During the 15th century, the area that would become Tempe was inhabited by the Hohokam Native Americans, who built canals to support their agriculture. Throughout the mid-19th century, towns began to develop along the Salt River in the area. The community of Tempe was founded in the late 1800s and officially incorporated on October 15, 1892. In 1879, a pioneer named Darrell Duppa suggested that the town be named Tempe after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. In 1885, Tempe was chosen to be the site of the Territorial Normal School, which is today known as Arizona State University. The city saw a major boom after the Maricopa and Phoenix Railroad was built in 1887, providing a strong link between Tempe and much of the country.
These days, Tempe is a bustling suburb of Phoenix with a population of approximately 180,000 people. If you're visiting the city, a great place to start is the vibrant downtown area, known for its brick sidewalks and its many bars, restaurants, breweries, and entertainment venues. If you enjoy learning new things, you'll want to check out some of the city's many interesting museums. A few great examples are the Arizona State University Art Museum, the Tempe History Museum, and the Legoland Discovery Center.
Tempe features several wonderful places to catch a live performance, with a couple of excellent options being the Tempe Center for the Arts and the ASU Gammage Auditorium. If you want to do some shopping during your visit, you could browse the shops found at Arizona Mills or head to the bustling Tempe Marketplace.
The sun is frequently shining in the Tempe area, and if you want to get out and enjoy the weather, there are many great options. There's the 125-acre Kiwanis Park, which features a lake with a boat dock and several sports fields and courts. You could also enjoy a peaceful picnic at Daley Park or spend a fun day biking, fishing, or paddle-boating at the beautiful Tempe Beach Park.
Annual BICA Fall Festival - All are invited to come on out to the Believe I Can Academy in mid-November for the Annual BICA Fall Festival. The fun, family-friendly event offers free admission, free arts and crafts, and much more.
Tempe Water Lantern Festival - Water lanterns are a unique and beautiful sight, and the annual Tempe Water Lantern Festival offers a great opportunity to see them take off. The fantastic festival happens in mid-November at Kiwanis Lake.
Arizona Fried Chicken and Wings Festival - If you like delicious chicken, you won't want to miss the annual Arizona Fried Chicken and Wings Festival. The festival, which takes place in late October at The Pressroom, features the top local fried chicken businesses and several varieties of tasty chicken.
Saguaro National Park, located just outside Tucson, features a stunning desert landscape filled with the majestic saguaro cacti. The park is the only place in the world where the special cacti can be found naturally, and visitors flock to the area from all over to see them in person. The area is an exceptional hiking destination, offering breathtaking views and a unique landscape to explore. Additionally, few places in the entire country are better spots to watch a sunset!
Another unique natural haven found in Arizona is Petrified Forest National Park, comprising 220 square miles of beautiful Technicolor desert. In addition to the fossilized wood that the park is named for, the area features fascinating paleontological exhibits and petroglyphs to check out. Wildlife enthusiasts are frequent visitors to the park, which is inhabited by bobcats, pronghorns, coyotes, and over 200 species of birds. Other popular activities in the area include hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding, and there are also guided tours available.
Grand Canyon National Park is home to one of the most famous and popular tourist attractions on the planet. The park's namesake canyon is an incredible gorge carved out over thousands of years by the flow of the mighty Colorado River. Millions of visitors make their way to the park every year simply to enjoy the majesty of the magnificent canyon. During your visit, you could embark on a backpacking adventure down into the canyon or partake in activities like hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, and rafting.
Nestled in the beautiful Sonoran Desert, Lost Dutchman State Park covers 320 acres of serene landscape. The park features colorful desert foliage as well as fascinating wildlife like mules, javelinas, and jackrabbits. Hiking and mountain biking are both popular activities for visitors; the area boasts four miles of mountain bike single track and many hiking trails.
McFarland State Historic Park is situated in downtown Florence, AZ. The commemorative area dates back to 1974 and was established to commemorate several of the town's oldest historic structures. The urban park offers several lovely picnic areas, but the main activity is exploring the buildings and learning about the area's history.
If you enjoy serene gardens, you'll definitely want to visit Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, located at the base of Picketpost Mountain in the Sonoran Desert. The picturesque garden boasts over 2,500 species of plants, and there are several trail options for exploring the park. The arboretum also features a store where visitors can purchase their own desert plants.
If you're interested in visiting unique monuments and landmarks, you'll have quite a few excellent options in Arizona. One interesting site to visit is the Meteor Crater located relatively close to Flagstaff. The crater has a diameter of roughly 3,900 feet and is an incredible 560 feet deep. In addition to taking an up-close look at the incredible crater, visitors can also check out the adjacent museum and gift shop.
Another landmark that you may want to visit is Old Tucson, a theme park located just west of Tucson. The theme park is built into a working movie studio and offers guests the chance to get a taste of the Wild West.
If you make your way down near the Arizona-Mexico border, you can stop by the Queen Mine. The historic landmark was once a mining site and a rich vein of copper ore, and if you visit today, you can take a tour more than 1,500 feet down into the mine. Taking this tour is undoubtedly a unique and memorable experience.
One quality campground near Tempe is the North Phoenix Campground, which offers RV campsites for $35 per night or $140 per week. Guests at the park can enjoy a variety of amenities, including a pool, laundry facilities, and free Wi-Fi. The campground is also pet-friendly and known for being exceptionally clean.
There's also the Covered Wagon RV Park, where you can rent a full-hookup RV campsite for $44 per night. The campground is located conveniently close to several shopping centers and museums. During your stay, you'll have access to a lovely swimming pool and free Wi-Fi.
Another relaxing place to stay is the Desert Shadows RV Resort. There, you can stay at one of the many RV campsites for $47-$64 per night. There are full hookups available, and the campground's amenities include a heated pool, a spa, and an exercise room.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Tempe, AZ, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Tempe?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Tempe from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Tempe?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
