Origin
Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ
Morning in Ahwatukee Foothills on Monday
Local time
10:52 AM
MST
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ to Mesa, AZ
Drive Time
22m
Distance
14.7 mi
24 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Mesa, AZ
Zsolt Pujsz
Trip Overview
The drive from Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ to Mesa, AZ covers 14.7 miles and takes about 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Superstition Freeway, South Mesa Drive, Maricopa Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7.4 miles on Superstition Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.93 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
7.3 miles from Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 22m highway drive covering 14.7 miles, with most of the trip on Superstition Freeway and South Mesa Drive. The longest continuous stretch is about 7.4 miles on Superstition Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Superstition Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 7.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Superstition Freeway and South Mesa Drive. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East Pawnee Circle.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 14.7 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 0.2 miles (East Pawnee Circle): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Pawnee Circle
Turn right onto East Pawnee Circle
Navigation decision point
7
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
7
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward US 60 East: Mesa-Globe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa-Globe
6
3.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 60 East: Mesa Globe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa Globe
7
11.7 mi into trip
|
~16m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Superstition Freeway | 7.4 mi | 8m |
| South Mesa Drive | 2 mi | 4m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| East Elliot Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Mesa Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South 48th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Iroquois Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Pawnee Circle | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Superstition Freeway
— 7.4 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ and Mesa, AZ.
1
Start on South Iroquois Drive
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
South Iroquois Drive
2
Turn right onto East Pawnee Circle
187 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Pawnee Circle
3
Turn left onto South 48th Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
South 48th Street
4
Turn right onto East Elliot Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Elliot Road
5
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 10
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa-Globe
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa Globe
9
Merge onto US 60
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 180
Toward Mesa Drive
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto South Mesa Drive
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
South Mesa Drive
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on North Mesa Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Mesa Drive
13
Turn right onto East University Drive
73 ft
·
1 sec
·
East University Drive
14
Arrive at destination
East University Drive
Trip Plan
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 7.3 miles from Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ, or about 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.4 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 14.7 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 7.3 miles or 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 18m
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 Ahwatukee Foothills, 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 Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ
This is one driving day of about 14.7 miles and 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Superstition Freeway for about 7.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 7.3 mi from Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ · 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
7 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 14.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 7.3 miles from Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Mesa, AZ
The final approach into Mesa, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Mesa, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.93 one way
$5.85 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $3.09 | $6.18 |
| premium | $5.59 | $3.23 | $6.47 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.27 | $6.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.54 | $0.71 |
| Efficient EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.29 | $0.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.06 | $0.94 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Mesa, AZ
Morning in Mesa on Monday
Local time
10:52 AM
MST
Current temp
59°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
1 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
22m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ to Mesa, AZ covers 14.7 miles and takes about 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Superstition Freeway, South Mesa Drive, Maricopa Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7.3 miles from Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.93 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 14.7 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (East Pawnee Circle): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ to Mesa, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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