Access to Tempe Town Lake on the Rio Salado, its surrounding amenities, businesses and adjacent downtown area is easy, convenient and open to the public.

Printable maps:  Directions to Town Lake and Tempe Beach Park;  Tempe

South Bank Access
Direct access is available from the Red Mountain Freeway (Loop 202) and other connecting freeway routes. From the Red Mountain Freeway (exit south), motorists can access Rio Salado Parkway at Priest Drive, Rural Road or McClintock Drive.

Rio Salado Parkway is the primary automobile route on the south side of Tempe Town Lake. This scenic, four-lane road provides a direct destination route to Tempe Beach Park, the popular downtown Tempe area and Arizona State University's Sun Devil Stadium.

To map Tempe Beach Park using a mapping website, use 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, AZ 85281 as an address for the park. 

South Bank Parking
In addition to parking in downtown Tempe, parking is available at many lots around Town Lake – some are free, others require payment.

North Bank Access
Visitors who wish to launch car-top or hand-carried boats, or people just wishing to enjoy pedestrian, biking and skating pathways on the north bank, will find more than 400 parking spaces available near the Operations Center at 620 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ. The Operations Center is located in the south end of the Marquee Theater parking lot, under the Red Mountain (Loop 202) Freeway. All boats must have a permit issued at the Operations Center.

Town Lake Marina
The Town Lake Marina opened to the public on January 31, 2004.The marina is located on the North Bank between Mill Avenue and Rural Road. Take Curry Road and turn south on College. Stay on College going south and follow the signs to the marina. 

North Bank Parking
On the north side of Tempe Town Lake, all parking is free – except during Marquee Theater concerts when the parking lot of the Town Lake Operations Center temporarily becomes a fee lot. Many lots along Lake View Drive are near Boat Beach and prime fishing areas. Lake View Drive intersects with Washington/Curry Drive on both the east and west sides of Mill Avenue. It's a short walk across the Mill Avenue Bridge to get to Tempe Beach Park or other south bank amenities.

Directions to the Operations Center

Enter on the east side of the building.

From Phoenix: Take the Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) east to the Priest/Center Parkway exit. Exit north (left), cross the freeway overpass and turn east (right) on Washington Street. Look for the Marquee Theater on the south side of the road (it sits on the southwest corner of Mill Avenue and Washington Street). Enter the Marquee Theater parking lot and travel south. The Operations Center is located under the freeway in the parking lot. (Note: an additional entrance to the parking lot is located on Mill Avenue, south of the Marquee Theater.)

From Van Buren Street heading south: Look for the Marquee Theater on the southwest corner of Van Buren (Mill Avenue) and Washington Street (Curry Road). Enter the parking lot just south of the Marquee Theater. The Operations Center is located in the south end of the parking lot, under the freeway.

From Mesa: Take the 101 (Pima Freeway) north to the 202 (Red Mountain Freeway). Take the 202 west to the Center Parkway exit. Exit south at Center Parkway and travel north to Washington Street and turn east (right). Look for the Marquee Theater on the south side of the road (it sits on the southwest corner of Mill Avenue and Washington Street). Enter the Marquee Theater parking lot and travel south. The Operations Center is located under the freeway in the parking lot. (Note: an additional entrance to the parking lot is located on Mill Avenue, south of the Marquee Theater.)

From Scottsdale: Take Scottsdale Road south - it turns into Rural Road at McKellips. Continue south to Curry Road and turn west (right). Turn south (left) at Mill Avenue and enter the parking lot just south of the Marquee Theater. The Operations Center is located in the south end of the parking lot, under the freeway.

From Downtown Tempe/Mill Avenue heading north: Cross Tempe Town Lake and turn east (right) on Curry Road. Look for the first street on the south (right) side of the road. Follow the road (Lake View Drive) down to the lake and continue up to the Marquee Theater parking lot. The Operations Center is located at the south end of the parking lot, under the freeway.

For more information, call (480) 350-8625.

What About Transit?

The City of Tempe’s Transit Program, Tempe in Motion, provides bus, bicycle and walking services throughout the city, including the Tempe Town Lake area. In addition, the City continues to participate in planning the Central Phoenix/East Valley light rail transit (LRT) project.

Bus Service: There are six bus routes that serve the Tempe Town Lake area, routes 56 – Priest, 62 – Hardy, 66 – Mill/68^th Street, 76 – Miller, Neighborhood FLASH (Free Local Area Shuttle) and Yellow Line. Most Tempe buses run Monday through Saturday until 1 a.m. and Sunday until 10 p.m., with rush hour service every15 minutes Monday through Friday from 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m.

There are numerous bike paths throughout the Tempe Town Lake area. Tempe is a bicycle friendly community, with more than 125 miles of bikeways. All buses are equipped with two bike racks and most major destinations in Tempe provide convenient bicycle parking.

Walking is a healthy, environmentally friendly alternative to driving. There are many places to walk in Tempe, including Tempe Town Lake. All major streets and most local streets in Tempe have sidewalks.

Light Rail: The City continues to participate in planning the Central Phoenix/East Valley light rail transit (LRT) project. A proposed 20.3-mile starter segment will begin operating in late 2008. This starter segment would run from the Chris-Town area to downtown Phoenix, through downtown Tempe and into Mesa. The light rail line would serve the Tempe Town Lake area, downtown Tempe and Arizona State University. In addition, a new LRT bridge will be constructed over Tempe Town Lake.