Origin
Arizona City, AZ
Late night in Arizona City on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
MST
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arizona City, AZ to Mesa, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
50.2 mi
81 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arizona City, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Mesa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Arizona City to Mesa is 50.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 10 minutes via Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway and South Arizona Avenue, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Desert Southwest, transitioning from one Arizona locale to another. Expect a local feel for most of the journey, with frequent turns rather than long stretches of highway. It's a straightforward trip, ideal for a quick drive when you need to get from point A to B without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 22.7 mi | 22m |
| South Arizona Avenue | 11 mi | 19m |
| AZ 587 | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| South Country Club Drive | 4 mi | 7m |
| South Sunland Gin Road | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| West University Drive | 1 mi | 1m |
| East University Drive | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
— 22.7 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arizona City, AZ and Mesa, AZ.
1
Start on South Sunland Gin Road
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
South Sunland Gin Road
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 8 West, I 10 West: San Diego, Phoenix
Use the left lane.
3
Keep slight right at fork
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
4
Merge onto I 10
23 mi
·
22 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 175
Toward AZ 587 North: Chandler, Gilbert
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto AZ 587
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
AZ 587
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
7
Continue on AZ 87
11 mi
·
19 min
·
South Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on AZ 87
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
South Country Club Drive
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto West University Drive
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West University Drive
10
Arrive at destination
East University Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.1 miles from Arizona City, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 28.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 8 West, I 10 West: San Diego, Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 8 West, I 10 West: San Diego, Phoenix
5
4.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
5
5.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
28.1 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward AZ 587 North: Chandler, Gilbert
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 175
Toward AZ 587 North: Chandler, Gilbert
6
28.3 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
AZ 587
Turn left onto AZ 587
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.00 one way
$20.00 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $10.58 | $21.17 |
| premium | $5.59 | $11.05 | $22.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.08 | $22.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.27 | $2.41 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.39 | $2.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.03 | $3.21 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Mesa, AZ
Late night in Mesa on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
40 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 10m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a turn-heavy local drive, with only 12% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate roads like the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway and South Arizona Avenue, experiencing a more intimate connection with the landscape rather than a high-speed cruise. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 22.7 miles, allowing for some consistent driving before encountering more frequent changes in direction. Be prepared for a dynamic experience as you weave through communities and local thoroughfares.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.7 mi on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 10m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 5.4 miles (I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Arizona City, AZ and Mesa, AZ, road signs point toward Phoenix and Gilbert.
Phoenix
3.8 mi in
|
~6m
Gilbert
28.1 mi in
|
~33m
About the Cities
Arriving in Mesa, AZ
Full guide →Mesa, population 518,000 (2019), is in Maricopa County. It is Arizona's third-largest city, and is part of the Greater Phoenix urban complex.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 50.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (12%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.7 miles on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 5.4 miles (I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Mesa, AZ before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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