Origin
Cave Creek, AZ
Afternoon in Cave Creek on Sunday
Local time
4:07 PM
MST
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cave Creek, AZ to Mesa, AZ
Drive Time
54m
Distance
35.3 mi
57 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cave Creek, AZ
Pho Tomass
Mesa, AZ
Zsolt Pujsz
Trip Overview
The drive from Cave Creek, AZ to Mesa, AZ covers 35.3 miles and takes about 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pima Freeway, North Scottsdale Road, West McKellips Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.3 miles on Pima Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.03 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
17.6 miles from Cave Creek, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Cave Creek, AZ to Mesa, AZ covers 35.3 miles and takes about 54m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pima Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 14.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 13.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 35.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 13.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 28.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.2 miles (West McKellips Road): 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.
6
13.6 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Turn left toward AZ 101 Loop East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward AZ 101 Loop East
7
28.3 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward McDowell Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 49
Toward McDowell Road
6
31.2 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
West McKellips Road
Turn left onto West McKellips Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
33.3 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
North Mesa Drive
Turn right onto North Mesa Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
35.3 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
East University Drive
Turn left onto East University Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pima Freeway | 14.3 mi | 16m |
| North Scottsdale Road | 9.8 mi | 15m |
| West McKellips Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| North Mesa Drive | 2 mi | 3m |
| North Tom Darlington Drive | 2 mi | 4m |
| East McDowell Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| East Cave Creek Road | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| North Alma School Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Pima Freeway
— 14.3 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cave Creek, AZ and Mesa, AZ.
1
Start on East Cave Creek Road
206 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Cave Creek Road
2
Continue on East Cave Creek Road
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Cave Creek Road
Use the none lane.
3
Turn slight right
171 ft
·
7 sec
Toward North Tom Darlington Drive
4
Turn straight onto North Tom Darlington Drive
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Tom Darlington Drive
Use the none lane.
5
Turn straight onto North Tom Darlington Drive
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Tom Darlington Drive
Use the none lane.
6
Continue on North Scottsdale Road
9.8 mi
·
15 min
·
North Scottsdale Road
Use the none lane.
7
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop East
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 49
Toward McDowell Road
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto East McDowell Road
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East McDowell Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto North Alma School Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Alma School Road
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto West McKellips Road
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West McKellips Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto North Mesa Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Mesa Drive
Use the none lane.
14
Turn left onto East University Drive
73 ft
·
1 sec
·
East University Drive
Use the left lane.
15
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 17.6 miles from Cave Creek, AZ, or about 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.3 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 35.3 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 17.6 miles or 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 45m
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 Cave Creek, 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 Cave Creek, AZ
This is one driving day of about 35.3 miles and 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cave Creek, 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 Pima Freeway for about 14.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.6 mi from Cave Creek, AZ · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.6 miles from Cave Creek, 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
$7.03 one way
$14.05 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $7.42 | $14.84 |
| premium | $5.59 | $7.76 | $15.53 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.84 | $15.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.69 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.09 | $1.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Afternoon in Mesa on Sunday
Local time
4:07 PM
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
2 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
54m 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 Cave Creek, AZ to Mesa, AZ covers 35.3 miles and takes about 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pima Freeway, North Scottsdale Road, West McKellips Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.6 miles from Cave Creek, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.03 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 35.3 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 28.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.2 miles (West McKellips Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Cave Creek, AZ to Mesa, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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