Getting Around Tempe
Tempe is a compact, visitor-friendly city in the Phoenix metropolitan area, and it is easy to move around without a car. The city is served by a light rail line, a streetcar, a network of local and regional buses, free neighborhood shuttles, taxis, ride-hailing, and self-driving cars. Downtown Tempe, the Mill Avenue District, and the Arizona State University (ASU) campus are all well connected to these services, and the city is also very close to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Light Rail and Streetcar
The Valley Metro Light Rail runs through Tempe and connects it with the neighboring cities of Mesa and Phoenix. Tickets can be purchased from automated kiosks at every station, though you will need the Valley Metro app or a dedicated fare card to buy and load tickets. Free Park-and-Ride lots are located along the length of the route, which is useful if you are driving in from elsewhere in the valley. There are also plans to extend the rail system using spurs.
The Tempe Streetcar is a separate, newer line that starts at Marina Heights behind Sun Devil Stadium. It runs along Mill and Ash Avenues and Apache Boulevard before linking up with the light rail at the Dorsey/Apache Station. Along the way it passes the Gammage Curve, which offers a scenic view of ASU's Gammage Memorial Auditorium. One quirk to remember: southbound trains only serve Ash Avenue, while northbound trains only run along Mill Avenue, so check which direction you need before you board. The streetcar costs a small flat fare per ride, and current schedules and route information are available from Valley Metro.
Buses and Free Shuttles
Valley Metro operates an extensive bus service on every major road in the area, with cheap fares. Paper tickets have been abolished, so you load value onto the app or a dedicated card (which carries a small one-time cost) and then tap or scan to buy your ticket. Single tickets can also be paid for with cash. Many bus routes connect to the light rail system. Buses have bike racks, but because they often run only every half hour, the racks can be full during busy periods. All-day, 7-day, 15-day, and 31-day passes can be purchased at numerous locations, including grocery stores and light rail stations, and both cash and credit cards are accepted.
Tempe also offers two free neighborhood circulators:
- Orbit — runs six routes through residential neighborhoods to the downtown area and the Mill Avenue District, and connects to the light rail station at College Avenue. The routes are named after planets. Orbit charges no fare and will pick up passengers at any point along a sidewalk in residential areas where no bus stops are established. It generally runs every 15 to 30 minutes, with longer hours on weekdays and shorter hours on Sundays.
- Flash — operates one route on weekdays only, taking passengers from the Tempe Transit Center to around the ASU area. It is also free, with reduced hours during ASU breaks.
A system-wide route map covering all bus routes, both paid and free, can be downloaded from the Valley Metro website. Note that nearby Mesa does not run bus service on Sundays, so some service in Tempe is disrupted on that day.
For longer trips, intercity bus options also stop in Tempe. Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach connects the Phoenix metro area to the Amtrak Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle trains in Maricopa, with additional stops at Sky Harbor International Airport and the Metro Center Transit Center. FlixBus stops in the bus terminal at the University Drive/Rural Road Station, and Hoang Express serves Tempe on routes between Southern California and Arizona.
Taxis, Ride-Hailing, and Self-Driving Cars
Taxis and shuttles are available for arrivals and departures, and ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft operate throughout the area. Waymo also offers a ride-hailing-style service using all-electric self-driving cars, available around the clock in portions of Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley. Fares depend on the distance traveled.
Walking and Bicycling
Tempe is a comparatively bicycle-friendly city in the Phoenix valley. Many roads have bike lanes, and there is a variety of enjoyable bike paths in and around parks and scenic locations that connect conveniently to nearly all urban areas and points of interest. Bike lanes see more traffic the closer you get to downtown Tempe and ASU. A mixed-use bike and pedestrian path crosses Tempe Town Lake at the Tempe Town Lake Dam, near the Tempe Center for the Arts, and cyclists can also cross the lake from Phoenix on the Mill Avenue Bridge. A printable map of bike routes in the city can be downloaded from the city.
Although Tempe is a small city, the dry and hot summer climate can make self-pedaling from one point to another somewhat uncomfortable, which is one reason electric bikes have become a very popular option year-round.
Getting from the Airport
Tempe is one of the most accessible cities in the Phoenix metropolitan area and is only about 10 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Taxis and shuttles are available for arrivals and departures, and there are also a number of reasonably priced public buses. The light rail is a short shuttle ride away from the airport. Only Terminals 3 and 4 exist at Sky Harbor.
One practical warning for newcomers: the roads and parking lots serving the airport can be poorly marked and rather confusing to navigate, so it is worth allotting extra time in case you miss a turn and need to circle around.