Origin
Casa Grande, AZ
Morning in Casa Grande on Thursday
Local time
8:58 AM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Casa Grande, AZ to Mesa, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
40.3 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Casa Grande, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Mesa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Casa Grande, AZ to Mesa, AZ covers 40.3 miles and takes about 1h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Arizona Avenue, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, North Pinal Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 11 miles on South Arizona Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.03 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 40.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (16%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 1m drive with frequent turns across 40.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Arizona Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 11 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 early in the drive near AZ 387 / North Pinal Avenue.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 1m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AZ 387 / North Pinal Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles (I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AZ 387 / North Pinal Avenue
Turn left onto AZ 387 / North Pinal Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
8.7 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
5
9 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
18.1 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward AZ 587 North: Chandler, Gilbert
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 175
Toward AZ 587 North: Chandler, Gilbert
6
18.4 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
AZ 587
Turn left onto AZ 587
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
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 Casa Grande, AZ to Mesa, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Gilbert along the way.
Gilbert
18.1 mi in
|
~24m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Arizona Avenue | 11 mi | 19m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 9.1 mi | 9m |
| North Pinal Avenue | 7.9 mi | 13m |
| AZ 587 | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| South Country Club Drive | 4 mi | 7m |
| West University Drive | 1 mi | 1m |
| State Route 387 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Arizona Avenue
— 11 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Casa Grande, AZ and Mesa, AZ.
1
Start on AZ 287
33 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Gila Bend Highway
2
Turn left onto AZ 387
7.9 mi
·
13 min
·
North Pinal Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on AZ 387
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
State Route 387
4
Continue on AZ 387
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 10
9.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 175
Toward AZ 587 North: Chandler, Gilbert
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto AZ 587
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
AZ 587
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
9
Continue on AZ 87
11 mi
·
19 min
·
South Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on AZ 87
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
South Country Club Drive
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto West University Drive
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West University Drive
12
Arrive at destination
East University Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.1 mi from Casa Grande, AZ · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.1 miles from Casa Grande, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.03 one way
$16.06 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $8.50 | $16.99 |
| premium | $5.59 | $8.87 | $17.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.90 | $17.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.53 | $1.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.64 | $2.58 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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 Thursday
Local time
8:58 AM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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
1h 1m 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 Casa Grande, AZ to Mesa, AZ covers 40.3 miles and takes about 1h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Arizona Avenue, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, North Pinal Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.1 miles from Casa Grande, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.03 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 straightforward 1h 1m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AZ 387 / North Pinal Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles (I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Casa Grande, AZ to Mesa, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Gilbert along the way.
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