Origin
Mesa, AZ
Night in Mesa on Saturday
Local time
9:16 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mesa, AZ to Willow Valley, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 52m
Distance
250.9 mi
404 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 39m
★
6 AM
4h 52m
8 AM
5h 19m
10 AM
5h 1m
12 PM
4h 59m
3 PM
5h 3m
5 PM
5h 18m
8 PM
4h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mesa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Willow Valley, AZ
Önder Karagülle
Trip Overview
This 250.9-mile drive from Mesa, AZ, to Willow Valley, AZ, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 52 minutes. You'll primarily be on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Route 95, and the Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway. With a fuel cost estimated around $50, this journey through the Desert Southwest offers a mixed driving experience. Plan for one stop along the way to break up the drive. Given its manageable length, you have flexibility in departure time and pacing.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
125.5 miles from Mesa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 105 mi | 1h 45m |
| Route 95 | 47.5 mi | 55m |
| Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway | 30.9 mi | 35m |
| Papago Freeway | 21 mi | 24m |
| Aqueduct Road | 16.5 mi | 24m |
| Red Mountain Freeway | 10.9 mi | 12m |
| North Central Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Mohave Valley Highway | 3 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 105 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and Willow Valley, AZ.
1
Start on East University Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East University Drive
2
Turn right onto North Alma School Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Alma School Road
3
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Red Mountain Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 West
Use the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 10
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
8
Continue on I 10
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
105 mi
·
1 hr 45 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto I 10 Business
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 10 Business
Toward US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma
11
Turn right onto I 10 Bus
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Riggles Road
12
Turn left onto I 10 Bus
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
13
Turn right onto AZ 95
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Central Boulevard
14
Continue on AZ 95
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto AZ 95
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
16
Continue on AZ 95
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
California Avenue
17
Continue on CA 62
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
CA 62
18
At end of road, turn left onto CA 62
16 mi
·
24 min
·
Aqueduct Road
19
Turn sharp right onto US 95
48 mi
·
55 min
·
Route 95
20
Take the exit onto US 95
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 95
21
Merge onto I 40; US 95
0.8 mi
·
51 sec
·
Needles Freeway
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
Toward J Street
23
Turn right onto J Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
J Street
24
At end of road, turn left onto Front Street
465 ft
·
14 sec
·
Front Street
25
Turn right onto North K Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North K Street
26
Continue on AZ 95
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Harbor Avenue
27
Continue on AZ 95
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Mohave Valley Highway
28
Turn left onto Willow Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Willow Drive
29
Arrive at destination
Willow Drive
Trip Plan
Consider starting your journey in the morning to take advantage of daylight for the 4-hour and 52-minute drive. With only one recommended stop, you can choose a convenient point along the 250.9 miles to stretch your legs or refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 105-mile stretch on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, as services might be spaced out. The estimated $50 fuel cost should be factored into your budget for this single-day adventure.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 125.5 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105 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 55 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.5 miles or 2h 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 3h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Willow Valley, 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 250.9 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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 Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 105 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
125 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 125.5 miles from Mesa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105 miles.
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 185 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 245.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Turn left toward AZ 202 Loop West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
5
3.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
14.8 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 10 West
5
15.8 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 10 / Papago Freeway
Merge onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
245.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 41m in
|
Front Street
At end of road, turn left onto Front Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.98 one way
$99.96 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $52.90 | $105.79 |
| premium | $5.59 | $55.23 | $110.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.40 | $110.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.3 | 0 | $26.34 | $12.04 |
| Efficient EV | 62.7 | 0 | $21.95 | $10.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.4 | 1 | $35.13 | $16.06 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Willow Valley, AZ
Night in Willow Valley on Saturday
Local time
9:16 PM
MST
Current temp
54°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
39 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
4h 52m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive, with 32% of it being highway. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 105 miles on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, so be prepared for extended periods on this road. The character of the drive shifts as you transition between major highways, offering a varied experience behind the wheel. Expect a blend of faster-paced road sections and potentially more local road segments as you progress toward Willow Valley.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 250.9 miles you will encounter 18 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: at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Willow Valley, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Yuma along the way.
Yuma
142.3 mi in
|
~2h 32m
|
via I 10 Business
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 4h 52m. Total distance: 250.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Willow Valley, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Willow Valley, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
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.
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