Spanning 117.1 miles, the drive from Mesa to Bylas is a straightforward trek across the Desert Southwest that typically takes about 2 hours and 35 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, leaving you plenty of time at your destination. You will primarily navigate the Superstition Freeway, the Phoenix–Globe Highway, and the Globe-Lordsburg Highway. Budgeting around $23 for fuel should keep you covered for the journey. Since both locations reside within the Desert Southwest, the transition is seamless as you move through the arid landscape. It is a practical, no-nonsense commute that allows for a quick change of scenery without the need for an overnight stay.
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
58.6 miles from Mesa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Phoenix–Globe Highway
43 mi
55m
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
41.9 mi
51m
Superstition Freeway
18.5 mi
21m
US 60
4 mi
7m
East Ash Street
2.3 mi
4m
South Mesa Drive
2 mi
3m
North Broad Street
2 mi
3m
Live Oak Street
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Phoenix–Globe Highway
— 43 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and Bylas, AZ.
1
Start on East University Drive
73 ft·8 sec·East University Drive
2
Turn left onto North Mesa Drive
0.5 mi·56 sec·North Mesa Drive
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on South Mesa Drive
2.0 mi·3 min·South Mesa Drive
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward US 60 East: GlobeUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto US 60
19 mi·21 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
43 mi·55 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·Live Oak Street
8
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
9
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
10
Turn left onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Broad Street
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·9 sec·East Oak Street
12
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·South Hill Street
13
Turn left onto US 60
2.3 mi·4 min·East Ash Street
14
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
0.8 mi·1 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70; AZ 77
41 mi·49 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
16
Turn left
0.1 mi·31 sec
17
Turn left onto Indian Route 105
485 ft·21 sec·Indian Route 105
18
Arrive at destination
Indian Route 105
Trip Plan
Given the technical nature of the road, try to leave early in the day to avoid peak traffic and ensure you have plenty of daylight for the turn-heavy segments. Since there is only one planned stop, use that break strategically to stretch your legs and refresh before tackling the final leg of the drive. The flexibility of this 117-mile route means you don't have to rush; enjoy the steady pace rather than fighting the winding sections. Keep your fuel level in mind despite the $23 estimated cost, as the local roads can sometimes be less forgiving if you run low. Prioritize maintaining a consistent speed on the 43-mile stretch of the Phoenix–Globe Highway to stay comfortable behind the wheel.
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 58.6 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43 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 26 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.6 miles or 1h 15m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bylas, 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 117.1 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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 Phoenix–Globe Highway for about 43 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 72.4 — 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|North Mesa Drive
Turn left onto North Mesa Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.6 mi into trip|~5m in
Turn left toward US 60 East: Globe
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 60 East: Globe
5
3 mi into trip|~5m in|US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge onto US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
71.8 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|North Broad Street
Turn left onto North Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
72.4 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|East Oak Street
Turn left onto East Oak Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.33 one way
$46.66 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$24.69
$49.38
premium
$5.59
$25.78
$51.55
diesel
$5.61
$25.85
$51.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.1
0
$12.30
$5.62
Efficient EV
29.3
0
$10.25
$4.68
EV Truck/SUV
46.8
0
$16.39
$7.49
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Mesa, AZ
Late night
in Mesa on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bylas, AZ
Late night
in Bylas on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Miami, AZ
59 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
8 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 35m 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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 32.3
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
$10
near mile 60.6
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 that demands your full attention as you transition away from the freeway. Only 19% of this trip is spent on the highway, meaning you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating tighter, more technical sections. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 43 miles along the Phoenix–Globe Highway. As you progress, the road loses the high-speed feel of the Superstition Freeway and shifts into a more intimate, winding experience. Be prepared for a shift in pace that requires more frequent gear or speed adjustments compared to a standard interstate cruise.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43 mi on Phoenix–Globe 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 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Mesa Drive.
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 117.1 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (North Mesa Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 35m. Total distance: 117.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (19%). 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 43 miles on Phoenix–Globe 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: near the start (North Mesa Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Tonto National Monument. 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 Bylas, AZ before heading back.
