Origin
Flagstaff, AZ
Morning in Flagstaff on Monday
Local time
9:35 AM
MST
Current temp
30°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Flagstaff, AZ to Mesa, AZ
Drive Time
2h 26m
Distance
160.7 mi
259 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 16m
★
6 AM
2h 26m
8 AM
2h 46m
10 AM
2h 33m
12 PM
2h 31m
3 PM
2h 34m
5 PM
2h 45m
8 PM
2h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Flagstaff, AZ
Mark Direen
Mesa, AZ
Zsolt Pujsz
Trip Overview
The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Mesa, AZ covers 160.7 miles and takes about 2h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Route 66, South Milton Road, Arizona Veterans Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.98 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
80.3 miles from Flagstaff, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 26m drive with frequent turns across 160.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Route 66 is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Mesa, AZ is easy. At 2h 26m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Mesa, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Route 66 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Milton Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Arizona Veterans Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Black Canyon Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Black Canyon Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 10 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Papago Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Route 66
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Flagstaff, AZ and Mesa, AZ.
1
Start on West Historic Route 66
502 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Historic Route 66
2
Turn slight left onto South Milton Road
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
South Milton Road
3
Continue on Arizona Veterans Highway
94 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
4
Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5
Continue on Black Canyon Freeway
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
6
Continue on North Black Canyon Highway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Black Canyon Highway
7
Continue on Black Canyon Freeway
25 mi
·
28 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Central Phoenix, Los Angeles
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
I 10 East, I 10 West: Central Phoenix, Los Angeles
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 10 East: Central Phoenix, Tucson
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10 East: Central Phoenix, Tucson
10
Merge slight left onto Papago Freeway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
11
Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
12
Continue on Papago Freeway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
13
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East
14
Keep slight right to continue on Red Mountain Freeway
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Red Mountain Freeway
15
Keep slight left to continue on Red Mountain Freeway
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Red Mountain Freeway
16
Take the exit slight right toward Alma School Road
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Alma School Road
17
Turn right onto North Alma School Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Alma School Road
18
Turn left onto West University Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
West University Drive
19
Arrive at your destination
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 80.3 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
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 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.3 miles or 1h 13m 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
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 Flagstaff, 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 Flagstaff, AZ
This is one driving day of about 160.7 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Flagstaff, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 80.3 mi from Flagstaff, AZ · 1h 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 80.3 miles from Flagstaff, 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
$31.98 one way
$63.96 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $33.77 | $67.54 |
| premium | $5.59 | $35.35 | $70.70 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $35.70 | $71.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.2 | 0 | $16.87 | $7.71 |
| Efficient EV | 40.2 | 0 | $14.06 | $6.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.3 | 0 | $22.50 | $10.28 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
Mesa, AZ
Morning in Mesa on Monday
Local time
9:35 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
29 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
2h 26m 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 Flagstaff, AZ to Mesa, AZ covers 160.7 miles and takes about 2h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Route 66, South Milton Road, Arizona Veterans Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 80.3 miles from Flagstaff, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.98 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.
The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Mesa, AZ is easy. At 2h 26m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Mesa, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Flagstaff, AZ to Mesa, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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