6
31.6 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
East University Drive
Turn right onto East University Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
33.1 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
US 80 Hist / East Apache Boulevard
Turn right onto US 80 Hist / East Apache Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pima Freeway | 16.7 mi | 19m |
| North Scottsdale Road | 9.8 mi | 15m |
| North Tom Darlington Drive | 2 mi | 4m |
| East Cave Creek Road | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| East University Drive | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Price Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South McClintock Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Apache Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pima Freeway
— 16.7 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cave Creek, AZ and Tempe, AZ.
1
Start on East Cave Creek Road
206 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Cave Creek Road
2
Continue on East Cave Creek Road
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Cave Creek Road
Use the none lane.
3
Turn slight right
171 ft
·
7 sec
Toward North Tom Darlington Drive
4
Turn straight onto North Tom Darlington Drive
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Tom Darlington Drive
Use the none lane.
5
Turn straight onto North Tom Darlington Drive
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Tom Darlington Drive
Use the none lane.
6
Continue on North Scottsdale Road
9.8 mi
·
15 min
·
North Scottsdale Road
Use the none lane.
7
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop East
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 52
Toward Rio Salado Parkway
10
Continue on South Price Road
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
South Price Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto East University Drive
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East University Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto South McClintock Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South McClintock Drive
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto US 80 Hist
60 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
Use the right lane.
14
Arrive at destination
US 80 Hist
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever it best suits your plans without needing to schedule formal stops. You should keep an eye on traffic patterns along the Pima Freeway, as this 16.7-mile segment can be the most variable part of your commute. Budgeting around $7 for fuel is a safe estimate, though you might consider filling up before you leave Cave Creek to avoid any last-minute stress. Because there are no mandatory stops required to complete the 33.1-mile distance, you can easily turn this into a direct run. Use the flexibility of this short drive to prioritize your arrival time in Tempe over any specific en-route rest breaks.
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 16.6 miles from Cave Creek, AZ, or about 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.7 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 33.1 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 16.6 miles or 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 41m
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 Cave Creek, 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 Cave Creek, AZ
This is one driving day of about 33.1 miles and 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cave Creek, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Pima Freeway for about 16.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.6 mi from Cave Creek, AZ · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.6 miles from Cave Creek, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Tempe, AZ
The final approach into Tempe, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Tempe, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.59 one way
$13.17 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $6.96 | $13.91 |
| premium | $5.59 | $7.28 | $14.56 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.35 | $14.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.48 | $1.59 |
| Efficient EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.90 | $1.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.63 | $2.12 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Tempe, AZ
Afternoon in Tempe on Sunday
Local time
4:40 PM
MST
Current temp
59°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
2 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
49m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cave Creek, AZ to Tempe, AZ covers 33.1 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pima Freeway, North Scottsdale Road, North Tom Darlington Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.6 miles from Cave Creek, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.59 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 33.1 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Cave Creek, AZ to Tempe, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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