This 78.1-mile drive from Mesa, AZ to Tonto Basin, AZ is an easy one-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 39 minutes. You'll primarily be on the Beeline Highway and its variations, with no interstate driving involved. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $16, making it an economical option. The overall feel is that of a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate through the Desert Southwest region of Arizona. Given its short duration, this route is perfect for a spontaneous day trip 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.
Midpoint
39.1 miles from Mesa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Beeline Highway
52.4 mi
1h
Claypool-Jakes Corner Highway
17.1 mi
24m
North Beeline Highway
4.5 mi
5m
North Mesa Drive
2 mi
3m
East McKellips Road
1 mi
1m
North Country Club Drive
0.7 mi
1m
East University Drive
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Beeline Highway
— 52.4 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and Tonto Basin, AZ.
1
Start on East University Drive
73 ft·5 sec·East University Drive
2
Turn right onto North Mesa Drive
2.0 mi·3 min·North Mesa Drive
3
Turn left onto East McKellips Road
1.0 mi·1 min·East McKellips Road
4
Turn right onto AZ 87
0.7 mi·1 min·North Country Club Drive
5
Continue on AZ 87
4.5 mi·5 min·North Beeline Highway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
Continue on AZ 87
52 mi·1 hr·Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto AZ 188
17 mi·24 min·Claypool-Jakes Corner Highway
8
Turn left
0.2 mi·1 min
9
At end of road, turn left
0.2 mi·58 sec
10
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this straightforward 1 hour and 39 minute drive, flexibility is your best friend. Since it's a relatively short trip of 78.1 miles, you can depart whenever suits you best, perhaps in the morning to maximize your time in Tonto Basin. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially since the longest stretch without a potential stop is 52.4 miles. The estimated fuel cost is $16, so ensure you have enough to cover that and any unexpected detours. A practical tip for this route is to familiarize yourself with the various segments of the Beeline Highway, as it can feel like a continuous road but has distinct named sections.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.1 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.4 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 17 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.1 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tonto Basin, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mesa, AZ
This is one driving day of about 78.1 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Mesa, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Beeline Highway for about 52.4 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 78 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Mesa Drive
Turn right onto North Mesa Drive
Navigation decision point
4
2 mi into trip|~3m in|East McKellips Road
Turn left onto East McKellips Road
Navigation decision point
3
3 mi into trip|~5m in|AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive
Turn right onto AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive
Navigation decision point
3
77.8 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
78 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
At end of road, turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.56 one way
$31.12 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$16.47
$32.93
premium
$5.59
$17.19
$34.38
diesel
$5.61
$17.24
$34.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.4
0
$8.20
$3.75
Efficient EV
19.5
0
$6.83
$3.12
EV Truck/SUV
31.2
0
$10.93
$5.00
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 15, 2026
Origin
Mesa, AZ
Night
in Mesa on Saturday
Local time
9:39 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tonto Basin, AZ
Night
in Tonto Basin on Saturday
Local time
9:39 PM
MST
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
87°F
Rio Verde, AZ
39 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
9 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 39m 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.
Tonto National Monument
National Monument
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
$10
near mile 78.1
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 for the majority of this 78.1-mile journey. With a 0% highway share, you'll be on surface roads for the entire trip, primarily utilizing the Beeline Highway and Claypool-Jakes Corner Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 52.4 miles on the Beeline Highway. This route is characterized by frequent turns and changes in direction, offering a more engaged driving experience compared to long stretches of interstate. The road's personality is less about high-speed travel and more about navigating local terrain.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.4 mi on Beeline Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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 early in the drive near North Mesa Drive.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Mesa, AZ to Tonto Basin, AZ is easy. At 1h 39m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Mesa Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (East McKellips Road): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive): Navigation decision point.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.4 miles on Beeline Highway. 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): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (East McKellips Road): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive): Navigation decision point.
Yes — 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 Tonto Basin, AZ before heading back.
