Tempe to Tucson drive: Time, distance & best road trip stops
The distance from Tempe to Tucson by car is 107 miles, with a 1h40m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Tempe to Tucson drive are Casa Grande AZ, Picacho Peak State Park and Saguaro National Park.
Planning a Tempe to Tucson road trip itinerary
The Tempe to Tucson drive connects two of the main cities in Arizona.
Tempe is a city on the Salt River in the Greater Phoenix area of Arizona. The Sea Life Arizona Aquarium and Desert Botanical Garden are at either end of the city, but you can pick from a wide range of Tempe experiences here.
For those seeking culture, the Tempe Center for the Arts is likely to be the highlight. Papago Park, meanwhile, provides hiking trails and impressive scenery. You can explore as part of the Hole in the Rock Hike and Bike tour.
Top Tempe accommodation choices include the Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU and the Sonesta Select Tempe Downtown.
Tucson is often used as a base for exploring the Sonoran Desert. But it’s a proper city with an arty streak, a Spanish-tinged history and excellent Mexican food.
Top Tucson experiences include exploring the city’s many murals, taking a self-guided audio tour through Saguaro National Park and canyoneering at Mt Lemmon.
There are also several good bike tours you can do in and around Tucson. Choose from a history-focused ride through the city, e-biking in Saguaro National Park and taco-tasting on two wheels.
For resort-style accommodation in Tucson, take a look at the impressive Casino Del Sol Resort. To stay downtown, within walking distance of several restaurants, try the Leo Kent Hotel.
Tempe to Tucson distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Tempe to Tucson is 107 miles. You can expect a driving time of around one hour and 40 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-10.
The best stops to add to a Tempe to Tucson road trip itinerary are Casa Grande AZ, Picacho Peak State Park and Saguaro National Park.
Tempe to Tucson road trip attractions: Casa Grande AZ
In Casa Grande, you can learn about local history at the Museum of Casa Grande. However, the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument provides a far more evocative history lesson. Here, the remains of a great house and farming sites belonging to the Ancestral Sonoran People are preserved.
For something more quirky, head to the Casa Grande Neon Sign Park, where unwanted neon signs spend their retirement.
Best stops between Tempe and Tucson: Picacho Peak State Park
Picacho Peak is a part of a volcanic flow that has been eroded away over the centuries. Jutting 1,500ft out from the Sonoran Desert, Picacho Peak has long been an iconic landmark.
There are a series of short, easy walking trails with interpretive signs in Picacho Peak State Park. The difficult and very steep two mile Hunter Trail will take you to the top, though. Come after winter rains, and you’re likely to see an explosion of wildflowers.
Tempe to Tucson drive: Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park is a celebration of the biggest cactus in the US – the enormous saguaro – is split into two sections. The western section to the west of Tucson has a cactus garden outside the visitor center, but you can get great photos of cacti with a desert mountain backdrop elsewhere in the park.
There are several hiking trails in the western section. The 1.8 mile Wild Dog Trail is the easiest introductory walk for those passing through.
More Tucson road trips
Albuquerque to Tucson | Bisbee to Tucson | Casa Grande to Tucson | Chandler to Tucson | Tucson to Colorado Springs | Dallas to Tucson | Deming NM to Tucson | Tucson to Denver | El Paso to Tucson | Tucson to Flagstaff | Tucson to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Houston to Tucson | Las Cruces to Tucson | Tucson to Mesa AZ | Phoenix to Tucson | Tucson to Prescott | Santa Fe to Tucson | Tucson to Scottsdale | Tucson to Sedona | Tucson to Tombstone | Yuma to Tucson.