Origin
Tempe, AZ
Afternoon in Tempe on Thursday
Local time
3:55 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe, AZ to Coolidge, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
45.5 mi
73 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Coolidge, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 45.5-mile drive from Tempe, AZ to Coolidge, AZ is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with about 77% of the journey on main roads like the Junction I-10-Mesa Highway and Price Freeway. You can expect to spend around $9 on fuel for this excursion. Both Tempe and Coolidge are situated within the Desert Southwest region, so you'll be traversing familiar arid landscapes throughout your drive. This makes it a convenient option for a quick local getaway or an easy leg of a larger regional road trip without the need for an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 45.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 45.5-mile route. With 77% of the drive utilizing major roadways, you'll encounter a good amount of faster-paced travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 24.7 miles along the Junction I-10-Mesa Highway, offering a consistent cruising opportunity. While the route is largely highway, the shift onto South Arizona Avenue as you approach Coolidge will introduce a slightly different feel as you transition from freeway speeds to more local road conditions. Overall, it's a functional drive designed for efficient travel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 24.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Junction I-10-Mesa Highway and Price Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near South Price Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 2.3 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Price Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
South Price Road
Turn right onto South Price Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
AZ 101 Loop / Price Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Price Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
12.6 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward AZ 87: Arizona Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 47
Toward AZ 87: Arizona Avenue
6
43.4 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
AZ 87; AZ 287 / North Arizona Boulevard
Turn right onto AZ 87; AZ 287 / North Arizona Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
45.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
West Central Avenue
Turn left onto West Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Junction I-10-Mesa Highway | 24.7 mi | 33m |
| Price Freeway | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| South Arizona Avenue | 5.7 mi | 9m |
| Santan Freeway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| North Arizona Boulevard | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| East Apache Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Price Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Central Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
— 24.7 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe, AZ and Coolidge, AZ.
1
Start on US 80 Hist
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
2
Continue on US 80 Hist
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Apache Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto South Price Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Price Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
5
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto Price Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Price Freeway
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
7
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Santan Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 47
Toward AZ 87: Arizona Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto AZ 87
5.7 mi
·
9 min
·
South Arizona Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto AZ 87; BIA 56
263 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Hunt Highway
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto AZ 87
25 mi
·
33 min
·
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
12
Turn right onto AZ 87; AZ 287
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Arizona Boulevard
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto West Central Avenue
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
West Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
West Central Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.7 mi from Tempe, AZ · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.7 miles from Tempe, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Coolidge, AZ
The final approach into Coolidge, 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
$9.06 one way
$18.13 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $9.59 | $19.19 |
| premium | $5.59 | $10.02 | $20.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.05 | $20.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.78 | $2.18 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.98 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.37 | $2.91 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Coolidge, AZ
Afternoon in Coolidge on Thursday
Local time
3:55 PM
MST
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
37 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
1h 5m 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 Coolidge, AZ covers 45.5 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Junction I-10-Mesa Highway, Price Freeway, South Arizona Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.7 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 $9.06 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 45.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 2.3 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Price Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tempe, AZ to Coolidge, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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