Origin
Mesa, AZ
Afternoon in Mesa on Sunday
Local time
4:06 PM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive 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
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mesa, AZ
Zsolt Pujsz
Coolidge, AZ
András Nyemczovszky
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 .
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.
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.
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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Depart onto East University Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto AZ 87; BIA 56 / East Hunt Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto AZ 87; AZ 287 / North Arizona Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto West Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and Coolidge, AZ.
Start on East University Drive
Turn left onto AZ 87
Continue on AZ 87
Turn left onto AZ 87; BIA 56
Turn right onto AZ 87
Turn right onto AZ 87; AZ 287
Turn left onto West Central Avenue
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.4 mi from Mesa, AZ · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 42.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.4 miles from Mesa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$8.54 one way
$17.08 round trip
| 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Mesa on Sunday
Local time
4:06 PM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Coolidge on Sunday
Local time
4:06 PM
MST
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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