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Trip from Mesa, AZ to Desert Hills, AZ

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 15m

Distance

223.9 mi

360 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 2m ★
6 AM
4h 16m
8 AM
4h 42m
10 AM
4h 25m
12 PM
4h 22m
3 PM
4h 26m
5 PM
4h 41m
8 PM
4h 8m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Mesa, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Desert Hills, AZ, AZ

Desert Hills, AZ

Mark Direen

Trip Overview

The drive from Mesa, AZ to Desert Hills, AZ covers 223.9 miles and takes about 4h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway, Papago Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.60 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

112 miles from Mesa, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway 105 mi 1h 45m
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway 63.1 mi 1h 16m
Papago Freeway 21 mi 24m
Red Mountain Freeway 10.9 mi 12m
Riverside Drive 7.1 mi 8m
Rio Vista Highway 4.4 mi 5m
North Central Boulevard 3.1 mi 3m
East University Drive 2 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway — 105 mi, about 1h 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and Desert Hills, 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

0.3 mi · 46 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West Use the left lane.
4

Merge onto AZ 202 Loop

11 mi · 12 min · Red Mountain Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min
Toward I 10 West Use the slight left lane.
6

Merge onto I 10

1.3 mi · 1 min · Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7

Continue on I 10

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
8

Continue on I 10

20 mi · 22 min · Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on I 10

105 mi · 1 hr 45 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit onto I 10 Business

0.4 mi · 41 sec · I 10 Business
Toward US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma
11

Turn right onto I 10 Bus

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Riggles Road
12

Turn left onto I 10 Bus

1.0 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
13

Turn right onto AZ 95

3.1 mi · 3 min · North Central Boulevard
14

Continue on AZ 95

20 mi · 22 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Use the straight lane.
15

Turn left onto AZ 95

11 mi · 13 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
16

Continue on AZ 95

0.9 mi · 1 min · California Avenue
17

Turn right onto AZ 95

4.4 mi · 5 min · Rio Vista Highway
18

Continue on AZ 95

6.6 mi · 7 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
19

Continue on AZ 95

7.1 mi · 8 min · Riverside Drive
Use the straight lane.
20

Continue on AZ 95

26 mi · 33 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Use the straight lane.
21

Turn left onto Chenoweth Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Chenoweth Road
22

Turn right onto London Bridge Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · London Bridge Road
23

Turn left onto Thrasher Drive

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Thrasher Drive
24

Turn left onto Mountain View Drive

0.1 mi · 34 sec · Mountain View Drive
25

Arrive at destination

Bayshore Road

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 112 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105 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 49 miles or 58m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 112 miles or 2h 1m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 22m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Desert Hills, 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 223.9 miles and 4h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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.
The longest stretch is on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 105 miles.

Where to Stop

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

town in La Paz County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Quartzsite, AZ

112 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

Buckeye, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Quartzsite, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 112 miles from Mesa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

China Red Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Litchfield Park, Arizona

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 32

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+16235357599

Visit website

China Red Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 32

Litchfield Park, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+16235357599

Visit website

Otro Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $20 to $30 mile 16

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 8 am–9 pm

+16022660831

Visit website

Arizona Science Center

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 16

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 10:30 am–4 pm

+16027162000

Visit website

The Little Gym of Litchfield Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 32

Goodyear, Arizona

Hours: 9 am–7:30 pm

+16232505718

Visit website

Dorrance DOME

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 16

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 10:30 am–4 pm

Visit website

Enchanted Island Amusement Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 16

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–4 pm

+16022541200

Visit website

Riverview Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Mesa, Arizona

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+14806442352

Visit website

TeenyTown Playland

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 32

Litchfield Park, Arizona

Hours: 9 am–7 pm

+16237766002

Visit website

Sundance Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 48

Buckeye, Arizona

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

Visit website

Amusement Park Rides RandRrides(Phoenix Park & Swap)

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 16

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: Closed

+14809958653

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 142.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
3.6 mi into trip | ~7m in

Turn left toward AZ 202 Loop West

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward AZ 202 Loop West
5
3.9 mi into trip | ~7m in | AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway

Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
14.8 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the exit toward I 10 West

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 10 West
5
15.8 mi into trip | ~21m in | I 10 / Papago Freeway

Merge onto I 10 / Papago Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
142.3 mi into trip | ~2h 32m in | I 10 Business

Take the exit onto I 10 Business toward US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.60 one way

$89.21 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 78 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $47.20 $94.41
premium $5.59 $49.28 $98.57
diesel $5.61 $49.43 $98.87

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$45

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$70–$95

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 78.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 67.2 0 $23.51 $10.75
Efficient EV 56 0 $19.59 $8.96
EV Truck/SUV 89.6 1 $31.35 $14.33

Gas CO2

78 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Mesa, AZ

Morning in Mesa on Saturday

Local time

11:18 AM

MST

Current temp

92°F

Sunny

E 0 to 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Desert Hills, AZ

Morning in Desert Hills on Saturday

Local time

11:18 AM

MST

Current temp

86°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

4h 15m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 4h 15m drive with frequent turns across 223.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 105 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 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in.

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 223.9 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

On the drive from Mesa, AZ to Desert Hills, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Yuma along the way.

Yuma

142.3 mi in | ~2h 32m | via I 10 Business

About the Cities

Starting 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 4h 15m. Total distance: 223.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (14%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Mesa, AZ to Desert Hills, AZ covers 223.9 miles and takes about 4h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway, Papago Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 112 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 $44.60 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 223.9 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

On the drive from Mesa, AZ to Desert Hills, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Yuma along the way.

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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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