Origin
Huachuca City, AZ
Afternoon in Huachuca City on Saturday
Local time
1:33 PM
MST
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Huachuca City, AZ to Mesa, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 18m
Distance
172.4 mi
277 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
16 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 6m
★
6 AM
3h 18m
8 AM
3h 42m
10 AM
3h 27m
12 PM
3h 24m
3 PM
3h 28m
5 PM
3h 41m
8 PM
3h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Huachuca City, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Mesa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Huachuca City to Mesa is 172.4 miles and takes about 3h 18m via the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway and Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward, single-day trip. Expect a route that involves frequent turns as you navigate local roads and highways. With just one recommended stop, this is a relatively easy journey for those looking to cover ground efficiently between these two points.
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
86.2 miles from Huachuca City, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.5 mi | 55m |
| Tucson-Benson Highway | 41.4 mi | 43m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 24.1 mi | 24m |
| State Route 90 | 12 mi | 13m |
| South Arizona Avenue | 11 mi | 19m |
| Huachuca Boulevard | 9 mi | 10m |
| South Freeway | 6 mi | 6m |
| AZ 587 | 5.8 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Huachuca City, AZ and Mesa, AZ.
1
Start on this road
152 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Clark Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Clark Street
3
Turn right onto AZ 90
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Huachuca Boulevard
4
Continue on AZ 90
12 mi
·
13 min
·
State Route 90
5
Continue on AZ 90
9.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Huachuca Boulevard
6
Continue on AZ 90
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South State Highway 90
7
Turn left
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
8
Merge onto I 10
41 mi
·
43 min
·
Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
51 mi
·
51 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 10
24 mi
·
24 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 175
Toward AZ 587 North: Chandler, Gilbert
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto AZ 587
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
AZ 587
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
15
Continue on AZ 87
11 mi
·
19 min
·
South Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on AZ 87
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
South Country Club Drive
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto West University Drive
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West University Drive
18
Arrive at destination
East University Drive
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 18 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave in the morning to maximize daylight and comfort. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the longest stretch of 54.5 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as local road sections can sometimes be more spread out between services than major interstates. The $36 fuel cost provides a good estimate for budgeting.
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 86.2 miles from Huachuca City, AZ, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 38 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.2 miles or 1h 35m 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 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 Huachuca City, 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 Huachuca City, AZ
This is one driving day of about 172.4 miles and 3h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Huachuca City, 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 Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 54.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 86.2 miles from Huachuca City, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 150.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Clark Street
Turn right onto Clark Street
Navigation decision point
6
23.7 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Turn left toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
6
75.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
150.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m 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
150.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 41m in
|
AZ 587
Turn left onto AZ 587
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.30 one way
$72.59 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
64 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $38.41 | $76.83 |
| premium | $5.59 | $40.11 | $80.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.23 | $80.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
16 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Shell Gas Station and Convenience Store - Tesla Supercharger
Tucson, AZ
Tesla
10 DCFC
Walmart 3807 (Benson, AZ)
Benson, AZ
Electrify America
4 DCFC
Environmental and General Services
Tucson, AZ
Blink Network
4 DCFC
Porsche - Tucson
Tucson, AZ
Non-Networked
2 DCFC
5151 E Broadway
Tucson, AZ
Non-Networked
2 DCFC
FasCharge 4614 Fast Market Valero Tucson Drexel Rd
Tucson, AZ
RED_E
2 DCFC
FasCharge 4611 Fast Market Valero Tucson Prince Rd
Tucson, AZ
RED_E
2 DCFC
Cyr Park
sierra vista, AZ
EV Connect
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 7
Non-Networked: 3
RED_E: 2
EV Connect: 1
Electrify America: 1
Tesla: 1
Blink Network: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.7 | 0 | $18.10 | $8.28 |
| Efficient EV | 43.1 | 0 | $15.08 | $6.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69 | 0 | $24.14 | $11.03 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Saturday
Local time
1:33 PM
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
13 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 18m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Saguaro National Park
National Park
Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are pr...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
$25
near mile 53.5
Park Closure: Red Hills Visitor Center (TMD) theater closed for repairs
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 136.7
View on nps.gov
Coronado National Memorial
National Memorial
It was a journey of conquest filled with exploration, wonder - and cruelty. Inspired by tales of vast cities of gold, 339 European soldiers and over a thousand Aztec allies embarked on an epic journey...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as 'turn-heavy' and involves a significant portion of local road driving, with only about 15% of the route on highways. You'll experience a mix of driving conditions, transitioning between different road types throughout the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 54.5 miles along the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, offering a period of more consistent travel before further turns and changes in road character. Be prepared for frequent adjustments in direction as you make your way north.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 54.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Clark Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 172.4 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (Clark Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.4 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Huachuca City, AZ and Mesa, AZ, road signs point toward Tuscon and Gilbert.
Tuscon
23.7 mi in
|
~29m
Gilbert
150.2 mi in
|
~2h 40m
About the Cities
Arriving in Mesa, AZ
Full guide →Mesa, population 518,000 (2019), is in Maricopa County. It is Arizona's third-largest city, and is part of the Greater Phoenix urban complex.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 18m. Total distance: 172.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (15%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Huachuca City, AZ to Mesa, AZ covers 172.4 miles and takes about 3h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Tucson-Benson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.2 miles from Huachuca City, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.34 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 172.4 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (Clark Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.4 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Huachuca City, AZ and Mesa, AZ, road signs point toward Tuscon and Gilbert.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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