Origin
Tucson, AZ
Afternoon in Tucson on Monday
Local time
12:52 PM
MST
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tucson, AZ to Tempe, AZ
Drive Time
1h 49m
Distance
114.5 mi
184 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 41m
★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tucson, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Tempe, AZ
Vladimir Srajber
Trip Overview
The drive from Tucson, AZ to Tempe, AZ covers 114.5 miles and takes about 1h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Speedway Boulevard, North Freeway Road, I 10 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.79 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
57.2 miles from Tucson, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 49m drive with frequent turns across 114.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Speedway Boulevard is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Tucson, AZ to Tempe, AZ is easy. At 1h 49m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tucson, AZ to Tempe, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Speedway Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Freeway Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 10 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Maricopa Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 60 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Speedway Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tucson, AZ and Tempe, AZ.
1
Start on North Country Club Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Country Club Road
2
Turn left onto East Speedway Boulevard
3.3 mi
·
7 min
·
East Speedway Boulevard
3
Turn right onto North Freeway Road
417 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Freeway Road
4
Take the ramp straight toward I 10 West
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 10 West
5
Merge slight left onto North Freeway
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Freeway
6
Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
7
Keep slight left to continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
51 mi
·
51 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
8
Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
9
Continue on Maricopa Freeway
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 60 East: Mesa-Globe
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 60 East: Mesa-Globe
11
Keep slight right to continue on US 60 East: Mesa Globe
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 60 East: Mesa Globe
12
Merge slight left onto Superstition Freeway
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Superstition Freeway
13
Take the exit slight right toward McClintock Drive
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
McClintock Drive
14
Turn left onto South McClintock Drive
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
South McClintock Drive
15
Turn left onto East Apache Boulevard
138 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
16
Arrive at your destination
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 57.2 miles from Tucson, AZ, or about 54m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.2 miles or 54m 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 29m
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 Tucson, 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 Tucson, AZ
This is one driving day of about 114.5 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Tucson, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.2 mi from Tucson, AZ · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57.2 miles from Tucson, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.79 one way
$45.57 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $24.06 | $48.13 |
| premium | $5.59 | $25.19 | $50.37 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $25.44 | $50.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.4 | 0 | $12.02 | $5.50 |
| Efficient EV | 28.6 | 0 | $10.02 | $4.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.8 | 0 | $16.03 | $7.33 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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
Tempe, AZ
Afternoon in Tempe on Monday
Local time
12:52 PM
MST
Current temp
59°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
6 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
1h 49m 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 Tucson, AZ to Tempe, AZ covers 114.5 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Speedway Boulevard, North Freeway Road, I 10 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.2 miles from Tucson, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.79 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.
The drive from Tucson, AZ to Tempe, AZ is easy. At 1h 49m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tucson, AZ to Tempe, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Tucson, AZ to Tempe, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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