Origin
New River, AZ
Late night in New River on Sunday
Local time
12:43 AM
MST
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New River, AZ to Mesa, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
51.9 mi
84 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New River, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Mesa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 51.9-mile drive from New River, AZ to Mesa, AZ is easily managed as a one-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 4 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via the Black Canyon Freeway and the Red Mountain Freeway, with a significant 81% of the journey on highways. Expect a fuel cost of around $10 for this relatively short excursion. Both your starting and ending points are within the Desert Southwest region, so the scenery will likely be consistent with that arid, expansive landscape. This route is ideal for a quick transfer or a focused drive without extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Black Canyon Freeway | 27.5 mi | 31m |
| Red Mountain Freeway | 11.7 mi | 13m |
| North Black Canyon Highway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| Papago Freeway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| West University Drive | 2 mi | 3m |
| North Alma School Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West New River Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Black Canyon Freeway
— 27.5 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New River, AZ and Mesa, AZ.
1
Start on North Kelley Road
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Kelley Road
2
Turn left onto West New River Road
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
West New River Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto I-17 Frontage Road
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
I-17 Frontage Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto New River Road
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
New River Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I-17 South: Phoenix
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 17
2.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 17
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 17
25 mi
·
28 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 200A
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Central Phoenix, Los Angeles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 East: Central Phoenix, Tucson
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 10
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
13
Continue on I 10
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto Red Mountain Freeway
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147
Toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147A
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
16
Keep slight left at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Red Mountain Freeway
Exit 147A
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 11
Toward Alma School Road
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto North Alma School Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Alma School Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto West University Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
West University Drive
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
East University Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 26 miles from New River, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 32.1 and 48 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
32.1 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Central Phoenix, Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 200A
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Central Phoenix, L...
8
32.3 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Central Phoenix, Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 10 East: Central Phoenix, Tucson
8
36.3 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
Red Mountain Freeway
Take the exit onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 147
Toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
8
36.8 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
Red Mountain Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto Red Mountain Freeway toward AZ 202 Loop East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 147A
Toward AZ 202 Loop East
7
48 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward Alma School Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward Alma School Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.34 one way
$20.68 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $10.94 | $21.88 |
| premium | $5.59 | $11.42 | $22.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.46 | $22.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 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 | 15.6 | 0 | $5.45 | $2.49 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.27 | $3.32 |
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
Mesa, AZ
Late night in Mesa on Sunday
Local time
12:43 AM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
ESE 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
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
6 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 4m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 81% of the 51.9 miles on major freeways. You'll encounter the Black Canyon Freeway for a notable uninterrupted stretch of 27.5 miles, offering a consistent driving experience. The North Black Canyon Highway is also part of your path, suggesting stretches of well-maintained, high-speed travel. The profile indicates a straightforward journey, likely characterized by open road and efficient transit rather than winding, scenic byways. Expect this to be a practical, no-fuss drive.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.5 mi on Black Canyon Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Black Canyon Freeway and Red Mountain Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 32.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.9 miles you will encounter 14 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 32.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.3 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 New River, AZ and Mesa, AZ, road signs point toward Los Angeles and Tucson.
Los Angeles
32.1 mi in
|
~37m
Tucson
32.3 mi in
|
~37m
About the Cities
Arriving 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 1h 4m. Total distance: 51.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.5 miles on Black Canyon Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Mesa, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: at 32.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.3 miles (Red Mountain Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Mesa, 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.
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