Trip from Mesa, AZ to Mescal, AZ

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

2h 47m

Distance

145.4 mi

234 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$29

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min

4 AM

2h 37m ★

6 AM

2h 47m

8 AM

3h 9m

10 AM

2h 55m

12 PM

2h 53m

3 PM

2h 56m

5 PM

3h 8m

8 PM

2h 41m

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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Trip Overview

This 145.4-mile journey from Mesa, AZ to Mescal, AZ will take approximately 2 hours and 47 minutes to complete. As a single-day trip, it's easily manageable, with a projected fuel cost of $29. You'll be navigating a mix of local roads and highways, primarily using the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway and the Tucson-Benson Highway. The drive is characterized by frequent turns, making it more of an engaged local route than a straightforward interstate cruise. Both your origin and destination are situated within the Desert Southwest region, so expect consistent arid landscapes throughout your drive.

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

72.7 miles from Mesa, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for most of this 145.4-mile route, with only about 8% of it on high-speed highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 54.6 miles along the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. This means you'll be adjusting your speed and making frequent turns more often than you might on a typical highway drive. The Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway will form part of your initial segment, leading into the more winding local roads that define the character of this Arizona trip.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Casa Grande-Tucson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 54.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 2h 47m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 22.5 miles (I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

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

1 mi into trip | ~2m in | AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive

Turn left onto AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

4

22.2 mi into trip | ~37m in

Take the ramp toward I 10 East: Tucson

Navigation decision point

Toward I 10 East: Tucson

5

22.5 mi into trip | ~37m in | I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

Merge onto I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

6

143.2 mi into trip | ~2h 42m in

Take the exit toward Mescal Road, J Six Ranch Road

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

Exit 297 Toward Mescal Road, J Six Ranch Road

5

143.5 mi into trip | ~2h 42m in | J-6 Road

Turn left onto J-6 Road

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway	54.6 mi	55m
Tucson-Benson Highway	36.5 mi	38m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway	23.5 mi	23m
North Arizona Avenue	11 mi	18m
AZ 587	6.1 mi	9m
North Freeway	6.1 mi	6m
North Country Club Drive	4 mi	7m
North Mescal Road	1.8 mi	4m

Longest stretch: Casa Grande-Tucson Highway — 54.6 mi, about 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East University Drive

1.0 mi · 2 min · East University Drive

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 left lane.

4

Continue on AZ 587

6.1 mi · 9 min · AZ 587

5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Toward I 10 East: Tucson

6

Merge onto I 10

24 mi · 23 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

7

Continue on I 10

55 mi · 55 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

8

Continue on I 10

6.1 mi · 6 min · North Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

9

Continue on I 10

36 mi · 38 min · Tucson-Benson Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Exit 297 Toward Mescal Road, J Six Ranch Road

11

Turn left onto J-6 Road

369 ft · 15 sec · J-6 Road

12

Continue on North Mescal Road

1.8 mi · 4 min · North Mescal Road

13

Arrive at destination

North Mescal Road

Trip Plan

Given the 2-hour and 47-minute duration, this drive is perfect for a single day. Consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours and allow ample time for any unscheduled stops. With only one recommended stop along the 145.4 miles, you have flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as you'll be on local roads for a significant portion; the estimated fuel cost is $29. A practical tip for this route: familiarize yourself with the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, as it contains your longest stretch and will require your attention for over 54 miles.

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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 72.7 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 1h 28m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 72.7 miles or 1h 28m 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 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mescal, 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 145.4 miles and 2h 47m.

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.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 54.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 72.7 mi from Mesa, AZ · 1h 28m into the drive

city in Pinal County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Casa Grande, AZ

73 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

Tucson, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tucson, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 72.7 miles from Mesa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Mescal, AZ

The final approach into Mescal, 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 Mescal, 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.

Saguaro National Park

National Park

Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are pr...

9 mi from route ~22 min detour $25 near mile 115.3

Park Closure: Red Hills Visitor Center (TMD) theater closed for repairs

View on nps.gov

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

National Monument

An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour Free near mile 35.1

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.97 one way

$57.93 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.36	$30.65	$61.31
premium	$5.59	$32.01	$64.01
diesel	$5.61	$32.10	$64.20

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$29

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	43.6	$15.27	$6.98
Efficient EV	36.4	$12.72	$5.82
EV Truck/SUV	58.2	$20.36	$9.31

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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 5 days ago

Origin

Mesa, AZ

Late night in Mesa on Wednesday

Local time

1:06 AM

MST

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mescal, AZ

Late night in Mescal on Wednesday

Local time

1:06 AM

MST

Current temp

80°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

21 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 47m 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 Mescal, AZ covers 145.4 miles and takes about 2h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Tucson-Benson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 72.7 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 $28.97 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 2h 47m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 22.5 miles (I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Mesa, AZ to Mescal, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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