Summer in Tempe: What ASU Students Do When Campus Empties
Campus gets quiet in June and July, but Tempe doesn't stop. Here's what ASU students actually do during summer — from summer classes to desert escapes.
Tempe in Summer Is Its Own Thing
Once May finals wrap up, the population of Tempe shifts noticeably. Out-of-state students leave, the freshman class disperses, and the energy on campus is completely different. If you stay for summer — for classes, an internship, or just because — you're getting a version of ASU that most students never really see.
Here's what that actually looks like.
Summer Session at ASU
ASU runs two summer sessions, typically Session A (late May through late June) and Session B (early July through early August), plus a full session running the length of both. Summer classes are smaller, professors are often more accessible, and the campus is less chaotic.
The academic case for summer session: you can knock out a difficult core requirement in a compressed format when that's your only class, rather than taking it alongside four other courses. Math, writing, and science prerequisites that people dread during the regular year are sometimes more manageable in summer.
The financial case: if you have financial aid that covers summer or you're working and need to keep the semester credit load manageable, summer is a legitimate strategy for staying on track without burning out.
The Heat Is the Main Challenge
June and July in Tempe average 105–110°F highs. This is real and it affects everything:
- Outdoor plans happen early morning (before 8am) or after 8pm when it cools to the high 80s
- The light rail, which has air conditioning, suddenly feels like a miracle
- Campus is actually comfortable during summer because the AC systems in academic buildings are turned up to handle the heat
- Pools become the social hub — the student rec center pool, Tempe Town Lake (no swimming, but nearby), and apartment complex pools fill up
If you don't have a pool situation sorted, the Tempe Diablo Stadium Aquatic Center is a public pool close to campus and genuinely good.
What Students Actually Do
Internships: Summer is the main internship season. The greater Phoenix metro area has a real tech, finance, and healthcare sector — ASU students regularly intern at companies like Intel, Banner Health, American Express, and a growing list of startups. If you're staying for an internship, getting settled in a cheap summer sublet near campus or downtown Phoenix is the standard move.
Outdoor escapes nearby: The desert is brutal in June, but not far away is significantly better. Sedona is 2 hours north and the red rock canyons are genuinely cool (literally, at elevation). Flagstaff is 2.5 hours north at 7,000 feet — high 70s in July, ponderosa pines, and a complete sensory change from the valley. If you're stuck in the heat for three months, a weekend in Flagstaff will reset your sanity.
Hiking before dawn: Camelback Mountain, South Mountain, and Piestewa Peak are all accessible from Tempe. In summer, you go early or you don't go. Sunrise hikes are popular — and the views at dawn before the heat arrives are actually spectacular.
The pool, legitimately: This isn't sarcasm. If you find a good apartment complex or friend group with pool access, the pool becomes your summer social life. Bring food, a speaker, SPF 50, and realistic expectations about the water temperature.
Finding Cheap Housing for Summer
Summer is the cheapest time to rent near ASU. Landlords who normally wait-list their properties are offering deals in May and June. If you want to find a summer sublet from a student leaving for the summer, ASU List has those listings — and prices are substantially lower than the regular school-year rates.
Taking Advantage of the Quiet Campus
Summer is when you can actually get meetings with advisors, professors, and career services without a 3-week wait. If you need to sort out your major, get a letter of recommendation, or visit any administrative office — summer is the time. The lines are shorter than they'll ever be.
The library is also quiet and well-stocked. If you're a heavy reader or have research to do, summer semesters are underrated for that kind of focused work.
The Re-Entry in August
When the fall semester arrives, Tempe's population doubles seemingly overnight. If you've spent the summer here, you'll have a completely different relationship with the campus and the city than students arriving for the first time. You know where things are, you've figured out the heat, and you have a head start on the year.
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