You can make Los Angeles to Tempe in about 5.5 hours, but the people who love this drive never do it in one straight shot. At around 375 miles on I-10, it is short enough to start after breakfast and long enough to earn a night somewhere memorable before kickoff.
Open this route in XCRSNLeaving Los Angeles
Aim to clear Los Angeles before the morning rush, or after it, never in it. Fill the tank on the edge of town where prices usually drop, set the playlist, and settle in for the first 122 miles to Indio.
The headline stop on this route is Mountain America Stadium. Leave real time for it; it sets the tone for the whole trip.
Indio
Indio sits about 122 miles in. It makes a good spot to stretch, eat something that is not from a gas station, and swap drivers.
Nearby, Mill Avenue in Tempe is worth the short detour if the day is going well.
Blythe, the last stretch
Blythe sits about 218 miles in. It makes a good spot to stretch, eat something that is not from a gas station, and swap drivers.
Rolling into Tempe
The final 158 miles always go faster than you expect. Save a little energy for Desert wind farms at San Gorgonio Pass; it is a fitting finish.
By the end you will have seen Mountain America Stadium, Mill Avenue in Tempe and Desert wind farms at San Gorgonio Pass, and you will understand why this corridor is a classic.
Game day at Mountain America Stadium
On a Arizona State Sun Devils home weekend, Tempe changes completely. Rooms near Mountain America Stadium sell out months ahead and rates can triple, so lock in your night as soon as the schedule drops, or stay one town back along I-10 and drive in early.
Plan to arrive the night before kickoff. Lots and tailgate spots fill hours before the game, and the drive home after the final whistle is the slowest 375 miles of the season, so a second night is usually the smarter play.
When to go and how to pace it
One night is the sweet spot. Tempe, AZ is where most people stay, so book ahead on summer weekends.
Check live gas prices along I-10 before you go; they can swing a lot from one state or county to the next. XCRSN prices every leg for your exact car.
