Scottsdale is long and narrow, running from the Loop 202 near Tempe in the south to the high desert near Carefree in the north. The Loop 101 Pima Freeway follows its eastern side and then curves west across the north end toward Phoenix. Scottsdale Road, Hayden Road and Pima Road are the main north-south routes, while Indian School Road, Chaparral, Shea Boulevard, Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and Bell Road carry the east-west traffic. Shea continues east to Fountain Hills, the gateway to the Beeline Highway.
The busy spots are predictable. Scottsdale Road through Old Town backs up most evenings, the Loop 101 interchanges at Shea, Frank Lloyd Wright and Raintree fill with commuters, and the Airpark area turns into a crawl at rush hour. Event traffic is heavy during spring training, golf season and the large car and horse shows at WestWorld. North of the 101, roads become winding and hilly through DC Ranch, Troon and the desert foothills, and distances between homes grow.
Scottsdale Airport sits in the middle of the Airpark, surrounded by office buildings, hangars and corporate campuses. Sky Harbor is a short drive southwest. Public transit is limited to a few bus routes and the Old Town trolley, so nearly everyone drives. Many homes have garages and gated entries, and resorts and condo complexes have their own parking rules, which shape where a mobile mechanic sets up.