Traveling from Payson to Mesa covers 76.3 miles of the Arizona Desert Southwest, making for a straightforward 1-hour and 17-minute journey. Because of the relatively short distance, this trip is perfectly suited as a simple one-day excursion that does not require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to complete the transit. Navigating the route involves utilizing North Country Club Drive, West McKellips Road, and North Mesa Drive to reach your destination. Since the entire drive is conducted on local roads rather than interstates, you will experience a more grounded transition between these two desert communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.1 miles from Payson, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Beeline Highway
72.4 mi
1h 25m
North Mesa Drive
2 mi
3m
West McKellips Road
1 mi
1m
North Country Club Drive
0.7 mi
1m
East University Drive
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
South Beeline Highway
— 72.4 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Payson, AZ and Mesa, AZ.
1
Start on AZ 87
72 mi·1 hr 25 min·South Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
2
Continue on AZ 87
0.7 mi·1 min·North Country Club Drive
3
Turn left onto West McKellips Road
1.0 mi·1 min·West McKellips Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto North Mesa Drive
2.0 mi·3 min·North Mesa Drive
5
Turn left onto East University Drive
73 ft·1 sec·East University Drive
Use the left lane.
6
Arrive at destination
East University Drive
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact 76.3-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to plan for formal rest stops, though it is wise to ensure your tank is ready for the $15 fuel requirement before heading out. Given the turn-heavy nature of the local roads, stay focused on your navigation apps or maps to ensure you correctly transition between North Country Club Drive and West McKellips Road. Because there are no scheduled stops on this route, make sure you have everything you need in the car before you depart Payson. Taking your time through the local turns will make the hour-plus drive much more manageable.
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 38.1 miles from Payson, AZ, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.4 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 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.1 miles or 44m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mesa, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Payson, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Payson, AZ
This is one driving day of about 76.2 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Payson, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Beeline Highway for about 72.4 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
4 of 4
4 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 76.1 — 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|AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway
Depart onto AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
73.1 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|West McKellips Road
Turn left onto West McKellips Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
74.1 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|North Mesa Drive
Turn right onto North Mesa Drive
Navigation decision point
6
76.1 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|East University Drive
Turn left onto East University Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.18 one way
$30.36 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$16.07
$32.13
premium
$5.59
$16.77
$33.55
diesel
$5.61
$16.82
$33.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.7 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
22.9
0
$8.00
$3.66
Efficient EV
19.1
0
$6.67
$3.05
EV Truck/SUV
30.5
0
$10.67
$4.88
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 17, 2026
Origin
Payson, AZ
Night
in Payson on Saturday
Local time
9:15 PM
MST
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Mesa, AZ
Night
in Mesa on Saturday
Local time
9:15 PM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
41 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 32m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. With a 0% highway share, this route avoids the monotony of high-speed interstates in favor of more technical, winding stretches. You will not encounter any long, uninterrupted highway stretches, meaning the pace of the drive remains consistent rather than fast. As you navigate the transition from Payson toward Mesa, the road's personality remains focused on local navigation. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that requires you to stay alert through every turn.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
6 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.4 mi on South Beeline Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
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 AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Payson, AZ to Mesa, AZ is easy. At 1h 32m 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 (AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 73.1 miles (West McKellips Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 74.1 miles (North Mesa Drive): Navigation decision point.
Payson is a town in Gila County, Arizona. Known as the "Heart of Arizona," it is a gateway to the Colorado Plateau and the Mogollon Rim in Northern and Eastern Arizona.
The longest stretch is about 72.4 miles on South 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 (AZ 87 / South Beeline Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 73.1 miles (West McKellips Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 74.1 miles (North Mesa Drive): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Mesa, AZ before heading back.
