Trip from Mesa, AZ to Coolidge, AZ

Drive Time

1h 6m

Distance

42.9 mi

69 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 1m ★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Mesa, AZ, AZ

Mesa, AZ

Zsolt Pujsz

Downtown Coolidge, AZ, AZ

Coolidge, AZ

András Nyemczovszky

Trip Overview

If you are planning to travel from Mesa to Coolidge, you can expect a straightforward trip covering 42.9 miles. Clocking in at approximately 1 hour and 6 minutes, this drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops. Budgeting about $9 for fuel should comfortably cover your transit between these two Desert Southwest locations. Because the trip is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to head out whenever it best suits your plans. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick change of scenery, this route provides a reliable connection across the Arizona landscape.

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

21.4 miles from Mesa, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 35m into the drive .

Drive Character

This journey features a mixed-drive profile, blending high-speed transit with local road navigation. You will spend roughly 57% of your time on highways, providing a balanced experience behind the wheel. The most significant portion of the trip is the 24.7-mile stretch along the Junction I-10-Mesa Highway, which allows you to maintain a steady pace. As you transition off the main arteries onto North Arizona Avenue and North Country Club Drive, the driving environment shifts to reflect a more localized pace. Expect a functional drive that trades intense scenic variety for direct, efficient travel between your points of origin and destination.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 8 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 24.7 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 early in the drive near East University Drive.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 1h 6m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (East University 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): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 6 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East University Drive

Depart onto East University Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none 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.
5
16.1 mi into trip | ~28m in | AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway

Turn right onto AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
6
40.8 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in | AZ 87; AZ 287 / North Arizona Boulevard

Turn right onto AZ 87; AZ 287 / North Arizona Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
42.5 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in | West Central Avenue

Turn left onto West Central Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway 24.7 mi 33m
North Arizona Avenue 11 mi 18m
North Country Club Drive 4 mi 7m
North Arizona Boulevard 1.7 mi 3m
East University Drive 1 mi 2m
West Central Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
East Hunt Highway <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Junction I-10-Mesa Highway — 24.7 mi, about 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and Coolidge, AZ.

1

Start on East University Drive

1.0 mi · 2 min · East University Drive
Use the none lane.
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 none 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

25 mi · 33 min · Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
Use the none lane.
6

Turn right onto AZ 87; AZ 287

1.7 mi · 3 min · North Arizona Boulevard
Use the right lane.
7

Turn left onto West Central Avenue

0.4 mi · 55 sec · West Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
8

Arrive at destination

West Central Avenue

Trip Plan

Since the total drive time is just over an hour, you have the advantage of being able to depart at your leisure without needing to build in multiple rest breaks. Keep in mind that with zero scheduled stops, it is wise to ensure your fuel tank is ready for the 42.9-mile haul before you leave Mesa. Since more than half of your time is spent on highway infrastructure, monitor traffic reports for the Junction I-10-Mesa Highway corridor to avoid potential congestion. Use the flexibility of this short drive to your benefit by adjusting your departure time to bypass peak local traffic hours on North Arizona Avenue. This is a simple, low-stress transit, so focus on staying alert during the longer highway stretches.

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 21.4 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.7 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 42.9 miles or 1h 6m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 21.4 miles or 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 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Coolidge, 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 42.9 miles and 1h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mesa, 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.
The longest stretch is on Junction I-10-Mesa Highway for about 24.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 21.4 mi from Mesa, AZ · 35m into the drive

Downtown Chandler, AZ, AZ

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Chandler, AZ

21 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.

Popular next leg

Chandler, AZ to Coolidge, AZ

34 mi · 50m

Pacing Suggestions

Casa Grande, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 42.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Chandler, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 21.4 miles from Mesa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Coolidge, AZ

The final approach into Coolidge, 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 Coolidge, 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

$8.54 one way

$17.08 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.34 $9.02 $18.03
premium $5.59 $9.44 $18.87
diesel $5.64 $9.53 $19.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.9 0 $4.50 $2.06
Efficient EV 10.7 0 $3.75 $1.72
EV Truck/SUV 17.2 0 $6.01 $2.75

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Mesa, AZ

Afternoon in Mesa on Sunday

Local time

4:06 PM

MST

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Coolidge, AZ

Afternoon in Coolidge on Sunday

Local time

4:06 PM

MST

Current temp

53°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

6 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

1h 6m 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 Coolidge, AZ covers 42.9 miles and takes about 1h 6m 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 21.4 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 $8.54 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 1h 6m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East University 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): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Mesa, AZ to Coolidge, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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