Tempe—let’s be honest—might as well be Phoenix; the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is just 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the center of town. It’s not a suburb (in fact, it was a sundown town through the 1960s), but with Phoenix and Scottsdale exploding from the west and north, it sure can seem like it.
All that aside, there’s plenty to do here without crossing town borders. The 1,500-acre Papago Park is a beautiful stroll through the cactus-rich desert; Tempe Town Lake is an excellent spot for a kayak or SUP; and, if the heat gets to you, there’s always LEGOLAND.
Expect sunny, hot weather—so layer up that sunscreen and keep hydrating.
If it’s too hot in the afternoon to explore outdoors, know that twilight hikes can be extra rewarding.
The ASU campus has a few great open-to-the-public hidden gems, like the ASU Art Museum.
Most visitors will arrive in Tempe one of two ways: landing at the Phoenix International Airport, just a few minutes away, or driving in from Phoenix or Scottsdale. You could also take a bus, rideshare, or taxi from those neighboring cities to your Tempe location.
With so much sunny, warm weather, many say there’s no bad time to visit Tempe. But a particularly lovely season is spring—you may not associate the desert with color, but it's quite a sight when the cacti and wildflowers are in bloom. Plus, you’ll get to skip the hot, hot, hot days of summer.
The massive and massively gorgeous Papago Park—home to the Desert Botanical Garden—used to be a national monument. Papago-Saguaro National Monument was designated in 1914, but humans swiftly stole its finest flora. Just 16 years later, it was transferred to the state and then to the city of Phoenix. Thievery aside, it’s still a gorgeous place for an earthen wander.
