Origin
Scottsdale, AZ
Evening in Scottsdale on Saturday
Local time
7:48 PM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scottsdale, AZ to Mescal, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 50m
Distance
158 mi
254 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 39m
★
6 AM
2h 50m
8 AM
3h 12m
10 AM
2h 58m
12 PM
2h 56m
3 PM
2h 59m
5 PM
3h 11m
8 PM
2h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scottsdale, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Mescal, AZ
Los Muertos Crew
Trip Overview
This 158-mile drive from Scottsdale, AZ, to Mescal, AZ, is a manageable 2 hour and 50 minute journey, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You'll navigate primarily via the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, and Tucson-Benson Highway, with about 15% of the route being highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this Desert Southwest excursion is around $31. Expect a drive with frequent turns, so keep your attention on the road. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 54.6 miles, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79 miles from Scottsdale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.6 mi | 55m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 37.8 mi | 38m |
| Tucson-Benson Highway | 36.5 mi | 38m |
| Price Freeway | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| North Freeway | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| Pima Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Santan Freeway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| North Mescal Road | 1.8 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.6 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsdale, AZ and Mescal, AZ.
1
Start on this road
64 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto East Chaparral Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Chaparral Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
4
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 61B
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Santan Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 55A-B
Toward I 10 West: Tucson, Phoenix
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Exit 55B
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
55 mi
·
55 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 10
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 10
36 mi
·
38 min
·
Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 297
Toward Mescal Road, J Six Ranch Road
15
Turn left onto J-6 Road
369 ft
·
15 sec
·
J-6 Road
16
Continue on North Mescal Road
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
North Mescal Road
17
Arrive at destination
North Mescal Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 50 minutes, this trip offers great flexibility. You can depart in the morning and arrive by midday, leaving ample time for your activities in Mescal. Consider leaving Scottsdale early to beat any potential local traffic. With only one suggested stop and a maximum uninterrupted stretch of 54.6 miles, you won't need to worry about extensive fuel or rest breaks. However, keep an eye on your navigation system for those frequent turns, especially as you transition onto local segments of the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79 miles from Scottsdale, AZ, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 35 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mescal, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Scottsdale, 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 Scottsdale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 158 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Scottsdale, 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 54.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79 miles from Scottsdale, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 155.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
15.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 202 Loop West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 61B
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
6
19.3 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: Tucson, Phoenix
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 55A-B
Toward I 10 West: Tucson, Phoenix
8
19.8 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 55B
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
6
155.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 44m in
Take the exit toward Mescal Road, J Six Ranch Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 297
Toward Mescal Road, J Six Ranch Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.48 one way
$62.95 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $33.31 | $66.62 |
| premium | $5.59 | $34.78 | $69.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.88 | $69.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.4 | 0 | $16.59 | $7.58 |
| Efficient EV | 39.5 | 0 | $13.83 | $6.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.2 | 0 | $22.12 | $10.11 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Mescal, AZ
Evening in Mescal on Saturday
Local time
7:48 PM
MST
Current temp
76°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
16 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
2h 50m 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.
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 130.8
Park Closure: Red Hills Visitor Center (TMD) theater closed for repairs
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 49
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a turn-heavy local drive experience, rather than a monotonous interstate grind. While 15% of your journey will be on faster highway roads, the majority will feel more like navigating through communities. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 54.6 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. As you progress, you'll notice the character of the drive shifting from more urban-influenced roads to those more characteristic of the Desert Southwest. Be prepared for frequent adjustments in direction.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.6 mi on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 158 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Mescal, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Phoenix along the way.
Phoenix
19.3 mi in
|
~23m
About the Cities
Starting in Scottsdale, AZ
Full guide →Scottsdale is a city in the state of Arizona. Scottsdale is home to many galleries, high quality resorts, and golf courses. It is also one of the wealthier parts of the Phoenix Metro Area.
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 2h 50m. Total distance: 158 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.6 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. 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 Mescal, 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 1 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Saguaro National Park and Casa Grande Ruins 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 Mescal, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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