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Trip from Mesa, AZ to Arivaca Junction, 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 42m

Distance

140 mi

225 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$28

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 31m ★
6 AM
2h 42m
8 AM
3h 3m
10 AM
2h 50m
12 PM
2h 47m
3 PM
2h 51m
5 PM
3h 2m
8 PM
2h 36m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Mesa, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Arivaca Junction, AZ, AZ

Arivaca Junction, AZ

Abhishek Navlakha

Trip Overview

This 140-mile drive from Mesa, AZ, to Arivaca Junction, AZ, is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take about 2 hours and 42 minutes. You'll primarily navigate portions of the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway and the Nogales–Tucson Highway, with a smaller percentage on the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $28. Given its relatively short duration and the local nature of the drive, it's well-suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. Both your origin and destination are within the Desert Southwest region, so expect consistent arid landscapes.

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

70 miles from Mesa, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway 54.6 mi 55m
Nogales–Tucson Highway 33 mi 37m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway 23.5 mi 23m
North Arizona Avenue 11 mi 18m
AZ 587 6.1 mi 9m
North Freeway 5.4 mi 6m
North Country Club Drive 4 mi 7m
East University Drive 1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Casa Grande-Tucson Highway — 54.6 mi, about 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and Arivaca Junction, AZ.

1

Start on East University Drive

1.0 mi · 2 min · East University Drive
2

Turn left onto AZ 87

4.0 mi · 7 min · North Country Club Drive
Use the left lane.
3

Continue on AZ 87

11 mi · 18 min · North Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
4

Continue on AZ 587

6.1 mi · 9 min · AZ 587
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
6

Merge onto I 10

24 mi · 23 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on I 10

55 mi · 55 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I 10

5.4 mi · 6 min · North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 37 sec
Exit 260 Toward I 19 South: Nogales Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 19

33 mi · 37 min · Nogales–Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward Arivaca Road
12

Turn right onto West Arivaca Road

0.1 mi · 18 sec · West Arivaca Road
13

Continue on West Arivaca Road

424 ft · 8 sec · West Arivaca Road
14

Arrive at destination

West Arivaca Road

Trip Plan

With a total driving time of under three hours, this trip offers considerable flexibility. You can depart from Mesa anytime, but aiming for a morning start will give you ample time to reach Arivaca Junction and still have daylight for any immediate needs upon arrival. You'll have one planned stop, and with a longest stretch of 54.6 miles, you won't need to rush to find services. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $28, and it's always wise to top off before heading into less populated areas. A specific tip for this route: be prepared for the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile and have your navigation ready for the numerous intersections.

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 70 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 1h 25m 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 31 miles or 46m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 70 miles or 1h 25m 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 13m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arivaca Junction, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Mesa, 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 Mesa, AZ

This is one driving day of about 140 miles and 2h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Mesa, 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.

Downtown Sun Lakes, AZ, AZ

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sun Lakes, AZ

70 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

Casa Grande, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Avra Valley, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 70 miles from Mesa, 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 7

5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 139.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
1 mi into trip | ~2m in | AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive

Turn left onto AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
4
22.2 mi into trip | ~37m in

Take the ramp toward I 10 East: Tucson

Navigation decision point

Toward I 10 East: Tucson
5
22.5 mi into trip | ~37m in | I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

Merge onto I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
106.1 mi into trip | ~2h 3m in

Take the exit toward I 19 South: Nogales

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 260 Toward I 19 South: Nogales
4
139.5 mi into trip | ~2h 41m in

Take the exit toward Arivaca Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward Arivaca Road

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$27.89 one way

$55.78 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 49 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $29.52 $59.03
premium $5.59 $30.82 $61.63
diesel $5.61 $30.91 $61.82

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$28

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$53–$78

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 49 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 42 0 $14.70 $6.72
Efficient EV 35 0 $12.25 $5.60
EV Truck/SUV 56 0 $19.60 $8.96

Gas CO2

49 kg

EV CO2

16 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 16, 2026

Origin

Mesa, AZ

Evening in Mesa on Saturday

Local time

7:47 PM

MST

Current temp

88°F

Mostly Sunny

WSW 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 12:28PM PDT until April 17 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 12:28PM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV

Destination

Arivaca Junction, AZ

Evening in Arivaca Junction on Saturday

Local time

7:47 PM

MST

Current temp

48°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

40 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

2h 42m 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.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

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 ~26 min detour Free near mile 38.6
View on nps.gov
Tumacácori National Historical Park

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...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour $10 near mile 140
View on nps.gov
Saguaro National Park

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 106.2
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 140-mile journey. While only 8% of the route is on major highways, you'll encounter stretches like the 54.6-mile segment on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway that offer a more continuous feel. The road's personality will shift as you transition between these different highways, moving from more direct routes to those with more frequent turns. This drive is less about endless interstate cruising and more about navigating a series of connecting local roads, requiring your attention throughout the 2-hour and 42-minute duration.

Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 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?

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 around 1 miles in near AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 42m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 22.5 miles (I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Mesa, AZ

Full guide →

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).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 140 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (8%). Straightforward navigation.

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, 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 1 miles (AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 22.5 miles (I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Tumacácori National Historical Park and Saguaro National 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 Arivaca Junction, 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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