Tucson to Tempe: Road Trip Guide

Two hours to Tempe! Jump in the car and you'll be on your way to this eastern suburb of Phoenix, Arizona.

With a population just shy of 200,000, Tempe is large enough to stand on its own two feet - but is surrounded by Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale, Guadalupe, and Phoenix (the 5th largest city in the USA). In fact, you will barely be able to tell where one city ends and one city begins.

Tempe's biggest claim to fame is that it is home to Arizona State University, the largest public university in the state.

WHERE TO STAY IN TEMPE

Because Tempe is part of the Phoenix metropolitan area, hotel options are plentiful.

Consider one of these highly rated options:

• AC Hotel Phoenix Tempe/Downtown
• Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown
• Drury Plaza Hotel Phoenix Tempe
• Hampton Inn & Suites Tempe/Phoenix Airport
• Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix/Tempe ASU
• Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Tempe, University Research Park
• Tempe Mission Palms

THINGS TO DO IN TEMPE

If you are visiting Tempe, you'll likely visit attractions in the City of Tempe, as well as in the border towns of Scottsdale, Phoenix, Chandler, and Mesa. The cities really do meld together seamlessly. That being said, the following activities are in Tempe proper.

ASU Gammage

Calling all theatre buffs! ASU Gammage is a performing arts venue on the Arizona State University Campus. The theatre hosts Broadway shows, as well as other concerts and variety shows.

Tempe Town Lake

Tempe Town Lake is another landmark in this area - allowing visitors & locals the opportunity to walk, run, or bike around the five miles of shoreline.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center and SEA LIFE at Arizona Mills

LEGOLAND Discovery Center is a popular spot among families with young children. Located inside the Arizona Mills shopping center, the center offers ten build-and-play zones, two rides, and 4D movies. The center is right next door to SEA LIFE, a 26,000 square foot interactive aquarium. Combo tickets are available so that you can visit both attractions on the same day.

Tempe Marketplace

If you're hoping to shop or kick back at a movie theatre, visit Tempe Marketplace, which is home to As You Wish Pottery Painting Place, Barnes & Noble, H&M, Harkins Theatres, JCPenney, Nordstrom Rack, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Target, and a number of fast-casual dining options. Tempe Marketplace also has a small (free!) splash pad, which is pictured above.

The Cloud at Kiwanis Park

Visiting with kids between April and October? Slather on sunscreen, put on your suits, and head to The Cloud at Kiwanis Park (pictured above) - a free splash pad, which is open daily from 8:00am-10:00pm.

WHAT'S NEW IN TEMPE

• Bubble Planet is now open at Arizona Mills.
• Escapology is a new escape Room at Tempe Marketplace.
• The Picklr is a new indoor pickleball venue.
• Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills Golf Course is Arizona’s only day and night course - 18 holes fully lit with LED lights.
• The Valley Suns, the NBA Suns’s G League affiliate, now call Mullett Arena in Tempe home. The season runs November – March.
• Desert Botanical Garden offers Flashlight Nights all summer.
• Feta Cowboy is the first fast-casual offshoot of the Pita Jungle brand.
• Taco Chelo Tempe, a collaboration of restaurateur Aaron Chamberlin, chef Suny Santana and artist Gennaro Garcia, is second only to the original location in Downtown Phoenix’s Roosevelt Row. The brand is famous for hand-pressed, made-to-order tortillas.
• Hundred Mile Brewing Co. is a new spot near the lake’s north shore that has an excellent patio with yard games.
• Glenrosa restaurant and bar at Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills Golf Course offers a spacious, family friendly dining concept with Sonoran, Mexican cuisine.

OTHER THINGS TO DO IN PHOENIX

The Phoenix metro area is HUGE so the list of available attractions and activities is equally robust.

Some of our favorite places include:

• Camelback Mountain
• Heritage Square
• McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
• Papago Park
• Pizzeria Bianco
• The Farm at South Mountain

HAVE A GREAT TIME IN TEMPE!