This 164-mile drive from Glendale, AZ to Mescal, AZ is a manageable day trip, estimated to take around 3 hours. You'll primarily travel on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, and Tucson-Benson Highway, with about 16% of the route being on highways. The local roads offer a more hands-on driving experience, making it a turn-heavy journey. With a fuel cost estimated at $33, this trip is budget-friendly for a single day of exploration within the Desert Southwest region. It's a straightforward route suitable for those who prefer a more direct path with minimal fuss.
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
82 miles from Glendale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.6 mi
55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
37.8 mi
38m
Tucson-Benson Highway
36.5 mi
38m
Maricopa Freeway
16.3 mi
18m
North Freeway
6.1 mi
6m
Grand Avenue
5.9 mi
10m
Black Canyon Freeway
3.5 mi
4m
North Mescal Road
1.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.6 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glendale, AZ and Mescal, AZ.
1
Start on US 60
0.3 mi·36 sec·Grand Avenue
2
Continue on US 60
5.5 mi·9 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the exit onto US 60
0.5 mi·1 min·US 60
Toward 27th Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 60
0.2 mi·26 sec·West Thomas Road
Use the left / slight left lanes.
5
Turn right onto US 60
0.3 mi·28 sec·North Black Canyon Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 17 South
7
Merge onto I 17; US 60
3.5 mi·4 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 17; US 60
16 mi·18 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
55 mi·55 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
6.1 mi·6 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 10
36 mi·38 min·Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 297Toward Mescal Road, J Six Ranch Road
14
Turn left onto J-6 Road
369 ft·15 sec·J-6 Road
15
Continue on North Mescal Road
1.8 mi·4 min·North Mescal Road
16
Arrive at destination
North Mescal Road
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration and 164-mile distance, this route is best tackled as a single-day trip from Glendale to Mescal. Aim to depart in the morning to allow ample time for any spontaneous stops or to simply enjoy the drive without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility to pace yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 54.6-mile stretch on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, as services might be less frequent there. The $33 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always check local prices before you leave.
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 82 miles from Glendale, AZ, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 36 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mescal, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Glendale, 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 Glendale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 164 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Glendale, 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 54.6 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.4 and 161.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6.4 mi into trip|~11m in|US 60 / West Thomas Road
Turn left onto US 60 / West Thomas Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / slight left lanes.
5
6.6 mi into trip|~12m in|US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway
Turn right onto US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway
Navigation decision point
5
6.9 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward I 17 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 17 South
5
7 mi into trip|~12m in|I 17; US 60 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge onto I 17; US 60 / Black Canyon Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
161.9 mi into trip|~2h 55m in
Take the exit toward Mescal Road, J Six Ranch Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 297
Toward Mescal Road, J Six Ranch Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.06 one way
$58.12 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$31.12
$62.24
premium
$5.04
$32.55
$65.11
diesel
$4.80
$30.97
$61.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.2
0
$17.22
$7.87
Efficient EV
41
0
$14.35
$6.56
EV Truck/SUV
65.6
0
$22.96
$10.50
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Glendale, AZ
Late night
in Glendale on Sunday
Local time
12:08 AM
MST
Current temp
82°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
N 0 to 5 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:18PM PDT until July 18 at 10:15PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 7:53PM MST until July 18 at 10:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Destination
Mescal, AZ
Late night
in Mescal on Sunday
Local time
12:08 AM
MST
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 1 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:18PM PDT until July 18 at 10:15PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 7:53PM MST until July 18 at 10:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
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
19 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
$25
near mile 135.8
Park Closure: Red Hills Visitor Center (TMD) theater closed for repairs
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 56.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 164-mile journey. While 16% of the route utilizes highways, the majority is on local roads, meaning you'll navigate more intersections and changes in speed. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 54.6 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, offering a brief period of consistent travel. This route isn't about monotonous interstate cruising; instead, it provides a more engaging driving experience as you transition between different local road networks. Be prepared for a dynamic drive that requires your attention.
Only 16% 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: 54.6 mi on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.4 miles in near US 60 / West Thomas Road.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 164 miles you will encounter 8 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 6.4 miles (US 60 / West Thomas Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles (US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Glendale is one of the largest suburbs in the metropolitan Phoenix area, and is rapidly growing as a media/entertainment center in the Valley of the Sun. It was home to over 250,000 people in 2019.
Top landmarks
•Catlin Court Historic District — historic district in Glendale, Arizona, USA
•Floralcroft Historic District — historic district in Glendale. Arizona
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 164 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (16%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.6 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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: at 6.4 miles (US 60 / West Thomas Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles (US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Saguaro National Park and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Mescal, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
