Origin
Mesa, AZ
Afternoon in Mesa on Saturday
Local time
1:26 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mesa, AZ to San Carlos, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 12m
Distance
96.7 mi
156 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 3m
★
6 AM
2h 12m
8 AM
2h 31m
10 AM
2h 19m
12 PM
2h 17m
3 PM
2h 19m
5 PM
2h 30m
8 PM
2h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mesa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
San Carlos, AZ
Andrea Hinojosa
Trip Overview
Mesa, AZ to San Carlos, AZ is 96.7 miles and takes about 2h 12m via Phoenix–Globe Highway, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day drive stays within the Desert Southwest region, specifically within Arizona. Expect a local driving experience with numerous turns, so it's best suited for those who enjoy navigating varied road conditions rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. The short distance and manageable duration make it a convenient option for a quick trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.3 miles from Mesa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix–Globe Highway | 43 mi | 55m |
| Superstition Freeway | 18.5 mi | 21m |
| Globe-Lordsburg Highway | 17.9 mi | 22m |
| US 60 | 4 mi | 7m |
| Indian Route 170 | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| East Ash Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| South Mesa Drive | 2 mi | 3m |
| North Broad Street | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Phoenix–Globe Highway
— 43 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and San Carlos, AZ.
1
Start on East University Drive
73 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Drive
2
Turn left onto North Mesa Drive
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
North Mesa Drive
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on South Mesa Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South Mesa Drive
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward US 60 East: Globe
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto US 60
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
43 mi
·
55 min
·
Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Live Oak Street
8
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
US 60
9
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
10
Turn left onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broad Street
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Oak Street
12
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Hill Street
13
Turn left onto US 60
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Ash Street
14
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70; AZ 77
17 mi
·
20 min
·
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
16
Turn left onto BIA 170
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Indian Route 170
17
At end of road, turn left onto BIA 170
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Indian Route 170
18
Keep slight left at fork onto Aravaipa Road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Aravaipa Road
19
Arrive at destination
Aravaipa Road
Trip Plan
Given the short 2h 12m duration, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Mesa in the morning allows ample time to reach San Carlos and still have the afternoon free. While this route is only 96.7 miles, it's a turn-heavy drive, so keep an eye on your navigation. The longest stretch is 43 miles, so plan your fuel needs accordingly; a budget of $19 should be sufficient for this distance. There are no specific stops recommended, so you can easily make this a direct journey.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.3 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43 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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.3 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Carlos, 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 96.7 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Mesa, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Phoenix–Globe Highway for about 43 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.3 miles from Mesa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 72.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Mesa Drive
Turn left onto North Mesa Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Turn left toward US 60 East: Globe
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 60 East: Globe
5
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge onto US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
71.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
|
North Broad Street
Turn left onto North Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
72.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
|
East Oak Street
Turn left onto East Oak Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.26 one way
$38.53 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $20.39 | $40.77 |
| premium | $5.59 | $21.29 | $42.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.35 | $42.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29 | 0 | $10.15 | $4.64 |
| Efficient EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.46 | $3.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.7 | 0 | $13.54 | $6.19 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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.
Destination
San Carlos, AZ
Afternoon in San Carlos on Saturday
Local time
1:26 PM
MST
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
87°F
Superior, AZ
48 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
10 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
2h 12m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a turn-heavy local drive, with only 27% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a mix of roads, including stretches of the Phoenix–Globe Highway and the Globe-Lordsburg Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch measures 43 miles on the Phoenix–Globe Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent driving before you encounter more local road conditions. Be prepared for frequent changes in direction and speed as you transition between different road types throughout the 2h 12m trip.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43 mi on Phoenix–Globe Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Mesa Drive.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 96.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Mesa Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 2h 12m. Total distance: 96.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43 miles on Phoenix–Globe Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at San Carlos, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Mesa Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at San Carlos, AZ before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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