Origin
Mesa, AZ
Afternoon in Mesa on Wednesday
Local time
3:59 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mesa, AZ to Cienega Springs, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
3h 23m
Distance
183.4 mi
295 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 11m
★
6 AM
3h 23m
8 AM
3h 47m
10 AM
3h 32m
12 PM
3h 29m
3 PM
3h 33m
5 PM
3h 46m
8 PM
3h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mesa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Mesa, AZ to Cienega Springs, AZ covers 183.4 miles and takes about 3h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Alma School Road, AZ 202, Red Mountain Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.54 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
91.7 miles from Mesa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 23m drive with frequent turns across 183.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Alma School Road 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 Mesa, AZ to Cienega Springs, AZ is easy. At 3h 23m 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 Mesa, AZ to Cienega Springs, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Alma School Road | — | — |
| AZ 202 | — | — |
| Red Mountain Freeway | — | — |
| I 10 West | — | — |
| Papago Freeway | — | — |
| Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel | — | — |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | — | — |
| US 95 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Alma School Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and Cienega Springs, AZ.
1
Start on East University Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East University Drive
2
Turn right onto North Alma School Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Alma School Road
3
Turn left onto AZ 202 Loop West
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
AZ 202 Loop West
4
Merge slight left onto Red Mountain Freeway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Red Mountain Freeway
5
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 West
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10 West
6
Merge slight right onto Papago Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
7
Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
8
Continue on Papago Freeway
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Papago Freeway
9
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
105 mi
·
1 hr 45 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma
11
Turn right onto Riggles Road
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Riggles Road
12
Turn left onto East Main Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
13
Turn right onto North Central Boulevard
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Central Boulevard
14
Continue on Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
15
Turn left onto Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
16
Continue on California Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
California Avenue
17
Turn right onto Rio Vista Highway
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Rio Vista Highway
18
Turn left onto Riverside Drive
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Riverside Drive
19
Turn right onto Cienega Springs Road
125 ft
·
6 sec
·
Cienega Springs Road
20
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 91.7 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 1h 41m 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 40 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.7 miles or 1h 41m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cienega Springs, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mesa, 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 Mesa, AZ
This is one driving day of about 183.4 miles and 3h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Mesa, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 91.7 mi from Mesa, AZ · 1h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
92 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 91.7 miles from Mesa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cienega Springs, AZ
The final approach into Cienega Springs, 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 Cienega Springs, 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
$36.54 one way
$73.07 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
64 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $38.67 | $77.33 |
| premium | $5.59 | $40.37 | $80.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.49 | $80.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55 | 0 | $19.26 | $8.80 |
| Efficient EV | 45.9 | 0 | $16.05 | $7.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73.4 | 0 | $25.68 | $11.74 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Cienega Springs, AZ
Afternoon in Cienega Springs on Wednesday
Local time
3:59 PM
MST
Current temp
90°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
3 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
3h 23m 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 Cienega Springs, AZ covers 183.4 miles and takes about 3h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Alma School Road, AZ 202, Red Mountain Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 91.7 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 $36.54 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.
The drive from Mesa, AZ to Cienega Springs, AZ is easy. At 3h 23m 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 Mesa, AZ to Cienega Springs, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Mesa, AZ to Cienega Springs, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Explore more options from Mesa, AZ or browse trips ending in Cienega Springs, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.
Explore maps for Mesa, AZ or Cienega Springs, AZ on MapSof.net.