Origin
Tempe, AZ
Evening in Tempe on Sunday
Local time
5:52 PM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe, AZ to Cave Creek, AZ
Drive Time
50m
Distance
33.5 mi
54 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 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe, AZ
Vladimir Srajber
Cave Creek, AZ
Pho Tomass
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick getaway from Tempe, a trip to Cave Creek is a manageable 33.5-mile journey that typically takes about 50 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a one-day excursion, allowing you to head out and return without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $7 for fuel, making this a highly economical trip within the Desert Southwest. Since you stay within the same region, the transition is seamless as you move from the urban landscape of Tempe toward the distinct character of Cave Creek. It is a straightforward drive that offers plenty of flexibility for 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
16.7 miles from Tempe, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 21m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip features a mixed-drive profile, shifting from high-speed transit to local navigation as you head north. You will spend roughly 50% of your time on highways, starting with a significant 16.9-mile stretch on the Pima Freeway. After exiting the freeway, the experience transitions onto North Scottsdale Road and eventually North Tom Darlington Drive. Expect the pace to change as the road evolves from a major thoroughfare into the local roads that define the final approach. This combination of highway efficiency and local road travel keeps the drive engaging without feeling like a monotonous interstate grind.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 12 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 16.9 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 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near South Price Road.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 33.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 1.4 miles (South Price Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
South Price Road
Turn left onto South Price Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m 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 / straight / slight right lanes.
7
19.6 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward Scottsdale Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 34
Toward Scottsdale Road
5
20 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
North Scottsdale Road
Turn right onto North Scottsdale Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
31.7 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
East Cave Creek Road
Turn left onto East Cave Creek Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pima Freeway | 16.9 mi | 19m |
| North Scottsdale Road | 9.7 mi | 15m |
| North Tom Darlington Drive | 2 mi | 4m |
| East Cave Creek Road | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| East Apache Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| South Price Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Pima Freeway
— 16.9 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe, AZ and Cave Creek, AZ.
1
Start on US 80 Hist
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
2
Continue on US 80 Hist
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Apache Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto South Price Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Price Road
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
this road
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 34
Toward Scottsdale Road
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn straight onto Pima Freeway
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Pima Freeway
8
Turn right onto North Scottsdale Road
9.7 mi
·
15 min
·
North Scottsdale Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on North Tom Darlington Drive
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Tom Darlington Drive
Use the none lane.
10
Turn straight onto North Tom Darlington Drive
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Tom Darlington Drive
Use the none lane.
11
Turn left onto East Cave Creek Road
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
East Cave Creek Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
East Cave Creek Road
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short 50-minute trip, you have the advantage of total scheduling flexibility. You can easily complete the entire 33.5-mile distance in one go, as there are no mandatory stops required to reach your destination. To ensure a smooth experience, keep an eye on traffic patterns when transitioning from the Pima Freeway onto North Scottsdale Road, as this is where your route structure shifts. Since fuel costs are minimal at around $7, you can focus your planning on timing your departure to avoid peak local congestion. Enjoy the simplicity of this short drive, which lets you spend more time at your destination rather than behind the wheel.
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 16.7 miles from Tempe, AZ, or about 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.9 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 33.5 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 16.7 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cave Creek, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tempe, 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 Tempe, AZ
This is one driving day of about 33.5 miles and 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Tempe, 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 16.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.7 mi from Tempe, AZ · 21m 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 33.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.7 miles from Tempe, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cave Creek, AZ
The final approach into Cave Creek, 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 Cave Creek, 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
$6.67 one way
$13.33 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $7.04 | $14.08 |
| premium | $5.59 | $7.37 | $14.74 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.44 | $14.89 |
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: 11.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10 | 0 | $3.52 | $1.61 |
| Efficient EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.93 | $1.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.69 | $2.14 |
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
Cave Creek, AZ
Evening in Cave Creek on Sunday
Local time
5:52 PM
MST
Current temp
57°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
50m 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 Tempe, AZ to Cave Creek, AZ covers 33.5 miles and takes about 50m 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 16.7 miles from Tempe, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.67 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 33.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 1.4 miles (South Price Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tempe, AZ to Cave Creek, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Cave Creek, AZ
More trips to Cave Creek, AZ
Explore more options from Tempe, AZ or browse trips ending in Cave Creek, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.
Explore maps for Tempe, AZ or Cave Creek, AZ on MapSof.net.