Origin
Desert Hills, AZ
Morning in Desert Hills on Saturday
Local time
6:24 AM
MST
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Desert Hills, AZ to Tempe, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 8m
Distance
218.6 mi
352 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 55m
★
6 AM
4h 8m
8 AM
4h 34m
10 AM
4h 17m
12 PM
4h 15m
3 PM
4h 19m
5 PM
4h 33m
8 PM
4h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Desert Hills, AZ
Mark Direen
Tempe, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Desert Hills, AZ to Tempe, AZ covers 218.6 miles and takes about 4h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway, Papago Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 104.7 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.55 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
109.3 miles from Desert Hills, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 8m. Total distance: 218.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 8m drive with frequent turns across 218.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 104.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Thrasher Drive.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 218.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (Thrasher Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 208.3 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 208.4 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Thrasher Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Thrasher Drive
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
8
208.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 54m in
|
Red Mountain Freeway
Take the exit onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
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 147
Toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
6
208.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 54m in
|
Red Mountain Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 202 Loop East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 147A
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
8
208.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 55m in
|
Red Mountain Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 202 Loop East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 147A
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
7
216.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 4m in
Take the exit toward McClintock Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8
Toward McClintock Drive
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 104.7 mi | 1h 45m |
| Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway | 63.1 mi | 1h 16m |
| Papago Freeway | 21.2 mi | 24m |
| Red Mountain Freeway | 8.3 mi | 10m |
| Riverside Drive | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Rio Vista Highway | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| North Central Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| South McClintock Drive | 1.5 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 104.7 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Desert Hills, AZ and Tempe, AZ.
1
Start on Bayshore Road
235 ft
·
10 sec
·
Bayshore Road
2
Continue on Mountain View Drive
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Mountain View Drive
3
At end of road, turn right onto Thrasher Drive
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Thrasher Drive
4
At end of road, turn right onto London Bridge Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
London Bridge Road
5
Turn left onto Chenoweth Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Chenoweth Road
6
Turn right onto AZ 95
26 mi
·
33 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on AZ 95
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Riverside Drive
8
Turn straight onto AZ 95
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
9
Continue on AZ 95
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Rio Vista Highway
10
Turn left onto AZ 95
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
California Avenue
11
Continue on AZ 95
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
12
Continue on AZ 95
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
13
Continue on AZ 95
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Central Boulevard
14
Turn left onto I 10 BUS
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
15
Turn right onto I 10 Bus
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Riggles Road
16
Take the ramp onto I 10 Business
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10 Business
17
Merge onto I 10
105 mi
·
1 hr 45 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 10
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
20
Continue on I 10
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit onto Red Mountain Freeway
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147
Toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147A
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
23
Keep slight left at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147A
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 8
Toward McClintock Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn right onto South McClintock Drive
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South McClintock Drive
Use the right lane.
26
Turn right onto US 80 Hist
60 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
Use the right lane.
27
Arrive at destination
US 80 Hist
Trip Plan
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 109.3 miles from Desert Hills, AZ, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.7 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 48 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.3 miles or 2h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 21m
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 Desert Hills, 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 Desert Hills, AZ
This is one driving day of about 218.6 miles and 4h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Desert Hills, 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 Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 104.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 109.3 mi from Desert Hills, AZ · 2h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
109 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 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 109.3 miles from Desert Hills, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 104.7 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.55 one way
$87.10 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
77 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $46.09 | $92.17 |
| premium | $5.59 | $48.12 | $96.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $48.26 | $96.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.6 | 0 | $22.95 | $10.49 |
| Efficient EV | 54.7 | 0 | $19.13 | $8.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 87.4 | 1 | $30.60 | $13.99 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Morning in Tempe on Saturday
Local time
6:24 AM
MST
Current temp
93°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
7 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
4h 8m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Desert Hills, AZ to Tempe, AZ covers 218.6 miles and takes about 4h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway, Papago Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 109.3 miles from Desert Hills, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.55 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 218.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (Thrasher Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 208.3 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 208.4 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Desert Hills, AZ to Tempe, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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