Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
62.4 mi
100 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Black Canyon City, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Mesa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
This straightforward 62.4-mile drive from Black Canyon City, AZ to Mesa, AZ takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. It's primarily a highway-focused route, with 80% of the journey on major freeways, making it easily manageable as a single-day trip. You can expect to spend around $12 on fuel for this short hop. Both your origin and destination are within the Desert Southwest region, so the landscape will be consistent. This route is ideal for those looking for a quick and efficient transfer between these two Arizona locations without much fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Black Canyon Freeway | 35.3 mi | 38m |
| Red Mountain Freeway | 11.7 mi | 13m |
| North Black Canyon Highway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| Papago Freeway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| West University Drive | 2 mi | 3m |
| South Old Black Canyon Highway | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| North Alma School Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Black Canyon City, AZ and Mesa, AZ.
Start on East Palm Lane
Turn left onto South Old Black Canyon Highway
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 17
Continue on I 17
Continue on I 17
Continue on I 17
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 10
Continue on I 10
Continue on I 10
Take the exit onto Red Mountain Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway
Take the exit
Turn right onto North Alma School Road
Turn left onto West University Drive
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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.
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 31.2 miles from Black Canyon 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 42.6 and 58.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Central Phoenix, Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Central Phoenix, Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 202 Loop East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Alma School Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$12.43 one way
$24.86 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $13.16 | $26.31 |
| premium | $5.59 | $13.74 | $27.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.78 | $27.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.55 | $3.00 |
| Efficient EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.46 | $2.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25 | 0 | $8.74 | $3.99 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Black Canyon City on Sunday
Local time
1:11 AM
MST
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Mesa on Sunday
Local time
1:11 AM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
The personality of this drive is decidedly highway-focused, with 80% of the 62.4 miles utilizing major freeways like the Black Canyon Freeway and Red Mountain Freeway. Expect smooth sailing for the most part, including a longest stretch of 35.3 miles on the Black Canyon Freeway. While the profile is predominantly highway, you'll transition between different sections of the Black Canyon Highway system. This means the road will feel familiar and predictable, allowing for a steady pace.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Black Canyon Freeway and Red Mountain Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 42.6 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.4 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 42.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.8 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Black Canyon City, AZ and Mesa, AZ, road signs point toward Los Angeles and Tucson.
Los Angeles
Tucson
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 62.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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