Clifton, AZ to Mesa, AZ is 192.9 miles and takes about 4h 15m via East Center Street, Phoenix–Globe Highway, and Coronado Boulevard, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across the Desert Southwest within Arizona, offering a single-day journey. Expect a route that involves frequent turns rather than long stretches of open highway. It's a manageable drive, well-suited for a solo day trip or a relaxed start to a larger adventure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
96.4 miles from Clifton, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 6m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 15m. Total distance: 192.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 12% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate through local roads for a significant portion, so be prepared for more frequent adjustments to your steering and speed. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 66.5 miles on East Center Street. This suggests a drive that winds through communities and varied terrain, rather than a straightforward interstate cruise.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 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 32.6 miles in near US 70; US 191 / Globe-Lordsburg Highway.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 15m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 32.6 miles (US 70; US 191 / Globe-Lordsburg Highway): Navigation decision point; at 42.7 miles (US 191 / South 1st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 43.2 miles (South 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
32.6 mi into trip|~41m in|US 70; US 191 / Globe-Lordsburg Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 70; US 191 / Globe-Lordsburg Highway
Navigation decision point
4
42.7 mi into trip|~55m in|US 191 / South 1st Avenue
Turn left onto US 191 / South 1st Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
43.2 mi into trip|~56m in|South 8th Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
189.9 mi into trip|~4h 9m 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
190.4 mi into trip|~4h 10m 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
Coronado Boulevard
19.3 mi
25m
Superstition Freeway
18.6 mi
21m
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
14.7 mi
20m
Safford-Springerville Highway
13.3 mi
15m
US 60
4 mi
7m
West Thatcher Boulevard
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 Clifton, AZ and Mesa, AZ.
1
Start on US 191
9.0 mi·12 min·Coronado Boulevard
2
Turn straight onto US 191
10 mi·12 min·Coronado Boulevard
3
Continue on US 191
13 mi·15 min·Safford-Springerville Highway
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 70; US 191
10 mi·13 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
5
Turn left onto US 191
403 ft·11 sec·South 1st Avenue
6
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West Main Street
7
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue
436 ft·16 sec·South 8th Avenue
8
Turn left onto US 70
2.3 mi·4 min·West Thatcher Boulevard
9
Continue on US 70
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
10
Continue on US 70
4.7 mi·6 min·Globe-Lordsburg Highway
11
Continue on US 70
66 mi·1 hr 21 min·East Center Street
12
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
2.3 mi·4 min·East Ash Street
13
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·South Hill Street
14
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·11 sec·East Oak Street
15
Turn right onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·North Broad Street
16
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
17
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
18
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·West Live Oak Street
19
Continue on US 60
43 mi·55 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
19 mi·21 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 180Toward Mesa DriveUse the slight right lane.
22
Turn right onto South Mesa Drive
2.0 mi·3 min·South Mesa Drive
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on North Mesa Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·North Mesa Drive
24
Turn right onto East University Drive
73 ft·1 sec·East University Drive
25
Arrive at destination
East University Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 15m duration and the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, consider an early morning departure from Clifton to maximize daylight. While there's only one official stop noted, the frequent turns mean you'll likely want to take short breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition between main roads; the $38 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting. Since this is a single-day drive, you have the flexibility to depart when you're ready, but an early start is recommended for a more relaxed experience.
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 96.4 miles from Clifton, AZ, or about 2h 6m 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 42 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.4 miles or 2h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 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 Clifton, 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 Clifton, AZ
This is one driving day of about 192.9 miles and 4h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Clifton, 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 96.4 mi from Clifton, AZ
· 2h 6m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 159.6
Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.43 one way
$76.86 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$40.67
$81.34
premium
$5.59
$42.46
$84.92
diesel
$5.61
$42.59
$85.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.9
0
$20.25
$9.26
Efficient EV
48.2
0
$16.88
$7.72
EV Truck/SUV
77.2
0
$27.01
$12.35
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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
Clifton, AZ
Morning
in Clifton on Friday
Local time
8:21 AM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Mesa, AZ
Morning
in Mesa on Friday
Local time
8:21 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
4h 15m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Clifton, AZ to Mesa, AZ covers 192.9 miles and takes about 4h 15m 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, Coronado Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 96.4 miles from Clifton, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.43 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 15m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 32.6 miles (US 70; US 191 / Globe-Lordsburg Highway): Navigation decision point; at 42.7 miles (US 191 / South 1st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 43.2 miles (South 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Clifton, AZ to Mesa, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
