Origin
Cactus Flat, AZ
Late night in Cactus Flat on Wednesday
Local time
5:30 AM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cactus Flat, AZ to Mesa, AZ
Data updated 5 hours ago
Drive Time
3h 29m
Distance
155.4 mi
250 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 17m
★
6 AM
3h 29m
8 AM
3h 54m
10 AM
3h 38m
12 PM
3h 35m
3 PM
3h 39m
5 PM
3h 52m
8 PM
3h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cactus Flat, AZ
🇻🇳🇻🇳 Việt Anh Nguyễn 🇻🇳🇻🇳
Mesa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 155.4-mile journey from Cactus Flat, AZ, to Mesa, AZ, is a manageable one-day drive, estimated to take around 3 hours and 29 minutes. You'll primarily be on East Center Street and the Phoenix–Globe Highway, with a 15% share of highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is about $31. Given its relatively short duration and the nature of the drive, it’s perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. This route stays within the Desert Southwest region, offering a consistent landscape throughout your travel.
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
77.7 miles from Cactus Flat, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the most part, rather than a monotonous interstate experience. While 15% of the route is on highways, the majority involves navigating local roads and state routes. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 66.5 miles on East Center Street, so be prepared for more frequent adjustments in direction and speed outside of that segment. This drive will likely feel more engaging as you transition between different road types.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Center Street is the longest continuous segment at about 66.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in near West Main Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 29m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.8 miles (South 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 83.1 miles (East Oak Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
5.3 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
West Main Street
Turn left onto West Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
5.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
South 8th Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
83.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
|
East Oak Street
Turn left onto East Oak Street
Navigation decision point
7
152.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 23m 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
5
152.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 24m in
|
South Mesa Drive
Turn right onto South Mesa Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Center Street | 66.5 mi | 1h 21m |
| Phoenix–Globe Highway | 42.9 mi | 55m |
| Superstition Freeway | 18.6 mi | 21m |
| Bowie Junction-Safford Highway | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| Globe-Lordsburg Highway | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| US 60 | 4 mi | 7m |
| West Thatcher Boulevard | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| East Ash Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
East Center Street
— 66.5 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cactus Flat, AZ and Mesa, AZ.
1
Start on US 191
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Bowie Junction-Safford Highway
2
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue
436 ft
·
16 sec
·
South 8th Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 70
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West Thatcher Boulevard
5
Continue on US 70
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
6
Continue on US 70
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
7
Continue on US 70
66 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
East Center Street
8
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Ash Street
9
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Hill Street
10
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Oak Street
11
Turn right onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
North Broad Street
12
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
13
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
US 60
14
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West Live Oak Street
15
Continue on US 60
43 mi
·
55 min
·
Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 180
Toward Mesa Drive
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto South Mesa Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 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
For this 3-hour and 29-minute drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of flexibility to reach Mesa without feeling rushed. With only one stop suggested, you have ample control over your pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially on the longer stretches of East Center Street, where services might be less frequent. The $31 fuel estimate should help you budget, but it's always wise to have a little extra. Consider the 66.5-mile segment on East Center Street as your primary focus for potential refueling before you hit more populated areas.
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 77.7 miles from Cactus Flat, AZ, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.5 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 80 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.7 miles or 1h 42m 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 53m
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 Cactus Flat, 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 Cactus Flat, AZ
This is one driving day of about 155.4 miles and 3h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cactus Flat, 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 East Center Street for about 66.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 77.7 mi from Cactus Flat, AZ · 1h 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
78 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 77.7 miles from Cactus Flat, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before East Center Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.5 miles.
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
$30.96 one way
$61.92 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
54 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $32.76 | $65.52 |
| premium | $5.59 | $34.21 | $68.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.31 | $68.62 |
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: 54.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.6 | 0 | $16.32 | $7.46 |
| Efficient EV | 38.9 | 0 | $13.60 | $6.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.2 | 0 | $21.76 | $9.95 |
Gas CO2
54 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
Mesa, AZ
Late night in Mesa on Wednesday
Local time
5:30 AM
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
8 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 29m 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 Cactus Flat, AZ to Mesa, AZ covers 155.4 miles and takes about 3h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Center Street, Phoenix–Globe Highway, Superstition Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 77.7 miles from Cactus Flat, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.96 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 29m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.8 miles (South 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 83.1 miles (East Oak Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Cactus Flat, AZ to Mesa, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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