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Trip from Mesa, AZ to Rio Rico, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 8m

Distance

161.7 mi

260 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$32

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
2h 57m ★
6 AM
3h 9m
8 AM
3h 32m
10 AM
3h 17m
12 PM
3h 14m
3 PM
3h 18m
5 PM
3h 31m
8 PM
3h 2m

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 Rio Rico, AZ, AZ

Rio Rico, AZ

Bruno Scramgnon

Trip Overview

The drive from Mesa, AZ to Rio Rico, AZ covers 161.7 miles and takes about 3h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Nogales–Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.6 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.21 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

80.8 miles from Mesa, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 161.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (7%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

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

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 8m drive with frequent turns across 161.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 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.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 8m drive. You will face about 11 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 22.5 miles (I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 106.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 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.
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.
7
106.1 mi into trip | ~2h 3m in

Take the exit toward I 19 South: Nogales

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 260 Toward I 19 South: Nogales
5
158.7 mi into trip | ~3h in

Take the exit toward Rio Rico Drive, Yavapai Drive

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

Toward Rio Rico Drive, Yavapai Drive
5
161.6 mi into trip | ~3h 8m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway 54.6 mi 55m
Nogales–Tucson Highway 52.2 mi 56m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway 23.5 mi 23m
North Arizona Avenue 11 mi 18m
AZ 587 6.1 mi 9m
North Freeway 5.4 mi 6m
North Country Club Drive 4 mi 7m
Rio Rico Drive 1.3 mi 3m
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 Rio Rico, 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

5.4 mi · 6 min · North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 37 sec
Exit 260 Toward I 19 South: Nogales Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 19

52 mi · 56 min · Nogales–Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward Rio Rico Drive, Yavapai Drive
12

Turn left onto Rio Rico Drive

1.3 mi · 3 min · Rio Rico Drive
13

Turn right onto Pendleton Drive

0.7 mi · 1 min · Pendleton Drive
14

Turn left onto Avenida Coatimundi

0.3 mi · 48 sec · Avenida Coatimundi
15

Turn left onto Avenida Leon

0.3 mi · 1 min · Avenida Leon
16

Turn left onto Yeso Court

290 ft · 19 sec · Yeso Court
17

Turn left

204 ft · 15 sec
18

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 80.8 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 1h 36m 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 36 miles or 51m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 80.8 miles or 1h 36m 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 32m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rio Rico, 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 161.7 miles and 3h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 80.8 mi from Mesa, AZ · 1h 36m into the drive

city in Pinal County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Casa Grande, AZ

81 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

Casa Grande, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Marana, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 80.8 miles from Mesa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Rio Rico, AZ

The final approach into Rio Rico, 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 Rio Rico, 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.

Tumacácori National Historical Park

Tumacácori National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Tumacácori sits at a cultural crossroads in the Santa Cruz River valley. Here O’odham, Yaqui, and Apache people met and mingled with European Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries, settlers, and soldiers...

0 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 near mile 150.5
View on nps.gov
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

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 ~27 min detour Free near mile 39
View on nps.gov
Saguaro National Park

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...

13 mi from route ~32 min detour $25 near mile 105.9
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$32.21 one way

$64.43 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 57 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $34.09 $68.18
premium $5.59 $35.59 $71.19
diesel $5.61 $35.70 $71.40

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$32

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 56.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 48.5 0 $16.98 $7.76
Efficient EV 40.4 0 $14.15 $6.47
EV Truck/SUV 64.7 0 $22.64 $10.35

Gas CO2

57 kg

EV CO2

19 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

Evening in Mesa on Thursday

Local time

5:10 PM

MST

Current temp

93°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rio Rico, AZ

Evening in Rio Rico on Thursday

Local time

5:10 PM

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

7 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 8m 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 Rio Rico, AZ covers 161.7 miles and takes about 3h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Nogales–Tucson 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 80.8 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 $32.21 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.
This is a straightforward 3h 8m drive. You will face about 11 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 22.5 miles (I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 106.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Mesa, AZ to Rio Rico, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Tumacácori National Historical Park, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Saguaro National Park.

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Plan the drive back the other way.

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