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Trip from Mesa, AZ to Linden, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 18m

Distance

156.9 mi

253 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 6m ★
6 AM
3h 18m
8 AM
3h 42m
10 AM
3h 27m
12 PM
3h 24m
3 PM
3h 28m
5 PM
3h 41m
8 PM
3h 11m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Mesa, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Linden, AZ, AZ

Linden, AZ

Sebastian Luna

Trip Overview

The drive from Mesa, AZ to Linden, AZ covers 156.9 miles and takes about 3h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on AZ 260, Beeline Highway, North Beeline Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 80.2 miles on AZ 260. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.26 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

78.5 miles from Mesa, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 18m. Total distance: 156.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (51%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Mesa, AZ to Linden, AZ covers 156.9 miles and takes about 3h 18m, 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 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
AZ 260 is the longest continuous segment at about 80.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Mesa Drive.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Mesa, AZ to Linden, AZ is easy. At 3h 18m with 51% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Mesa Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (East McKellips Road): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 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 | North Mesa Drive

Turn right onto North Mesa Drive

Navigation decision point

4
2 mi into trip | ~3m in | East McKellips Road

Turn left onto East McKellips Road

Navigation decision point

3
3 mi into trip | ~5m in | AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive

Turn right onto AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive

Navigation decision point

4
76.7 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in | AZ 260

Turn right onto AZ 260

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
3
156.9 mi into trip | ~3h 18m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
AZ 260 80.2 mi 1h 45m
Beeline Highway 68.4 mi 1h 20m
North Beeline Highway 4.5 mi 5m
North Mesa Drive 2 mi 3m
East McKellips Road 1 mi 1m
North Country Club Drive 0.7 mi 1m
East University Drive <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: AZ 260 — 80.2 mi, about 1h 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East University Drive

73 ft · 5 sec · East University Drive
2

Turn right onto North Mesa Drive

2.0 mi · 3 min · North Mesa Drive
3

Turn left onto East McKellips Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · East McKellips Road
4

Turn right onto AZ 87

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Country Club Drive
5

Continue on AZ 87

4.5 mi · 5 min · North Beeline Highway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6

Continue on AZ 87

68 mi · 1 hr 20 min · Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
7

Turn right onto AZ 260

80 mi · 1 hr 45 min · AZ 260
Use the straight lane.
8

Turn right

115 ft · 8 sec
9

Arrive at 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 78.5 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.2 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 35 miles or 43m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 78.5 miles or 1h 34m 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 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Linden, 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 156.9 miles and 3h 18m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 AZ 260 for about 80.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 78.5 mi from Mesa, AZ · 1h 34m into the drive

town in Gila County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Payson, AZ

78 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

Payson, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Payson, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 78.5 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 AZ 260 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.2 miles.

Arriving in Linden, AZ

The final approach into Linden, 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 Linden, AZ.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Tonto National Monument

Tonto National Monument

National Monument

Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...

23 mi from route ~58 min detour $10 near mile 32.5
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.26 one way

$62.51 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 55 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $33.08 $66.16
premium $5.59 $34.54 $69.07
diesel $5.61 $34.64 $69.28

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 54.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 47.1 0 $16.47 $7.53
Efficient EV 39.2 0 $13.73 $6.28
EV Truck/SUV 62.8 0 $21.97 $10.04

Gas CO2

55 kg

EV CO2

18 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Mesa, AZ

Afternoon in Mesa on Thursday

Local time

2:23 PM

MST

Current temp

93°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Linden, AZ

Afternoon in Linden on Thursday

Local time

2:23 PM

MST

Current temp

40°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

44°F

Payson, AZ

78 mi in

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

53 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 18m 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 Linden, AZ covers 156.9 miles and takes about 3h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are AZ 260, Beeline Highway, North Beeline Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 78.5 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 $31.26 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 Linden, AZ is easy. At 3h 18m with 51% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Mesa Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (East McKellips Road): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive): Navigation decision point.
The route from Mesa, AZ to Linden, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Tonto National Monument.

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