Origin
Tempe, AZ
Afternoon in Tempe on Sunday
Local time
4:42 PM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe, AZ to Fountain Hills, AZ
Drive Time
32m
Distance
22.4 mi
36 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe, AZ
Vladimir Srajber
Fountain Hills, AZ
Brent Singleton
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick excursion within the Desert Southwest, the 22.4-mile trip from Tempe to Fountain Hills is an ideal choice. You can easily complete this journey in about 32 minutes, making it a perfect one-day outing that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting roughly $4 for fuel will cover your transit, keeping the trip highly economical. Since both cities are located within the same region, you will experience a consistent desert landscape throughout the drive. This route is straightforward and efficient, serving as a practical connection between these two Arizona locations.
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
11.2 miles from Tempe, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you transition between city streets and regional highways. With only 7% of your time spent on highways, the experience is defined by local navigation rather than monotonous interstate cruising. You will encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 6.7 miles while traveling on the Beeline Highway. As you progress from North Beeline Highway onto North Saguaro Boulevard, the road character shifts, requiring you to navigate local turns frequently. It is a compact, technical drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Beeline Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 6.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 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 22.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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
4.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward McDowell Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49
Toward McDowell Road
5
5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
East McDowell Road
Turn right onto East McDowell Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
18.5 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
East Shea Boulevard
Turn left onto East Shea Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Beeline Highway | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| North Beeline Highway | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| North Saguaro Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| East McDowell Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Pima Freeway | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| East Apache Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| South Price Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Shea Boulevard | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Beeline Highway
— 6.7 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe, AZ and Fountain Hills, 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
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 49
Toward McDowell Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right onto East McDowell Road
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
East McDowell Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto AZ 87
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Beeline Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Continue on AZ 87
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Beeline Highway
Use the left / none lanes.
10
Turn left onto East Shea Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
East Shea Boulevard
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto North Saguaro Boulevard
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North Saguaro Boulevard
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto East La Montana Drive
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
East La Montana Drive
13
Turn right onto North Hamilton Drive
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
North Hamilton Drive
14
Arrive at destination
North Hamilton Drive
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 32-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time without needing to worry about complex pacing or multiple stops. You will find that the lack of required stops makes it a simple point-to-point commute, allowing you to get where you need to go quickly. Keep in mind that because the route relies heavily on local roads, traffic patterns in Tempe and Fountain Hills will be the biggest factor in your total travel time. Make sure to check your fuel gauge before heading out, as $4 should be sufficient for the round trip. Focus your attention on the turn-heavy sections of the route to ensure a smooth arrival.
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 11.2 miles from Tempe, AZ, or about 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.7 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 22.4 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 11.2 miles or 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fountain Hills, 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 22.4 miles and 32m.
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 Beeline Highway for about 6.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11.2 mi from Tempe, AZ · 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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 22.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 11.2 miles from Tempe, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fountain Hills, AZ
The final approach into Fountain Hills, 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 Fountain Hills, 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
$4.46 one way
$8.92 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $4.71 | $9.42 |
| premium | $5.59 | $4.93 | $9.85 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.98 | $9.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.35 | $1.08 |
| Efficient EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.96 | $0.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9 | 0 | $3.14 | $1.43 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Fountain Hills, AZ
Afternoon in Fountain Hills on Sunday
Local time
4:42 PM
MST
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
63°F
Mesa, AZ
11 mi in
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
32m 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 Fountain Hills, AZ covers 22.4 miles and takes about 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Beeline Highway, North Beeline Highway, North Saguaro Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.2 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 $4.46 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 22.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tempe, AZ to Fountain Hills, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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