Why Do I Need a Car in Phoenix, Arizona?
Let’s be honest – living in Phoenix without a car is virtually impossible. The city is very spread out, which means that even walking to the grocery store can be quite challenging. If you add Arizonian heat to the equation, the need for a personal vehicle only increases. Luckily, driving in Phoenix is quite easy once you get used to it. The streets in the city are laid out in the grid system, which makes getting lost virtually impossible. In addition, Phoenix was ranked the number one city when it comes to quality of freeways and bridges. Phoenix has a very extensive freeway system, comprised of over a thousand lane miles of interstate, U.S. and State highways, including:
– Interstate 10, connecting the east and the west of the city, connecting Phoenix to California, the city of Tucson, and New Mexico,
– Interstate 17, which connects the Valley to the city of Flagstaff,
– US 60, an east-west highway, connecting Phoenix to New Mexico,
– Loop 101, or Arizona State Route 101, a semi-beltway circling a large portion of the metropolitan area,
– Loop 202, or Arizona State Route 202 is another partial beltway, which traverses the east of Phoenix, passing through Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, and Gilbert,
– SR 51, also known as Piestewa Freeway, connects I-10 with Loop 101,
– SR 143, also known as Hohokam Expressway, lies east of the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and
– Loop 303, or Bob Stump Memorial Parkway, serves the northwestern part of the city.
To see a comprehensive map of the streets of Phoenix and get directions for your future commutes, click here.