Tempe to Scottsdale Route Details, Pricing, and Travel Tips
Tempe and Scottsdale sit shoulder-to-shoulder in the East Valley, separated by little more than the Salt River and the Loop 101 corridor. Most door-to-door rides finish in 15 to 30 minutes — but the right route, the right pickup window, and the right vehicle can save you 10 to 20 minutes and noticeable money, especially during spring training, ASU game days, and the busy January-through-April Scottsdale resort season. Here is what to expect, what to budget, and how to book a Tempe↔Scottsdale shuttle that actually shows up.
How far is it from Tempe to Scottsdale — and which route is fastest?
Driving distance depends on where in Tempe you start and where in Scottsdale you end. We track every completed Tempe↔Scottsdale trip and the median is about 16 to 17 miles end-to-end, with three practical corridors:
- Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) — the workhorse for trips into Central or North Scottsdale. From central Tempe to North Scottsdale near Shea Boulevard runs about 11 miles and 20–25 minutes off-peak. We hop on Loop 101 northbound at McKellips or Curry, exit at Indian Bend, Chaparral, Shea, or Frank Lloyd Wright depending on the address.
- Scottsdale Road / Rural Road direct — the surface-street shortcut for Old Town and South Scottsdale. From ASU's campus to Old Town Scottsdale is only about 5 miles and runs 10–15 minutes when Mill Avenue isn't jammed. Best at off-peak hours; slow during ASU class change and event nights.
- Loop 202 (Red Mountain) east to Pima 101 north — preferred from east Tempe (Warner, Elliot, Guadalupe) and from any address south of US-60. Adds about 2 miles vs. Scottsdale Road but usually saves time at rush hour.
For longer hauls into far-north Scottsdale (Pinnacle Peak, DC Ranch, Troon) plan on 18–26 miles and 30–40 minutes. Live traffic from a delayed I-10 west crash can push that to 50 minutes — we pad the pickup window automatically on weekday peaks.
What does a Tempe to Scottsdale shuttle actually cost?
Pricing is mileage-based, total-per-vehicle (not per person), and the fastest way to see your actual quote is to enter your real pickup and drop-off addresses in the Check Rates form on this page. For context, here is what real Tempe↔Scottsdale rides have run in our system:
- Sedan, 1–2 passengers — typical Tempe to South/Central Scottsdale (Old Town, Talking Stick, Indian School Rd, downtown): about $44 to $70 one-way. Median around $50.
- Sedan, longer haul to North Scottsdale (Shea, Frank Lloyd Wright, DC Ranch, Troon): about $65 to $105 one-way.
- Large SUV, up to 6 passengers with extra luggage: about $95 to $150 for typical routes, more for far-north Scottsdale.
- Shuttle van or large SUV for 7–21 passengers (bachelorette parties to Old Town, wedding-party transfers, golf group to Troon): about $185 to $365 depending on stops and dwell time. These are the trips where the per-person cost beats every other option.
- Round trip: automatic 10% discount each way when you book both legs together. Use promo code NONSTOP on round trips to upgrade to a non-stop ride at no extra charge.
- One-way only: use promo code ONLINE at checkout for 10% off.
If your trip continues to Phoenix Sky Harbor or Mesa Gateway, see the airport sections below — we frequently combine a Tempe→Scottsdale hotel hop with a same-day airport leg and price them as one round trip.
Where do you pick up and drop off in Tempe and Scottsdale?
Door-to-door means door-to-door — we'll meet you at any street address, hotel lobby, apartment gate, ASU residence hall, or business entrance. The most common Tempe pickups we run:
- ASU Tempe campus — Manzanita, Hassayampa, Vista del Sol, Barrett, and curbside on University Drive or Apache Boulevard.
- Downtown Tempe / Mill Avenue — Graduate Tempe, AC Hotel by Marriott Tempe Downtown, Tempe Mission Palms, Aloft Tempe, Moxy Tempe.
- Tempe Marketplace / Rio Salado area — hotels along the 202, apartment complexes north of the lake.
- South Tempe — Warner, Elliot, Guadalupe, Baseline addresses; we pull off US-60 and Loop 101 quickly.
- Discovery Business Campus and ASU Research Park — conference attendees and corporate visitors.
And the Scottsdale destinations we run most often:
- Old Town Scottsdale — Hotel Valley Ho, W Scottsdale, Saguaro, Canopy by Hilton, Mountain Shadows, Hi Healey, dining and nightlife on 5th Avenue and Marshall Way.
- Talking Stick Entertainment District — Talking Stick Resort Casino, Salt River Fields (Diamondbacks & Rockies spring training), OdySea Aquarium, Top Golf, Great Wolf Lodge.
- Central Scottsdale resorts — Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas, Embassy Suites Scottsdale, DoubleTree Resort Paradise Valley, FireSky, Scottsdale Plaza Resort.
- North Scottsdale — The Phoenician (Camelback), Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Four Seasons Troon North, JW Marriott Camelback Inn, Andaz Scottsdale, We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort.
- Medical & corporate — Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, HonorHealth, Scottsdale Airpark business addresses, Scottsdale Airport (SDL) general-aviation FBO terminals (Atlantic Aviation and Signature).
Do you also connect Tempe-to-Scottsdale rides with Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) or Mesa Gateway (AZA)?
Yes — this is one of the most common trip patterns we run. A few examples:
- PHX to a Scottsdale resort with a Tempe stop: we pick you up at Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) Terminal 3 or Terminal 4 Prearranged, swing through Tempe (drop off a colleague at ASU or grab a checked bag), and finish at your Scottsdale hotel. Median Scottsdale↔Sky Harbor one-way pricing in our system is about $74, with 21 miles of typical drive distance.
- Scottsdale to AZA via Tempe: if your flight is on Allegiant or one of the other limited Mesa Gateway carriers, we route Scottsdale → Loop 202 east → Tempe optional stop → AZA in roughly 35–50 minutes. Median Scottsdale↔AZA one-way runs about $105, with a typical 32–38 mile drive depending on the Scottsdale origin.
- Tempe → PHX alone is about 6 miles and 11 minutes off-peak — see our Tempe to Sky Harbor shuttle page for that direct corridor.
Important: Mesa Gateway (AZA) is not the same airport as Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX). AZA is about 27 miles southeast of Tempe and serves Allegiant Air plus a handful of seasonal/charter carriers. Sky Harbor is 6 miles west of Tempe and serves every major U.S. airline. Confirm your airport on your boarding pass before you book.
How do I book a Tempe to Scottsdale shuttle?
- Step 1 — Use the Check Rates button. Enter your real Tempe and Scottsdale addresses, the date and time, and the number of passengers and bags.
- Step 2 — You'll see total prices for Sedan, Airport Shuttle, and Black Car Service. Pick the option that matches your group and luggage, then Reserve Now.
- Step 3 — Add name, cell phone, and email. We'll text and email your confirmation. Nothing is booked until step 4.
- Step 4 — Enter your card. Apply promo code ONLINE (one-way 10% off) or NONSTOP (round-trip non-stop upgrade) before you confirm. A confirmation email lands within seconds.
What vehicle will pick me up?
For 1–3 passengers and up to two normal-size checked bags, expect a clean late-model sedan or small SUV (often a Lincoln MKZ, Chrysler 300, Lexus ES Hybrid, or comparable). For 4–6 passengers, or 1–3 passengers with heavy luggage, golf clubs, ski bags, or a stroller, we send a Lincoln Navigator or Mercedes-class SUV. For 7–21 passengers (bachelorette groups bound for Old Town, wedding-party transfers to Troon, corporate offsite at a Scottsdale resort) we send a Mercedes Sprinter or large shuttle van. The vehicle that arrives matches what you booked — we don't pack you in with strangers and we don't make extra stops unless they are part of your reservation.
Travel tips for the Tempe↔Scottsdale corridor
- Spring training crush (mid-February through late March) — Talking Stick / Salt River Fields and the Scottsdale Stadium area swell with Cubs, Diamondbacks, Rockies, and Giants fans. Plan an extra 15–20 minutes around game start and game-end windows, especially exiting Loop 101 at Indian Bend or Via de Ventura.
- ASU game days and graduation — Mill Avenue, Rural Road, and Apache Boulevard become extremely slow around football and graduation weekends. We'll route around campus via Priest or the 202 if your trip needs to keep moving.
- Scottsdale resort season (January–April) — Resort drop-offs on Camelback Road, Scottsdale Road, and Indian Bend get backed up around 3–4 PM check-in and 11 AM check-out. Book a 15-minute earlier pickup if you have a hard appointment, tee time, or dinner reservation.
- Old Town nightlife — Friday and Saturday nights, traffic around Camelback and Scottsdale Road gets thick after 9 PM. We'll drop you a half-block from your destination if curbside is gridlocked — just tell the driver where you want to be.
- Summer heat (May–September) — Vehicles run cold A/C and bottled water is in the door. If you have pets, a child in a stroller, or temperature-sensitive medication, mention it when booking and we'll confirm the vehicle is pre-cooled before pickup.
- Monsoon season (July–September) — Haboobs (dust storms) and microburst thunderstorms can drop visibility to near zero on the 101 with little warning. We monitor weather and may reroute to surface streets if Loop 101 is unsafe. If your flight or event is time-critical, book 30 minutes earlier in monsoon weeks.
- Wheelchair and mobility access — ramp-equipped vehicles are available with 24-hour notice. Mention any mobility need at booking so the right vehicle is dispatched.
What if my plans change?
Change the date, time, pickup address, or drop-off address at no charge — just call or text us. If you don't have the exact Scottsdale address yet (resort not booked, friend's house still TBD), reserve with the city and update later. If you booked an airport pickup and your flight is delayed, we automatically track the flight and adjust pickup — you don't need to call. Cancellations follow the cancellation policy on your confirmation email; check there for the timing-based fee schedule.
Ready to book your Tempe to Scottsdale shuttle?
Call us 24/7 at (602) 461-8717, text the same number, or use the Check Rates button above for an instant online quote. Most online bookings finish in under 60 seconds. We confirm by email and text, and a real human in Phoenix dispatch reads every reservation before pickup — not a faceless algorithm in another time zone.
