Origin
Mesa, AZ
Late night in Mesa on Tuesday
Local time
1:47 AM
MST
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mesa, AZ to Florence, AZ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
50.4 mi
81 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mesa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Florence, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick getaway in the Desert Southwest, the 50.4-mile trip from Mesa to Florence is an efficient excursion. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 5 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a stress-free day trip. You will primarily utilize the Superstition Freeway, US 80 Hist, and the Phoenix–Globe Highway to complete your journey. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $10, it is an affordable way to transition between these two Arizona desert communities. Because the travel time is relatively short, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics, allowing you maximum flexibility for your arrival and departure times.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Superstition Freeway | 18.5 mi | 21m |
| US 80 Hist | 16.2 mi | 21m |
| Phoenix–Globe Highway | 12.3 mi | 15m |
| South Mesa Drive | 2 mi | 3m |
| North Mesa Drive | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Butte Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East University Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Superstition Freeway
— 18.5 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and Florence, 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: Globe
Use 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
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 80 Hist
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 80 Hist
Toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 80 Hist
16 mi
·
20 min
·
US 80 Hist
Toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson
9
Turn right onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Butte Avenue
10
Turn right onto North Main Street
42 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the right lane.
11
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.2 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 34.2 — 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
33.7 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
US 80 Hist
Take the exit onto US 80 Hist toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson
6
34.2 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
US 80 Hist
Keep slight right at fork onto US 80 Hist toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.04 one way
$20.08 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $10.63 | $21.25 |
| premium | $5.59 | $11.09 | $22.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.13 | $22.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.41 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.06 | $3.23 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Florence, AZ
Late night in Florence on Tuesday
Local time
1:47 AM
MST
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
26 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
1h 5m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This 50.4-mile route is heavily highway-focused, with 69% of your time spent navigating major thoroughfares. You will start with an 18.5-mile stretch on the Superstition Freeway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of your drive. As you transition from the freeway onto the Phoenix–Globe Highway and US 80 Hist, the character of the road shifts from high-speed arterial transit to more standard highway travel. The drive maintains a consistent pace throughout the hour-long commute, providing a straightforward experience for any driver. Expect a steady, functional journey that prioritizes efficiency over technical, winding terrain.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.5 mi on Superstition Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Superstition Freeway and US 80 Hist. You will hit about 7 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 Effort
5/10
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 50.4 miles you will encounter 7 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.
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.
On the drive from Mesa, AZ to Florence, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Tucson along the way.
Tucson
33.7 mi in
|
~42m
|
via US 80 Hist
About the Cities
Starting in Mesa, AZ
Full guide →Founded 1878
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.
Top landmarks
- • Mesa Arizona Temple — the seventh operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
- • Mesa Grande — cultural park in Mesa, Arizona, preserving a group of Hohokam structures
- • Buckhorn Baths Motel — historic defunct mineral hot spring resort in Mesa, Arizona
Arriving in Florence, AZ
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Second Pinal County Courthouse — courthouse located at Pinal and 12th streets in Florence, Pinal County, Arizona,...
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 1h 5m. Total distance: 50.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.5 miles on Superstition Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Florence, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Florence, AZ
More trips to Florence, AZ
Explore more options from Mesa, AZ or browse trips ending in Florence, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.