Tempe, AZ
Tempe adjoins Phoenix on the west, Scottsdale on the north, Mesa on the east, and Chandler and Guadalupe on the south. It is five minutes east of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. The cities of Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa are connected by a light rail line that makes it easy to get around.
Population / Elevation
Population: 182,500
Elevation: 1159
City Area: 39.5 Square Miles
Median resident age – 28.5
History
Tempe was once known as just a small college town, but things have changed. Today, it has blossomed into a vibrant and diverse city with fine hotels, a vibrant downtown, major shopping malls, industrial parks, research centers, art festivals, excellent cultural facilities, and some of the finest recreation destinations in the state. Its primary claim to fame is as the home to the main campus of Arizona State University - ASU. Tempe adjoins Phoenix on the west, Scottsdale on the north, Mesa on the east, and Chandler and Guadalupe on the south.
Things to Do
- Golf
- Running events
- Triathlons
- Biking
- Tennis
- Hiking
- Mountain Climbing
- Water sports
- Art festivals and street fairs
- Live music shows
- Restaurants and cafes
- Boutiques
- Theaters
- Concerts
- Marathons
- Street Parties
- Fairs
Camping & RV Parks
There are many camping and RV accommodations in and around Tempe. For more information, contact:
Tempe Chamber of Commerce
1232 E. Broadway Road #211
Tempe AZ, 85282
Phone: 480-967-7891
Hotels & Motels
There are hotels and motels in Tempe with something for every taste and price range. Click here for a full list of rates, availability and reservations online.
Cities & Towns
- Sedona, Arizona: 119 miles north.
- Scottsdale, Arizona: 10 miles east.
- Flagstaff, Arizona: 138 miles north.
- Fountain Hills, Arizona
- Guadalupe, Arizona
- Globe, Arizona: 89 miles east.
- Wickenburg, Arizona: 53 miles west.
- Prescott, Arizona: 94 miles north.
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Tucson, Arizona: 117 miles.
Parks & Monuments
- Tempe Town Lake – Part of the Rio Salado recreational development – a manmade lake surrounded by facilities for recreational activities, music events, town parties including Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve fireworks, More than 2 million people visit Tempe Town Lake each year to boat, fish, attend concerts, fireworks and a variety of festivals. It's also one of Tempe's best development sites. Home to Tempe Beach Park.
- Big Surf Water Park: An oasis in the desert.
- Montezuma's Castle National Monument: 85 miles north.
- Fort Verde State Historic Park: 83 miles north.
- Casa Grande National Monument: 47 miles south.
- Picacho Peak State Park: 73 miles south.
- Tonto National Monument: 60 miles east.
Recreation & Wilderness Areas
- South Mountain Park
- McDowell Mountain Regional Park – camping, hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails on preserved lands. Sprawling trails for all ability levels.
- Camelback Mountain – hiking trails
- Piesta Peak – hiking trails. Piesta Peak was at one time referred to as Squaw Peak but recently renamed as a tribute to a Native American soldier (a woman) killed in Iraq.
- Salt River Recreation – riding inner tubes down the Verde and Salt Rivers. Very popular during the hot days of summer.
- Saguaro Lake and Canyon Lake – for boating and fishing.
Historic & Points of Interest
- Arizona State University – ASU has grown into the largest university in the nation, with several campuses spread throughout the metropolitan area. The largest of these campuses is the Tempe ASU Campus, a square-mile center of knowledge and cultural experience. It is one of the top research universities in the US. ASU’s Sun Devils can be seen playing football at Sun Devil Stadium – marked by the giant “A” on the adjacent mountain. “ASU has a vision to be a New American University, promoting excellence in its research and among its students and faculty, increasing access to its educational resources and working with communities to positively impact social and economic development.”
- ASU Art Museum
- Boyce Thompson Southwest Arboretum: 62 miles east.
- Mill Avenue District – (http://www.downtowntempe.com/) Tempe’s colorful and exciting downtown. Mill Avenue is next to the main campus of Arizona State University. It is the vibrant heart of the city. It bustles with more than 100 boutiques, shops, restaurants, nightclubs, theaters, hotels and offices - all concentrated in the renowned Mill Avenue District. The area teems with professional and collegiate athletics, live music, movies, plays, street festivals, fun runs and dozens of community events. More than a dozen movie screens show new releases, classic films and cult favorites.
- Tempe Center for the Arts
- ASU Gammage Auditorium
- Broadway in Arizona is a facility designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
- The Arboretum at Arizona State University Arizona's largest public urban arboretum.
- Center for Meteorite Studies at ASU World’s largest university- based collections with specimens representing over 1,500 separate fall events.
Share this page on Facebook:
DesertUSA Newsletter -- We send articles on hiking, camping and places to explore, as well as animals, wildflower reports, plant information and much more. Sign up below or read more about the DesertUSA newsletter here. (It's Free.)
The Desert Environment
The North American Deserts
Desert Geological Terms
