Tell me about the commute from Ahwatukee to ASU (Phoenix: apartment complex, how much)

[ZAMABA28]

I will be attending grad school at ASU next year and I am thinking about moving into an apartment complex in north Ahwatukee close to the Pima Canyon trail head.

Eventually I want to live in the west campus neighborhood, but I do not know anyone I can share a house with yet. I also want to avoid the party apartment complexes near campus. Since I will not be living next to campus I want to live next to South Mountain. That is why I am picking this area over South Tempe.

Please tell me about the commute from north Ahwatukee to ASU. How much longer is it during rush hour? Will I hate my life? I will only have to commute during morning rush hour.

I have never been to Phoenix, I have never lived in a big city and I have never had to commute before.

Thanks

[Robert A]

Originally Posted by ZAMABA28

I will be attending grad school at ASU next year and I am thinking about moving into an apartment complex in north Ahwatukee close to the Pima Canyon trail head.

Eventually I want to live in the west campus neighborhood, but I do not know anyone I can share a house with yet. I also want to avoid the party apartment complexes near campus. Since I will not be living next to campus I want to live next to South Mountain. That is why I am picking this area over South Tempe.

Please tell me about the commute from north Ahwatukee to ASU. How much longer is it during rush hour? Will I hate my life? I will only have to commute during morning rush hour.

I have never been to Phoenix, I have never lived in a big city and I have never had to commute before.

Thanks

I did that commute a couple days a week about five years ago, so not terribly recently, but I don't remember it being that bad. I actually drove from Ray/I-10 and I got there within 25 minutes or so. Some days traffic moved a little better and you could cut some time from that.

Coming from near Pima Canyon, I'd guess the best route might be to take Guadalupe to Rural, and then take that straight up. Just avoid the freeway altogether. Hit some lights and I bet you could get there in under 20.

EDIT: Google Maps tells me a different route would be better (Guadalupe>Priest>Baseline>Hardy>University), but I guess it depends on where at ASU you'll park.

In short, no, you will not hate your life.

[ZAMABA28]

Thanks for the info.

I will be parking in the south west corner of the university near the auditorium.

[traveljerk123]

Not all apartments near the ASU campus are "party apartments". I've lived in one such apartment on University Dr for a while and did not have any trouble with students partying, except maybe at the end of semesters which is ok. (the complex was mostly occupied by students). Do some research and you'll find something. Plus as a student you don't want to pay for gas just to commute from Ahwatukee. During rush hour you are looking at abt 25 min drive depending on where in N Ahwatukee you live.

[observer53]

I don't think it will take 25 minutes, but you can find a smaller, older apt complex nearer campus that is not party central.

[buckeyenative01]

15-20 minutes tops.

I-10/US 60 interchange is bad at rush hour, but if you're not having to deal with the Broadway Curve itself, then its really not that terrible.

[PoppySead]

Easy peasy lemon squeezy !

[observer53]

Originally Posted by buckeyenative01

15-20 minutes tops.

I-10/US 60 interchange is bad at rush hour, but if you're not having to deal with the Broadway Curve itself, then its really not that terrible.

There's no need to even get on the freeway to go to ASU from the location the OP is asking about. He's not talking about the more southern parts of Ahwatukee-- It's likely faster, at rush hour, not to get on the freeway.

[Valley Native]

Commuting in & out of Ahwatukee can be a pain during rush hour, but the freeways can make it even more difficult. I10 is always backed up, as is the 60 ... however, driving east on the 60 in the morning is going AGAINST the bulk of the traffic. Surface streets are really no better overall because of all the stop & go traffic. Might be all right to get on the 60 eastbound to Mill and then north to ASU. It wouldn't be that much of a freeway commute.

[cab591]

If any of the commenters read the OP's post, he's looking around the Pima Canyon trail head.

OP: When most people hear "Awatukee", they assume foothills -- basically, south side of the mountain, or about 3-4 miles south of where you're looking. If you were down there, then your commute would be 20-25 minutes in traffic. You're looking at where the gap between the mountain and the interstate narrows. If you're looking there, stick to surface streets and you're commute should be around 15 minutes. Surface streets don't really get much more traffic during rush hour, so you won't notice any difference or much congestion.