Origin
East Sahuarita, AZ
Late night in East Sahuarita on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Sahuarita, 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
2h 33m
Distance
127.4 mi
205 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 23m
★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 54m
10 AM
2h 40m
12 PM
2h 38m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 53m
8 PM
2h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mesa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
East Sahuarita, AZ to Mesa, AZ is 127.4 miles and takes about 2h 33m via Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward trip. It's mostly on major highways but involves a significant amount of local road driving, so expect more frequent stops and slower speeds as you get closer to Mesa. You'll want to plan for a bit more time than the GPS suggests to account for this.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
63.7 miles from East Sahuarita, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.5 mi | 55m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 24.1 mi | 24m |
| Nogales–Tucson Highway | 16 mi | 19m |
| South Arizona Avenue | 11 mi | 19m |
| AZ 587 | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| South Freeway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| South Country Club Drive | 4 mi | 7m |
| East Sahuarita Road | 3.3 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Sahuarita, AZ and Mesa, AZ.
1
Start on East El Toro Road
316 ft
·
10 sec
·
East El Toro Road
2
Turn right onto South Country Club Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Country Club Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto East Sahuarita Road
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
East Sahuarita Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 19 North: Tucson
5
Merge onto I 19
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Nogales–Tucson Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
7
Merge onto I 10
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 10
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
51 mi
·
51 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
24 mi
·
24 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 175
Toward AZ 587 North: Chandler, Gilbert
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto AZ 587
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
AZ 587
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13
Continue on AZ 87
11 mi
·
19 min
·
South Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on AZ 87
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
South Country Club Drive
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto West University Drive
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West University Drive
16
Arrive at destination
East University Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 33m estimated drive time and 127.4 miles, this is comfortably a same-day trip. Leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight and allow you to avoid the worst of the afternoon heat. Plan for one stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel if needed, especially since the fuel cost is estimated at $25. Keep an eye on your navigation as you get closer to Mesa, as the route involves many surface streets and turns, making it easy to miss a crucial exit or turn.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.7 miles from East Sahuarita, AZ, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 28 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.7 miles or 1h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 54m
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 East Sahuarita, 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 East Sahuarita, AZ
This is one driving day of about 127.4 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from East Sahuarita, 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 Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 54.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 63.7 miles from East Sahuarita, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 105.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
East Sahuarita Road
At end of road, turn left onto East Sahuarita Road
Navigation decision point
5
4.7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 19 / Nogales–Tucson Highway
Merge onto I 19 / Nogales–Tucson Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
30.5 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
105.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 55m 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
105.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
|
AZ 587
Turn left onto AZ 587
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.38 one way
$50.76 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $26.86 | $53.72 |
| premium | $5.59 | $28.04 | $56.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.13 | $56.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.2 | 0 | $13.38 | $6.12 |
| Efficient EV | 31.9 | 0 | $11.15 | $5.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51 | 0 | $17.84 | $8.15 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
3:15 AM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
8 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
2h 33m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 87.9
View on nps.gov
Saguaro National Park
National Park
Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are pr...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
$25
near mile 22
View on nps.gov
Tumacácori National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Tumacácori sits at a cultural crossroads in the Santa Cruz River valley. Here O’odham, Yaqui, and Apache people met and mingled with European Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries, settlers, and soldiers...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
$10
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is about 9% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on local roads with numerous intersections. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 54.5 miles along the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. You'll notice the transition from highway cruising to more stop-and-go traffic as you approach the Phoenix metro area. Be prepared for frequent turns and adjustments to your speed.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.5 mi on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near East Sahuarita Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 127.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (East Sahuarita Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (I 19 / Nogales–Tucson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.5 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from East Sahuarita, AZ to Mesa, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Gilbert along the way.
Gilbert
105.3 mi in
|
~1h 55m
About the Cities
Arriving in Mesa, AZ
Full guide →Founded 1878
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.
Top landmarks
- • Mesa Arizona Temple — the seventh operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
- • Mesa Grande — cultural park in Mesa, Arizona, preserving a group of Hohokam structures
- • Buckhorn Baths Motel — historic defunct mineral hot spring resort in Mesa, Arizona
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 2h 33m. Total distance: 127.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.5 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Mesa, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (East Sahuarita Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (I 19 / Nogales–Tucson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.5 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Saguaro National Park and Tumacácori National Historical Park. 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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