Origin
Mesa, AZ
Evening in Mesa on Thursday
Local time
7:04 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mesa, AZ to Blackwater, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
58m
Distance
36.7 mi
59 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mesa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Blackwater, AZ
Yanming Guo
Trip Overview
The drive from Mesa, AZ to Blackwater, AZ covers 36.7 miles and takes about 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Junction I-10-Mesa Highway, North Arizona Avenue, North Country Club Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.9 miles on Junction I-10-Mesa Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.31 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 36.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Mesa, AZ to Blackwater, AZ covers 36.7 miles and takes about 58m, 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 7 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 16.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 58m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles (AZ 87; BIA 56 / East Hunt Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles (AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive
Turn left onto AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
16.1 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
AZ 87; BIA 56 / East Hunt Highway
Turn left onto AZ 87; BIA 56 / East Hunt Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
3
16.1 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
Turn right onto AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
Navigation decision point
3
33 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
Blackwater School Road
Turn left onto Blackwater School Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Junction I-10-Mesa Highway | 16.9 mi | 24m |
| North Arizona Avenue | 11 mi | 18m |
| North Country Club Drive | 4 mi | 7m |
| Blackwater School Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| East University Drive | 1 mi | 2m |
| East Hunt Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
— 16.9 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and Blackwater, AZ.
1
Start on East University Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East University Drive
2
Turn left onto AZ 87
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
North Country Club Drive
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on AZ 87
11 mi
·
18 min
·
North Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto AZ 87; BIA 56
263 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Hunt Highway
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto AZ 87
17 mi
·
24 min
·
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
6
Turn left onto Blackwater School Road
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Blackwater School Road
7
Arrive at destination
Blackwater School Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.4 mi from Mesa, AZ · 31m 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 36.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from Mesa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Blackwater, AZ
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Blackwater, AZ if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.31 one way
$14.62 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $7.74 | $15.47 |
| premium | $5.59 | $8.08 | $16.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.10 | $16.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.85 | $1.76 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.21 | $1.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.14 | $2.35 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Blackwater, AZ
Evening in Blackwater on Thursday
Local time
7:04 PM
MST
Current temp
92°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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
58m 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 Mesa, AZ to Blackwater, AZ covers 36.7 miles and takes about 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Junction I-10-Mesa Highway, North Arizona Avenue, North Country Club Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.4 miles from Mesa, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.31 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 58m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles (AZ 87; BIA 56 / East Hunt Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles (AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway): Navigation decision point.
The route from Mesa, AZ to Blackwater, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
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