Wellton, AZ to Mesa, AZ is 175.1 miles and takes about 3h 14m via Blue Star Memorial Highway and South John Wayne Parkway, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a 1-day trip that keeps you within the Desert Southwest region the entire time. Expect a drive with many turns, so it's not the fastest way between these two points, but it's manageable for a single day. The fuel cost is estimated at $35, making it an economical choice for a quick journey.
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
87.6 miles from Wellton, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
120.3 mi
2h
South John Wayne Parkway
14.8 mi
18m
Maricopa Road
11.8 mi
13m
Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
5.7 mi
6m
Price Freeway
5.4 mi
6m
West Queen Creek Road
5.3 mi
7m
Superstition Freeway
2.9 mi
3m
South Price Road
2.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 120.3 mi, about 2h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wellton, AZ and Mesa, AZ.
1
Start on US 80 Hist
0.1 mi·14 sec·Los Angeles Avenue
2
Continue on US 80 Hist
0.4 mi·52 sec·Los Angeles Avenue
3
Turn right onto William Street
1.0 mi·2 min·William Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·55 sec
5
Merge onto I 8
120 mi·2 hr·Blue Star Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward AZ 84 East: Maricopa
7
Turn left onto AZ 84
5.7 mi·6 min·Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
8
Turn left onto AZ 347
15 mi·18 min·South John Wayne Parkway
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on AZ 347
12 mi·13 min·Maricopa Road
10
Continue on AZ 347
5.3 mi·7 min·West Queen Creek Road
11
Turn left onto South Price Road
2.4 mi·4 min·South Price Road
Use the left lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·32 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
13
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
5.4 mi·6 min·Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 55A; 55BToward US 60 West, US 60 East: Phoenix, GlobeUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 55BToward US 60 East: GlobeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto US 60
2.9 mi·3 min·Superstition Freeway
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 180Toward Mesa DriveUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn left onto South Mesa Drive
2.0 mi·4 min·South Mesa Drive
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on North Mesa Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·North Mesa Drive
20
Turn right onto East University Drive
73 ft·1 sec·East University Drive
21
Arrive at destination
East University Drive
Trip Plan
Given this is a 1-day drive covering 175.1 miles, you have plenty of flexibility. Consider leaving in the morning to allow ample time for the numerous turns and a single planned stop without feeling rushed. The estimated fuel cost is $35, so budget accordingly. Since the longest stretch is 120.3 miles on the Blue Star Memorial Highway, plan your fuel and rest stops before you begin that segment to ensure a smooth continuation of your journey.
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 87.6 miles from Wellton, AZ, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.3 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 39 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.6 miles or 1h 30m 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 31m
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 Wellton, 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 Wellton, AZ
This is one driving day of about 175.1 miles and 3h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Wellton, 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 Blue Star Memorial Highway for about 120.3 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
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 128.2 and 172.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
128.2 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|AZ 347 / South John Wayne Parkway
Turn left onto AZ 347 / South John Wayne Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
162.9 mi into trip|~2h 57m in|AZ 101 Loop / Price Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Price Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
168.4 mi into trip|~3h 3m in
Take the exit toward US 60 West, US 60 East: Phoenix, Globe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 55A; 55B
Toward US 60 West, US 60 East: Phoenix, Globe
8
168.5 mi into trip|~3h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 60 East: Globe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 55B
Toward US 60 East: Globe
7
172.2 mi into trip|~3h 8m in
Take the exit toward Mesa Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 180
Toward Mesa Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.88 one way
$69.76 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$36.92
$73.83
premium
$5.59
$38.54
$77.09
diesel
$5.61
$38.66
$77.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.5
0
$18.39
$8.40
Efficient EV
43.8
0
$15.32
$7.00
EV Truck/SUV
70
0
$24.51
$11.21
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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 15, 2026
Origin
Wellton, AZ
Night
in Wellton on Saturday
Local time
9:16 PM
MST
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Mesa, AZ
Night
in Mesa on Saturday
Local time
9:16 PM
MST
Current temp
93°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
38 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
3h 14m 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.
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...
29 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 145
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll encounter numerous directional changes rather than long, straight stretches. With only a 13% highway share, most of your journey will be on local roads. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll experience is 120.3 miles on the Blue Star Memorial Highway. As you progress, the route will feel more like navigating through local communities rather than a traditional highway cruise.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 120.3 mi on Blue Star Memorial 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 128.2 miles in near AZ 347 / South John Wayne Parkway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 175.1 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 128.2 miles (AZ 347 / South John Wayne Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 162.9 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Price Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 14m. Total distance: 175.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 120.3 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 128.2 miles (AZ 347 / South John Wayne Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 162.9 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Price Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Mesa, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
