Origin
Tempe, AZ
Late night in Tempe on Sunday
Local time
12:42 AM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe, AZ to Mescal, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 43m
Distance
149.8 mi
241 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 32m
★
6 AM
2h 43m
8 AM
3h 4m
10 AM
2h 51m
12 PM
2h 48m
3 PM
2h 52m
5 PM
3h 3m
8 PM
2h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Mescal, AZ
Los Muertos Crew
Trip Overview
This 149.8-mile journey from Tempe, AZ to Mescal, AZ, is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take about 2 hours and 43 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway and the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, with a smaller portion on the Tucson-Benson Highway. With a fuel cost estimated at $30, it's an economical option for exploring the Desert Southwest. This route is characterized by frequent turns, suggesting a more local driving experience rather than a straight interstate cruise. You'll spend about 10% of your time on highways, making it a good choice for those who prefer a more varied drive.
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
74.9 miles from Tempe, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m 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 |
| Maricopa Freeway | 6.1 mi | 7m |
| North Freeway | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| Superstition Freeway | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| South McClintock Drive | 2 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 Tempe, AZ and Mescal, AZ.
1
Start on US 80 Hist
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
2
Continue on US 80 Hist
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto South McClintock Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South McClintock Drive
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward US 60 West: Phoenix
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto US 60
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
8
Merge onto I 10
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
55 mi
·
55 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 10
36 mi
·
38 min
·
Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 297
Toward Mescal Road, J Six Ranch Road
14
Turn left onto J-6 Road
369 ft
·
15 sec
·
J-6 Road
15
Continue on North Mescal Road
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
North Mescal Road
16
Arrive at destination
North Mescal Road
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 43-minute duration for this 149.8-mile drive, it's perfectly suited as a single-day adventure. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight hours and take advantage of the single recommended stop for any necessary breaks. The estimated fuel cost of $30 should cover your journey, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Pay attention to road signage, especially as you transition between the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway and other roads. The 'turn-heavy' profile means staying alert for directional changes is key to a smooth trip.
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 74.9 miles from Tempe, AZ, or about 1h 21m 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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.9 miles or 1h 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 2h 11m
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 Tempe, 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 Tempe, AZ
This is one driving day of about 149.8 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Tempe, 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
75 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74.9 miles from Tempe, 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 0.4 and 147.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South McClintock Drive
Turn right onto South McClintock Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward US 60 West: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 60 West: Phoenix
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge onto US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
5.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East: Tucson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
6
147.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 37m 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
$29.84 one way
$59.68 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $31.58 | $63.16 |
| premium | $5.59 | $32.97 | $65.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.07 | $66.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.9 | 0 | $15.73 | $7.19 |
| Efficient EV | 37.5 | 0 | $13.11 | $5.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.9 | 0 | $20.97 | $9.59 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (65% 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
Late night in Mescal on Sunday
Local time
12:42 AM
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
17 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 43m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 149.8-mile route, as indicated by its 10% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 54.6 miles along the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. This suggests a route that winds through communities and varied terrain rather than sticking to a single, high-speed road. You'll likely experience a mix of driving conditions, with opportunities to adjust your pace and observe the changing landscape as you progress from Tempe to Mescal.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 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?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near South McClintock Drive.
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 149.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.4 miles (South McClintock Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 149.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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 0.4 miles (South McClintock Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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