Dilkon to Mesa is 205.4 miles and takes about 4h 39m via South Beeline Highway, Payson-Winslow Highway, and Winslow–Kayenta Highway, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip travels entirely within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, beginning in Dilkon and ending in Mesa. The route primarily utilizes surface roads, offering a different kind of travel experience compared to interstate highways. With a single recommended stop and a drive time under five hours, this is a manageable one-day excursion for most drivers.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
102.7 miles from Dilkon, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Beeline Highway
73.1 mi
1h 26m
Payson-Winslow Highway
37.4 mi
55m
Winslow–Kayenta Highway
30.8 mi
35m
State Highway 87
27.1 mi
39m
State Route 87
17.8 mi
25m
Navajo Route 15
6.2 mi
14m
Arizona State Highway 87
4 mi
5m
East 3rd Street
2.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
South Beeline Highway
— 73.1 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dilkon, AZ and Mesa, AZ.
1
Start on this road
171 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn right
0.2 mi·58 sec
3
At end of road, turn left onto N15
6.2 mi·14 min·Navajo Route 15
4
Turn left onto AZ 87
31 mi·35 min·Winslow–Kayenta Highway
5
Continue on AZ 87; US 66 Hist
2.4 mi·3 min·East 3rd Street
6
Turn left onto AZ 87; AZ 99
369 ft·8 sec·North Williamson Avenue
7
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 99
18 mi·27 min·Payson-Winslow Highway
8
Continue on AZ 87
19 mi·28 min·State Highway 87
9
Continue on AZ 87
344 ft·5 sec·Starlight Drive
10
Continue on AZ 87
6.0 mi·8 min·State Route 87
11
Continue on AZ 87
8.2 mi·11 min·State Highway 87
12
Continue on AZ 87
0.1 mi·9 sec·Payson–Winslow Highway
13
Continue on AZ 87
12 mi·16 min·State Route 87
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 260
7.5 mi·11 min·Payson-Winslow Highway
15
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 260
0.4 mi·55 sec·North AZ Highway 87
16
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 260
0.9 mi·1 min·Payson-Winslow Highway
17
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 260
1.4 mi·2 min·Arizona State Highway 87
18
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 260
11 mi·15 min·Payson-Winslow Highway
19
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 260
2.6 mi·3 min·Arizona State Highway 87
20
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 260
0.1 mi·12 sec·North Beeline Highway
21
Enter roundabout onto AZ 87; AZ 260
122 ft·2 sec·North Beeline Highway
22
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 260
0.6 mi·1 min·North Beeline Highway
23
Enter roundabout onto AZ 87; AZ 260
147 ft·3 sec·North Beeline Highway
24
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 260
1.2 mi·2 min·North Beeline Highway
25
Continue on AZ 87
73 mi·1 hr 26 min·South Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on AZ 87
0.7 mi·1 min·North Country Club Drive
27
Turn left onto West McKellips Road
1.0 mi·1 min·West McKellips Road
Use the left lane.
28
Turn right onto North Mesa Drive
2.0 mi·3 min·North Mesa Drive
29
Turn left onto East University Drive
73 ft·1 sec·East University Drive
Use the left lane.
30
Arrive at destination
East University Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 39m estimated drive time, consider an early morning departure from Dilkon to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. While only one stop is recommended, you'll cover 73.1 miles on the South Beeline Highway before reaching it, so plan accordingly for fuel and rest. The $41 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's always wise to check current prices. Because this trip is comfortably under a full day's drive, you have flexibility to depart later or spend more time at your single stop if desired.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 102.7 miles from Dilkon, AZ, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 45 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.7 miles or 2h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mesa, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dilkon, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dilkon, AZ
This is one driving day of about 205.4 miles and 4h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Dilkon, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on South Beeline Highway for about 73.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 205.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|N15 / Navajo Route 15
At end of road, turn left onto N15 / Navajo Route 15
Navigation decision point
4
39.6 mi into trip|~55m in|AZ 87; AZ 99 / North Williamson Avenue
Turn left onto AZ 87; AZ 99 / North Williamson Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
126.7 mi into trip|~3h 2m in|AZ 87; AZ 260 / North Beeline Highway
Enter roundabout onto AZ 87; AZ 260 / North Beeline Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
205.4 mi into trip|~4h 39m in|East University Drive
Turn left onto East University Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.40 one way
$72.80 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$38.98
$77.95
premium
$5.04
$40.77
$81.55
diesel
$4.80
$38.78
$77.57
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.6
0
$21.57
$9.86
Efficient EV
51.4
0
$17.97
$8.22
EV Truck/SUV
82.2
1
$28.76
$13.15
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Forecast as of Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Dilkon, AZ
Late night
in Dilkon on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
MDT
Current temp
60°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 3 to 7 mph60% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 6:23PM PDT until July 18 at 8:30PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:44PM PDT until July 18 at 7:30PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Destination
Mesa, AZ
Night
in Mesa on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
MST
Current temp
80°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NNE 0 to 5 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 6:23PM PDT until July 18 at 8:30PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:44PM PDT until July 18 at 7:30PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
20 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
4h 39m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
National Monument
Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff...
23 mi from route
~56 min detour
$10
near mile 106.2
Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 27% of this 205.4-mile drive on highways, with the longest stretch on the South Beeline Highway covering 73.1 miles. The majority of your travel will be on surface roads, which typically means slower speeds and more local traffic. Expect to notice more frequent intersections and potentially a more rural feel as you transition away from the highway segments. This driving profile suggests a route that emphasizes local scenery over high-speed transit.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.1 mi on South Beeline Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 early in the drive.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 39m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (N15 / Navajo Route 15): Navigation decision point; at 39.6 miles (AZ 87; AZ 99 / North Williamson Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,164 ft1,243 ft
Total Climb
2,167 ft
Total Descent
6,812 ft
Highest Point
7,164 ft
~88 mi in
Elevation Range
5,921 ft
Notable High Points
7,164 ft at ~88 miles+47 ft prominence
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.1 miles on South Beeline Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (N15 / Navajo Route 15): Navigation decision point; at 39.6 miles (AZ 87; AZ 99 / North Williamson Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Montezuma Castle National Monument and Tonto National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Mesa, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
