Origin
Queen Creek, AZ
Afternoon in Queen Creek on Sunday
Local time
3:43 PM
MST
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Queen Creek, AZ to Tempe, AZ
Drive Time
39m
Distance
27.3 mi
44 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Queen Creek, AZ
Fernando Capetillo
Tempe, AZ
Vladimir Srajber
Trip Overview
Traveling from Queen Creek to Tempe is a straightforward 27.3-mile journey that typically takes about 39 minutes. Because this trip stays entirely within the Desert Southwest, you won't experience major environmental shifts, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day outing. Budgeting around $5 for fuel should comfortably cover your gas needs for this direct route. You will navigate a combination of local roads and major freeways, which allows for a quick transit between these two Arizona cities. Since the drive is quite short, there is no need to worry about overnight lodging or complex trip logistics. It serves as an efficient connection for commuters or those looking to move between these points with minimal fuss.
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
13.7 miles from Queen Creek, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 21m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 27.3-mile route offers a mixed driving profile that balances local navigation with faster freeway transit. You will spend about 56% of your time on highways, utilizing both the Santan Freeway and the Superstition Freeway to cover ground efficiently. Behind the wheel, expect a transition from the surface streets of South Ellsworth Road to the high-speed flow of the freeway system. The most significant stretch of continuous highway driving occurs on the Superstition Freeway, where you will remain on the road for 12.2 miles. Overall, the experience is functional and predictable, providing a clear path that shifts from suburban local roads to major urban corridors.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Superstition Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 12.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Ocotillo Road.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 27.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Ocotillo Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
10
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Ocotillo Road
Turn uturn onto East Ocotillo Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
5.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 202 Loop North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward AZ 202 Loop North
7
9.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward US 60 West: Phoenix
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 30B
Toward US 60 West: Phoenix
7
23.3 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 176B
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
8
25.3 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward Broadway Road, Apache Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 53
Toward Broadway Road, Apache Boulevard
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Superstition Freeway | 12.2 mi | 14m |
| South Ellsworth Road | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Santan Freeway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| East Broadway Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South Ellsworth Loop Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| South McClintock Drive | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Ocotillo Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Price Freeway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Superstition Freeway
— 12.2 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Queen Creek, AZ and Tempe, AZ.
1
Start on East Ocotillo Road
380 ft
·
35 sec
·
East Ocotillo Road
2
Turn uturn onto East Ocotillo Road
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Ocotillo Road
Use the none lane.
3
Turn right onto South Ellsworth Loop Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Ellsworth Loop Road
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on South Ellsworth Road
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
South Ellsworth Road
Use the none lane.
5
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward AZ 24 West
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto AZ 24
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
Gateway Freeway
7
Keep slight right at fork
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Toward AZ 202 Loop North
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Santan Freeway
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
1.5 mi
·
3 min
Exit 30B
Toward US 60 West: Phoenix
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 60
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Superstition Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.6 mi
·
2 min
Exit 176B
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Price Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 53
Toward Broadway Road, Apache Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto South Price Road
302 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Price Road
15
Turn left onto East Broadway Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Broadway Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto South McClintock Drive
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
South McClintock Drive
Use the none lane.
17
Turn left onto US 80 Hist
137 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
US 80 Hist
Trip Plan
Given the short 39-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move in this region. You won't need to plan for any formal stops along the way, as the 27.3-mile distance is easily manageable in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you leave Queen Creek, as your $5 gas budget is optimized for this specific point-to-point transit. Since you will be navigating multiple freeway interchanges, stay alert for lane changes as you merge between the Santan and Superstition Freeways. This short trip is best treated as a quick, direct commute rather than a leisurely sightseeing tour.
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 13.7 miles from Queen Creek, AZ, or about 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.2 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 27.3 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.7 miles or 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 32m
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 Queen 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 Queen Creek, AZ
This is one driving day of about 27.3 miles and 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Queen 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 Superstition Freeway for about 12.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.7 mi from Queen Creek, AZ · 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
14 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 27.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.7 miles from Queen 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
$5.43 one way
$10.87 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $5.74 | $11.47 |
| premium | $5.59 | $6.00 | $12.01 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.07 | $12.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.87 | $1.31 |
| Efficient EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.39 | $1.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
3:43 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
3 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
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Queen Creek, AZ to Tempe, AZ covers 27.3 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Superstition Freeway, South Ellsworth Road, Santan Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.7 miles from Queen Creek, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.43 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 is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 27.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Ocotillo Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Queen Creek, AZ to Tempe, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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