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Trip from Three Points, AZ to Tempe, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 23m

Distance

119.3 mi

192 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 14m ★
6 AM
2h 24m
8 AM
2h 43m
10 AM
2h 31m
12 PM
2h 29m
3 PM
2h 32m
5 PM
2h 42m
8 PM
2h 18m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Three Points, AZ, AZ

Three Points, AZ

KoolShooters

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Tempe, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Three Points, AZ to Tempe, AZ covers 119.3 miles and takes about 2h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, South Sandario Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.1 miles on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.77 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

59.6 miles from Three Points, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 119.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 23m drive with frequent turns across 119.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 38.1 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 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 24.6 miles in near North Sandario Road.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 119.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 24.6 miles (North Sandario Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 31.1 miles (West Marana Road): Navigation decision point; at 113.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
24.6 mi into trip | ~36m in | North Sandario Road

Enter roundabout onto North Sandario Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
31.1 mi into trip | ~47m in | West Marana Road

At end of road, turn right onto West Marana Road

Navigation decision point

7
113.1 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in

Take the exit toward US 60 East: Mesa-Globe

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 154 Toward US 60 East: Mesa-Globe
6
113.7 mi into trip | ~2h 14m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 60 East: Mesa Globe

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 154 Toward US 60 East: Mesa Globe
7
116.8 mi into trip | ~2h 18m in

Take the exit toward McClintock Drive

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 175 Toward McClintock Drive

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway 38.1 mi 38m
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway 36.1 mi 36m
South Sandario Road 18.3 mi 29m
West Ajo Highway 6.3 mi 7m
Maricopa Freeway 5.9 mi 6m
North Sanders Road 4 mi 6m
Superstition Freeway 2.4 mi 2m
South McClintock Drive 2 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway — 38.1 mi, about 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Three Points, AZ and Tempe, AZ.

1

Start on AZ 86

6.3 mi · 7 min · West Ajo Highway
2

Turn left onto South Sandario Road

18 mi · 29 min · South Sandario Road
3

Enter roundabout onto North Sandario Road

94 ft · 4 sec · North Sandario Road
4

Continue on North Sandario Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · North Sandario Road
5

Turn left onto West Avra Valley Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Avra Valley Road
6

Turn right onto North Sanders Road

4.0 mi · 6 min · North Sanders Road
7

At end of road, turn right onto West Marana Road

0.5 mi · 53 sec · West Marana Road
8

Continue on Marana Main Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Marana Main Street
9

Enter roundabout onto North Sandario Road

189 ft · 6 sec · North Sandario Road
10

Continue on North Sandario Road

0.3 mi · 59 sec · North Sandario Road
11

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
12

Merge onto I 10

36 mi · 36 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on I 10

38 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on I 10

5.9 mi · 6 min · Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 154 Toward US 60 East: Mesa-Globe Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 154 Toward US 60 East: Mesa Globe
17

Merge onto US 60

2.4 mi · 2 min · Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Exit 175 Toward McClintock Drive Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Turn left onto South McClintock Drive

2.0 mi · 4 min · South McClintock Drive
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
20

Turn left onto US 80 Hist

137 ft · 10 sec · East Apache Boulevard
Use the left lane.
21

Arrive at destination

US 80 Hist

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 59.6 miles from Three Points, AZ, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.1 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 26 miles or 39m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 59.6 miles or 1h 18m 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 56m

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 Three Points, 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 Three Points, AZ

This is one driving day of about 119.3 miles and 2h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Three Points, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway for about 38.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 59.6 mi from Three Points, AZ · 1h 18m into the drive

census designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Arizona City, AZ

60 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.

Popular next leg

Arizona City, AZ to Tempe, AZ

56.5 mi · 57m

Pacing Suggestions

Marana, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Eloy, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 59.6 miles from Three Points, 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.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Tempe, AZ.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

National Monument

An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...

11 mi from route ~26 min detour Free near mile 78.1
View on nps.gov
Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park

National Park

Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are pr...

27 mi from route ~67 min detour $25 near mile 12.3
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.77 one way

$47.53 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $25.15 $50.30
premium $5.59 $26.26 $52.52
diesel $5.61 $26.34 $52.68

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 41.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 35.8 0 $12.53 $5.73
Efficient EV 29.8 0 $10.44 $4.77
EV Truck/SUV 47.7 0 $16.70 $7.64

Gas CO2

42 kg

EV CO2

14 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Three Points, AZ

Afternoon in Three Points on Thursday

Local time

4:55 PM

MST

Current temp

90°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tempe, AZ

Afternoon in Tempe on Thursday

Local time

4:55 PM

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

3 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

2h 23m 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 Three Points, AZ to Tempe, AZ covers 119.3 miles and takes about 2h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, South Sandario Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.6 miles from Three Points, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.77 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 119.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 24.6 miles (North Sandario Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 31.1 miles (West Marana Road): Navigation decision point; at 113.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Three Points, AZ to Tempe, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Saguaro National Park.

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