Origin
Sahuarita, AZ
Morning in Sahuarita on Thursday
Local time
10:14 AM
MST
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sahuarita, AZ to Tempe, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 57m
Distance
131.3 mi
211 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 49m
★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 14m
10 AM
2h 3m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 4m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sahuarita, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Tempe, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sahuarita, AZ to Tempe, AZ covers 131.3 miles and takes about 1h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 19 North, Nogales–Tucson Highway, I 10 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.16 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
65.6 miles from Sahuarita, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 131.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 57m drive with frequent turns across 131.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 19 North is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 Sahuarita, AZ to Tempe, AZ is easy. At 1h 57m 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 Sahuarita, AZ to Tempe, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 19 North | — | — |
| Nogales–Tucson Highway | — | — |
| I 10 West | — | — |
| South Freeway | — | — |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | — | — |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | — | — |
| Maricopa Freeway | — | — |
| US 60 East | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 19 North
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sahuarita, AZ and Tempe, AZ.
1
Start on East Sahuarita Road
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
East Sahuarita Road
2
Take the ramp right toward I 19 North: Tucson
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
I 19 North: Tucson
3
Merge slight left onto Nogales–Tucson Highway
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Nogales–Tucson Highway
4
Keep slight left to continue on I 10 West: Phoenix
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
I 10 West: Phoenix
5
Merge slight left onto South Freeway
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
South Freeway
6
Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
7
Keep slight left to continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
51 mi
·
51 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
8
Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
9
Continue on Maricopa Freeway
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 60 East: Mesa-Globe
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 60 East: Mesa-Globe
11
Keep slight right to continue on US 60 East: Mesa Globe
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 60 East: Mesa Globe
12
Merge slight left onto Superstition Freeway
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Superstition Freeway
13
Take the exit slight right toward McClintock Drive
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
McClintock Drive
14
Turn left onto South McClintock Drive
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
South McClintock Drive
15
Turn left onto East Apache Boulevard
138 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
16
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 65.6 miles from Sahuarita, AZ, or about 58m 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 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.6 miles or 58m 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 36m
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 Sahuarita, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sahuarita, AZ
This is one driving day of about 131.3 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 65.6 mi from Sahuarita, AZ · 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.6 miles from Sahuarita, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.16 one way
$52.31 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $27.68 | $55.36 |
| premium | $5.59 | $28.90 | $57.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.99 | $57.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.4 | 0 | $13.79 | $6.30 |
| Efficient EV | 32.8 | 0 | $11.49 | $5.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.5 | 0 | $18.38 | $8.40 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Morning in Tempe on Thursday
Local time
10:14 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
1h 57m 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 Sahuarita, AZ to Tempe, AZ covers 131.3 miles and takes about 1h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 19 North, Nogales–Tucson Highway, I 10 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 65.6 miles from Sahuarita, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.16 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.
The drive from Sahuarita, AZ to Tempe, AZ is easy. At 1h 57m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sahuarita, AZ to Tempe, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sahuarita, AZ to Tempe, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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