Origin
Mesa, AZ
Evening in Mesa on Saturday
Local time
7:51 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mesa, AZ to Corona de Tucson, 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 32m
Distance
128.7 mi
207 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 23m
★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 53m
10 AM
2h 40m
12 PM
2h 38m
3 PM
2h 41m
5 PM
2h 52m
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
Corona de Tucson, AZ
Lindsey Willard
Trip Overview
Mesa, AZ to Corona de Tucson, AZ is 128.7 miles and takes about 2h 32m via Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Desert Southwest, traversing Arizona for its entirety. Expect a route with frequent turns rather than long stretches of highway, making it more of a local journey. Given the relatively short duration and straightforward path, it’s a manageable one-day trip.
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
64.4 miles from Mesa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.6 mi | 55m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 23.5 mi | 23m |
| Tucson-Benson Highway | 14.6 mi | 16m |
| North Arizona Avenue | 11 mi | 18m |
| South Houghton Road | 6.8 mi | 11m |
| AZ 587 | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| North Freeway | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| North Country Club Drive | 4 mi | 7m |
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 Corona de Tucson, 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
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 275
Toward Houghton Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
336 ft
·
9 sec
Toward Pima County Fairgrounds, Motorsports Facilities
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto South Houghton Road
6.8 mi
·
11 min
·
South Houghton Road
13
Turn right onto East Sahuarita Road
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Sahuarita Road
14
Arrive at destination
East Sahuarita Road
Trip Plan
For this 128.7-mile journey, leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Corona de Tucson comfortably within the estimated 2h 32m drive time. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $26, you have flexibility. Pay attention to the frequent turns indicated by the route profile; staying aware of navigation will be key. Since the longest stretch is 54.6 miles, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without feeling rushed.
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 64.4 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 1h 19m 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 28 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.4 miles or 1h 19m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Corona de Tucson, 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 128.7 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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.
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 64.4 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 121.7 — 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
121.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 20m in
Take the exit toward Houghton Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 275
Toward Houghton Road
8
121.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Pima County Fairgrounds, Motorsports Facilities
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Pima County Fairgrounds, Motorsports Fac...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.64 one way
$51.28 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $27.13 | $54.27 |
| premium | $5.59 | $28.33 | $56.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.42 | $56.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.6 | 0 | $13.51 | $6.18 |
| Efficient EV | 32.2 | 0 | $11.26 | $5.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.5 | 0 | $18.02 | $8.24 |
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
Corona de Tucson, AZ
Evening in Corona de Tucson on Saturday
Local time
7:51 PM
MST
Current temp
82°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
11 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 32m 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.
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 115.4
View on nps.gov
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 35.5
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 characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' with only 9% of the route on highways. You'll primarily navigate on roads like the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, and Tucson-Benson Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 54.6 miles along the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. Be prepared for a driving experience that involves more frequent adjustments and local road navigation than a typical interstate cruise.
Only 9% 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?
4/10
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
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 32m drive. You will face about 6 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.
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.
Between Mesa, AZ and Corona de Tucson, AZ, road signs point toward Pima County Fairgrounds and Motorsports Facilities.
Pima County Fairgrounds
121.7 mi in
|
~2h 21m
Motorsports Facilities
121.7 mi in
|
~2h 21m
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 32m. Total distance: 128.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (9%). 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 — Saguaro National Park and Casa Grande Ruins 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 Corona de Tucson, 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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