Tempe is Arizona State's hometown, with Mill Avenue, Tempe Town Lake and Mountain America Stadium all within a few blocks of each other. If you're in town for a game, graduation, a festival or a family visit, H2O Sanctuary in Mesa is about 15 minutes away. You get a lake, a pool and room for up to 9 instead of a block of hotel rooms.

Tempe Town Lake

The lake is more than 2 miles long, with a 5-mile path around it. You can rent kayaks, paddleboards, pedal boats and even donut boats from outfitters near the Mill Avenue Bridge. Tempe Beach Park, 25 acres on the lake, hosts a lot of the city's big events.

ASU graduation, move-in and game days

These are the weekends when the whole family flies in and rooms near campus get scarce. That's when a house makes sense.

Graduation

ASU's Spring 2027 University Commencement is set for May 10, 2027. Fall graduation ceremonies are held in December, and ASU publishes the full schedule on its graduation site. Grandparents, siblings and the graduate's friends add up fast. H2O sleeps 9, has a kitchen and a big table for the celebration dinner, and has a pool for the day after.

Move-in

Fall move-in at the Tempe campus is in mid-August. In 2026 it ran August 15–16. Students get their exact slot from ASU Housing. Fair warning: mid-August in the Valley is hot, and a pool to come back to after hauling boxes all day is not a small thing.

Game days

Mountain America Stadium (formerly Sun Devil Stadium) is about 15 minutes from the house. For a big game or a parents' weekend, a house with a kitchen and space for everyone beats squeezing into rooms near campus.

Through the year

Why stay in Mesa

You're close to everything in Tempe, then you come back to your own lake. Kayaks and paddleboards are included, the pool heats or chills year-round, and there's a spa for the evening.

Drive times from H2O Sanctuary (Dobson Ranch)
DestinationTypical drive
Tempe Town Lakeabout 15 min
ASU / Mountain America Stadiumabout 15 min
Tempe Diablo Stadium (Angels)about 15 min
PHX Sky Harbor Airportabout 15 min

H2O Sanctuary

4 bedrooms · 3.5 baths · sleeps 9 · pool, spa, kayaks and paddleboards on a Dobson Ranch lake. Book direct with us and skip the Airbnb service fee.

Check dates at H2O Sanctuary

Common questions

How far is H2O Sanctuary from ASU?

About 15 minutes to Arizona State's Tempe campus and Mountain America Stadium, roughly 7 miles.

How far is it to Tempe Town Lake?

About 15 minutes, roughly 8 miles.

Can you rent kayaks at Tempe Town Lake?

Yes. Rental outfitters there offer kayaks, paddleboards, pedal boats and more. At H2O Sanctuary, kayaks and paddleboards are included on our own lake.

When is the Tempe Festival of the Arts?

It runs twice a year on Mill Avenue. The next ones are December 4–6, 2026 and March 12–14, 2027.

When is ASU graduation in 2027?

ASU's Spring 2027 University Commencement is scheduled for May 10, 2027, and the Fall 2027 ceremony for December 13, 2027. ASU notes dates can change, so confirm on graduation.asu.edu.

When is ASU move-in?

Fall move-in at the Tempe campus is in mid-August. In 2026 it was August 15–16. Each student's exact time comes from ASU Housing through My ASU.

Nearby: Mesa · Scottsdale

Sources

Drive times are typical, measured from the town or neighborhood, and change with traffic and weather. Event dates are as published when we wrote this; confirm with the organizer before you plan around them.