Sacaton Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Pirtleville, AZ to Mesa, AZ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 33m
Distance
228.1 mi
367 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 21m
★
6 AM
4h 34m
8 AM
5h 1m
10 AM
4h 43m
12 PM
4h 41m
3 PM
4h 45m
5 PM
4h 59m
8 PM
4h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pirtleville, AZ
Zsolt Pujsz
Mesa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Pirtleville, AZ to Mesa, AZ is 228.1 miles and takes about 4h 33m via Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Tucson-Benson Highway, and AZ 80, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route crosses the Desert Southwest region, staying within Arizona for the entire trip. It offers a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving. Given its manageable length and estimated duration, this trip is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing ample time for departure and arrival without feeling rushed.
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
114 miles from Pirtleville, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.5 mi | 55m |
| Tucson-Benson Highway | 41.4 mi | 43m |
| AZ 80 | 31.5 mi | 42m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 24.1 mi | 24m |
| State Route 90 | 17.1 mi | 20m |
| Whetstone TI-Junction SR 80 Highway | 12.7 mi | 15m |
| South Arizona Avenue | 11 mi | 19m |
| Huachuca Boulevard | 9 mi | 10m |
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pirtleville, AZ and Mesa, AZ.
1
Start on this road
290 ft
·
23 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto West Pirtle Avenue
461 ft
·
22 sec
·
West Pirtle Avenue
3
Turn right onto North Douglas Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Douglas Avenue
4
Turn right onto AZ 80; US 80 Hist
21 mi
·
26 min
·
AZ 80; US 80 Hist
5
Turn right onto US 80 Hist
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Douglas Road
6
Merge onto AZ 80; US 80 Hist
10 mi
·
15 min
·
AZ 80; US 80 Hist
7
Turn left onto AZ 90
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Whetstone TI-Junction SR 80 Highway
8
Continue on AZ 90
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
State Route 90
9
Continue on AZ 90
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Whetstone TI-Junction SR 80 Highway
10
Turn right onto AZ 90
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
State Route 90 Bypass
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on AZ 90
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 90
12
Continue on AZ 90
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
South Huachuca Boulevard
13
Continue on AZ 90
12 mi
·
13 min
·
State Route 90
14
Continue on AZ 90
9.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Huachuca Boulevard
15
Continue on AZ 90
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South State Highway 90
16
Turn left
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
17
Merge onto I 10
41 mi
·
43 min
·
Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 10
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 10
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
51 mi
·
51 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 10
24 mi
·
24 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 175
Toward AZ 587 North: Chandler, Gilbert
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto AZ 587
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
AZ 587
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
24
Continue on AZ 87
11 mi
·
19 min
·
South Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
25
Continue on AZ 87
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
South Country Club Drive
Use the left lane.
26
Turn right onto West University Drive
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West University Drive
27
Arrive at destination
East University Drive
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 33-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Pirtleville to maximize daylight and allow for potential delays. With only one recommended stop and a 54.5-mile longest stretch on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, you can easily complete this route in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from highway to surface roads, as fuel availability can vary. Budgeting around $45 for fuel should cover the 228.1 miles.
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 114 miles from Pirtleville, AZ, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 50 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114 miles or 2h 21m 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 37m
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 Pirtleville, 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 Pirtleville, AZ
This is one driving day of about 228.1 miles and 4h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Pirtleville, 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 Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 54.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
114 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 114 miles from Pirtleville, 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Sacaton Rest Area
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pride Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Xpress Fuel Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.9 mi from route
Service Plaza
1 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.8 mi from route
Villago Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.4 mi from route
~6 min detour
Casa Grande, Arizona
Hours: 5 am–11 pm
+15204218600
Visit websiteRiverview Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Mesa, Arizona
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+14806442352
Visit websiteTyrannostorus
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Home stretch
4.2 mi from route
~11 min detour
Mesa, Arizona
Hours: 11 am–6 pm
+14805974467
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 47.5 and 206.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
47.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
AZ 90 / State Route 90 Bypass
Turn right onto AZ 90 / State Route 90 Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
79.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
Turn left toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
6
131.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m in
|
I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
206 mi into trip
|
~3h 56m in
Take the exit toward AZ 587 North: Chandler, Gilbert
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 175
Toward AZ 587 North: Chandler, Gilbert
6
206.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 56m in
|
AZ 587
Turn left onto AZ 587
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.42 one way
$80.84 round trip
$4.50/gal
25.4 MPG avg
80 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.82 | $43.29 | $86.57 |
| premium | $5.04 | $45.28 | $90.56 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $43.07 | $86.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.4 | 0 | $23.95 | $10.95 |
| Efficient EV | 57 | 0 | $19.96 | $9.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 91.2 | 1 | $31.93 | $14.60 |
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Pirtleville, AZ
Night in Pirtleville on Saturday
Local time
11:58 PM
MST
Current temp
87°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 0 to 8 mph
35% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 10:52AM MST until July 18 at 12:30PM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ
Destination
Mesa, AZ
Night in Mesa on Saturday
Local time
11:58 PM
MST
Current temp
96°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NNW 5 mph
10% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 10:52AM MST until July 18 at 12:30PM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 33m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Saguaro National Park
National Park
Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are pr...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
$25
near mile 110.1
View on nps.gov
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 188.8
View on nps.gov
Coronado National Memorial
National Memorial
It was a journey of conquest filled with exploration, wonder - and cruelty. Inspired by tales of vast cities of gold, 339 European soldiers and over a thousand Aztec allies embarked on an epic journey...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 47.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 35% of this 228.1-mile drive is on highways. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 54.5 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. After the highway portions, the route transitions to surface roads, offering a different driving experience with potentially more local traffic and varying speed limits. Expect to navigate through areas with a mix of rural and suburban environments as you approach Mesa.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.5 mi on Casa Grande-Tucson 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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 47.5 miles in near AZ 90 / State Route 90 Bypass.
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 228.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 47.5 miles (AZ 90 / State Route 90 Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 79.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.2 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,771 ft
1,217 ft
Total Climb
882 ft
Total Descent
3,613 ft
Highest Point
4,771 ft
~32.6 mi in
Elevation Range
3,554 ft
Notable High Points
4,771 ft at ~32.6 miles
+291 ft prominence
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 Pirtleville, AZ and Mesa, AZ, road signs point toward Tuscon and Gilbert.
Tuscon
79.4 mi in
|
~1h 44m
Gilbert
206 mi in
|
~3h 56m
About the Cities
Starting in Pirtleville, AZ
Full guide →Arriving 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
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 33m. Total distance: 228.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.5 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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.
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. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 47.5 miles (AZ 90 / State Route 90 Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 79.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.2 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Saguaro National Park, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Coronado National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Mesa, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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