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Trip from East Sahuarita, 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

2h 6m

Distance

133.9 mi

215 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 58m ★
6 AM
2h 7m
8 AM
2h 25m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 11m
3 PM
2h 14m
5 PM
2h 24m
8 PM
2h 2m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Tempe, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from East Sahuarita, AZ to Tempe, AZ covers 133.9 miles and takes about 2h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Country Club Road, East Sahuarita Road, I 19 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.67 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

66.9 miles from East Sahuarita, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Country Club Road
East Sahuarita Road
I 19 North
Nogales–Tucson Highway
I 10 West
South Freeway
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: South Country Club Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between East Sahuarita, AZ and Tempe, AZ.

1

Start on East El Toro Road

315 ft · 11 sec · East El Toro Road
2

Turn right onto South Country Club Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Country Club Road
3

At the end of the road, turn left onto East Sahuarita Road

3.3 mi · 5 min · East Sahuarita Road
4

Take the ramp right toward I 19 North: Tucson

0.4 mi · 48 sec · I 19 North: Tucson
5

Merge slight left onto Nogales–Tucson Highway

16 mi · 19 min · Nogales–Tucson Highway
6

Keep slight left to continue on I 10 West: Phoenix

0.6 mi · 49 sec · I 10 West: Phoenix
7

Merge slight left onto South Freeway

5.4 mi · 6 min · South Freeway
8

Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

3.7 mi · 4 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
9

Keep slight left to continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

51 mi · 51 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
10

Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

38 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
11

Continue on Maricopa Freeway

5.9 mi · 6 min · Maricopa Freeway
12

Take the exit slight right toward US 60 East: Mesa-Globe

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 60 East: Mesa-Globe
13

Keep slight right to continue on US 60 East: Mesa Globe

0.7 mi · 1 min · US 60 East: Mesa Globe
14

Merge slight left onto Superstition Freeway

2.4 mi · 2 min · Superstition Freeway
15

Take the exit slight right toward McClintock Drive

0.4 mi · 55 sec · McClintock Drive
16

Turn left onto South McClintock Drive

2.0 mi · 4 min · South McClintock Drive
17

Turn left onto East Apache Boulevard

138 ft · 10 sec · East Apache Boulevard
18

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 66.9 miles from East Sahuarita, AZ, or about 1h 3m into the drive.

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 29 miles or 27m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 66.9 miles or 1h 3m 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 44m

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 East Sahuarita, 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 East Sahuarita, AZ

This is one driving day of about 133.9 miles and 2h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from East Sahuarita, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

census designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Arizona City, AZ

67 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.

Popular next leg

Arizona City, AZ to Tempe, AZ

56.5 mi · 57m

Pacing Suggestions

South Tucson, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Arizona City, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 66.9 miles from East Sahuarita, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.67 one way

$53.35 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 47 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $28.23 $56.46
premium $5.59 $29.47 $58.95
diesel $5.61 $29.56 $59.13

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 46.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.2 0 $14.06 $6.43
Efficient EV 33.5 0 $11.72 $5.36
EV Truck/SUV 53.6 0 $18.75 $8.57

Gas CO2

47 kg

EV CO2

16 kg (66% 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

East Sahuarita, AZ

Morning in East Sahuarita on Saturday

Local time

11:08 AM

MST

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tempe, AZ

Morning in Tempe on Saturday

Local time

11:08 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

41 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

2h 6m 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?

133.9 mi in 2h 6m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: South Country Club Road.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from East Sahuarita, AZ to Tempe, AZ is easy. At 2h 6m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from East Sahuarita, AZ to Tempe, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 133.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from East Sahuarita, AZ to Tempe, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tempe, AZ before heading back.

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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Explore more options from East Sahuarita, AZ or browse trips ending in Tempe, AZ.

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