Holbrook, AZ to Mesa, AZ is 172.9 miles and takes about 3h 39m via South Beeline Highway, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive will take you from the Desert Southwest region of Arizona to another part of the Desert Southwest, remaining within the same state. It's a fairly short trip, making it a good candidate for a single day of driving. You'll be navigating a mix of roads, so expect a dynamic driving experience. This route offers a straightforward path to your destination 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
86.4 miles from Holbrook, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Beeline Highway
73.1 mi
1h 26m
Heber Road
30.9 mi
36m
Payson-Show Low Highway
24.2 mi
30m
Hwy 260
15.9 mi
22m
Payson-Heber Highway
12.7 mi
17m
West 3rd Street North
4.9 mi
6m
Heber-Holbrook Highway
2.9 mi
3m
North Mesa Drive
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
South Beeline Highway
— 73.1 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Holbrook, AZ and Mesa, AZ.
1
Start on I 40 Bus; AZ 77; US 66 Hist
0.2 mi·21 sec·North Navajo Boulevard
2
Continue on US 180; AZ 77
0.5 mi·56 sec·Holbrook-Springerville Highway
3
Continue on AZ 77
1.6 mi·2 min·Show Low-Holbrook Highway
4
Turn right onto AZ 377
31 mi·36 min·Heber Road
5
Turn straight onto AZ 377
2.9 mi·3 min·Heber-Holbrook Highway
6
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 277
4.9 mi·6 min·West 3rd Street North
7
Continue on AZ 277
1.9 mi·3 min·Highway 277
8
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 260
0.2 mi·19 sec·Highway 260
9
Continue on AZ 260
16 mi·22 min·Hwy 260
10
Continue on AZ 260
13 mi·17 min·Payson-Heber Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on AZ 260
24 mi·30 min·Payson-Show Low Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn left onto AZ 87
73 mi·1 hr 26 min·South Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on AZ 87
0.7 mi·1 min·North Country Club Drive
14
Turn left onto West McKellips Road
1.0 mi·1 min·West McKellips Road
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto North Mesa Drive
2.0 mi·3 min·North Mesa Drive
16
Turn left onto East University Drive
73 ft·1 sec·East University Drive
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
East University Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 39m duration, this is easily a one-day trip. Aim to depart in the morning to give yourself ample daylight and flexibility. The route involves frequent turns and local roads, so stay attentive to navigation and speed limits. While the longest stretch is over 73 miles, plan for quick stops as needed, especially since you'll be on less direct routes. With a fuel cost estimated at $34, be sure to fill up before you leave Holbrook or in a larger town along the way, as services might be more spread out on these local roads.
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 86.4 miles from Holbrook, AZ, or about 1h 52m 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 38 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.4 miles or 1h 52m 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 59m
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 Holbrook, 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 Holbrook, AZ
This is one driving day of about 172.9 miles and 3h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Holbrook, 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 36.2 and 172.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
36.2 mi into trip|~44m in|AZ 277 / West 3rd Street North
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 277 / West 3rd Street North
Navigation decision point
4
43.1 mi into trip|~54m in|AZ 260 / Highway 260
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 260 / Highway 260
Navigation decision point
4
96 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway
Turn left onto AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
169.8 mi into trip|~3h 33m in|West McKellips Road
Turn left onto West McKellips Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
172.9 mi into trip|~3h 39m in|East University Drive
Turn left onto East University Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.44 one way
$68.89 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$36.45
$72.90
premium
$5.59
$38.06
$76.12
diesel
$5.61
$38.17
$76.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.9
0
$18.15
$8.30
Efficient EV
43.2
0
$15.13
$6.92
EV Truck/SUV
69.2
0
$24.21
$11.07
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Holbrook, AZ
Evening
in Holbrook on Saturday
Local time
7:46 PM
MST
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Mesa, AZ
Evening
in Mesa on Saturday
Local time
7:46 PM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
ESE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
44°F
Payson, AZ
86 mi in
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
16 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
3h 39m 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.
Petrified Forest National Park
National Park
A landscape where deep time lies fully on display, Petrified Forest National Park blends colorful badlands, vast grasslands, and one of the world’s largest and most vivid collections of petrified wood...
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...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
$10
near mile 143.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' with only about 10% of the journey on highways. Expect a more engaging driving experience with frequent changes in direction as you travel primarily on local roads like the South Beeline Highway, Heber Road, and Payson-Show Low Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 73.1 miles on the South Beeline Highway, offering a period of more consistent travel before the roadwork and turns pick up again. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; it's a route that keeps you actively involved in the driving.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 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?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 36.2 miles in near AZ 277 / West 3rd Street North.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Holbrook, AZ to Mesa, AZ is easy. At 3h 39m with 10% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 36.2 miles (AZ 277 / West 3rd Street North): Navigation decision point; at 43.1 miles (AZ 260 / Highway 260): Navigation decision point; at 96 miles (AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Holbrook is a town on Route 66 in the Mogollon Rim in Eastern Arizona, once known as the "town too rough for women and churches." The town makes a convenient base for visiting Petrified Forest National Park.
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 1 rest area or service plaza 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 36.2 miles (AZ 277 / West 3rd Street North): Navigation decision point; at 43.1 miles (AZ 260 / Highway 260): Navigation decision point; at 96 miles (AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Petrified Forest National Park and Tonto National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Mesa, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
