Origin
Tempe, AZ
Afternoon in Tempe on Sunday
Local time
4:38 PM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe, AZ to Phoenix, AZ
Drive Time
20m
Distance
13.3 mi
21 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 24m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 24m
8 PM
0h 19m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe, AZ
Vladimir Srajber
Phoenix, AZ
Carter Marchant
Trip Overview
Traveling between Tempe and Phoenix is a quick 13.4-mile journey that typically takes about 20 minutes. You will navigate primarily via local streets, including South Una Butte Avenue, South Butte Avenue, and East 12th Street, rather than taking the interstate. Because of the short distance, this trip is easily manageable in a single day and requires no overnight stay. Budgeting about $3 for fuel should be more than sufficient for this transit within the Desert Southwest. It is a straightforward, practical connection for anyone looking to move between these two Arizona cities without the complexity of a long-distance haul.
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
6.7 miles from Tempe, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you off the major highways entirely. With 0% of your time spent on high-speed interstates, the route demands your full attention as you navigate through the urban environment. You will find that there is no extended highway cruising here; in fact, the longest stretch of road is essentially 0 miles on South Una Butte Avenue due to the frequent turns required. This is purely a local transit experience that feels more like navigating city blocks than embarking on a traditional road trip. Prepare for a steady, hands-on drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Red Mountain Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 7.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Red Mountain Freeway and South McClintock Drive. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South Una Butte Avenue.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 13.3 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 0.2 miles (South Una Butte Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.7 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.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Una Butte Avenue
Turn right onto South Una Butte Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward AZ 202 Loop West
Navigation decision point
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
6
9.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 10 West
7
11.4 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward 7th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 145A
Toward 7th Street
9
11.7 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 7th Street South, Downtown Cultural/Sports Facilitles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward 7th Street South, Downtown Cultural/Spor...
Towns Along This Route
Between Tempe, AZ and Phoenix, AZ, road signs point toward 7Th Street South and Cultural/Sports Facilitles.
7Th Street South
11.7 mi in
|
~16m
Cultural/Sports Facilitles
11.7 mi in
|
~16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Red Mountain Freeway | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| South McClintock Drive | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North 7th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Papago Freeway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Apache Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 12th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Una Butte Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Red Mountain Freeway
— 7.5 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe, AZ and Phoenix, AZ.
1
Start on US 80 Hist
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
2
Turn right onto South Una Butte Avenue
321 ft
·
11 sec
·
South Una Butte Avenue
3
Turn right
22 ft
·
1 sec
4
Turn right onto South Butte Avenue
254 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Butte Avenue
5
Turn right onto East 12th Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
East 12th Street
6
Turn left onto South McClintock Drive
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South McClintock Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
8
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Red Mountain Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 West
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 10
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
·
Papago Freeway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 145A
Toward 7th Street
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward 7th Street South, Downtown Cultural/Sports Facilitles
Use the left lane.
13
Turn straight onto North 7th Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North 7th Street
14
Turn right onto East Washington Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Washington Street
15
Arrive at destination
West Washington Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a brief 20-minute drive, you have total flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. There are no mandatory stops required for this 13.4-mile trek, allowing you to head straight to your destination without the need for pacing or rest breaks. Keep in mind that because this route relies on local streets rather than highways, your travel time may fluctuate slightly based on local traffic signals and city congestion. My best advice is to familiarize yourself with the turn-heavy nature of South Una Butte and South Butte Avenues before you leave. By staying aware of your navigation, you can ensure a smooth transition across this short Desert Southwest path.
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 6.7 miles from Tempe, AZ, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.5 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 13.3 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.7 miles or 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Phoenix, 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 13.3 miles and 20m.
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 Red Mountain Freeway for about 7.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.7 mi from Tempe, AZ · 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
7 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 13.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 6.7 miles from Tempe, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Phoenix, AZ
The final approach into Phoenix, 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 Phoenix, 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
$2.65 one way
$5.29 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $2.80 | $5.59 |
| premium | $5.59 | $2.93 | $5.85 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.95 | $5.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4 | 0 | $1.40 | $0.64 |
| Efficient EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.16 | $0.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.86 | $0.85 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Phoenix, AZ
Afternoon in Phoenix on Sunday
Local time
4:38 PM
MST
Current temp
61°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
20m 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 Phoenix, AZ covers 13.3 miles and takes about 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Red Mountain Freeway, South McClintock Drive, North 7th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.7 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 $2.65 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 12 significant decision points across 13.3 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 0.2 miles (South Una Butte Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Tempe, AZ and Phoenix, AZ, road signs point toward 7Th Street South and Cultural/Sports Facilitles.
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