Trip from Mesa, AZ to San Manuel, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 27m

Distance

115.6 mi

186 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min

4 AM

2h 18m ★

6 AM

2h 28m

8 AM

2h 48m

10 AM

2h 35m

12 PM

2h 33m

3 PM

2h 36m

5 PM

2h 47m

8 PM

2h 22m

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

San Manuel, AZ

Leslie del Moral

Trip Overview

The drive from Mesa, AZ to San Manuel, AZ covers 115.6 miles and takes about 2h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Pinal Pioneer Parkway, Superstition Freeway, US 80 Hist for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.9 miles on Pinal Pioneer Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.03 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.

Midpoint

57.8 miles from Mesa, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 115.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 27m highway drive covering 115.6 miles, with most of the trip on Pinal Pioneer Parkway and Superstition Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 35.9 miles on Pinal Pioneer Parkway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Pinal Pioneer Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 35.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pinal Pioneer Parkway and Superstition Freeway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Mesa Drive.

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 115.6 miles you will encounter 9 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: 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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Mesa Drive

Turn left onto North Mesa Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

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

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.

33.7 mi into trip | ~42m in | US 80 Hist

Take the exit onto US 80 Hist toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson

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

Toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson

34.2 mi into trip | ~43m in | US 80 Hist

Keep slight right at fork onto US 80 Hist toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson

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 San Manuel, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Tucson along the way.

Tucson

33.7 mi in | ~42m | via US 80 Hist

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Pinal Pioneer Parkway	35.9 mi	41m
Superstition Freeway	18.5 mi	21m
US 80 Hist	16.2 mi	21m
Tucson-Globe Highway	15 mi	20m
Phoenix–Globe Highway	12.3 mi	15m
South Pinal Parkway Avenue	6.2 mi	8m
Veterans Memorial Boulevard	4.5 mi	6m
South Mesa Drive	2 mi	3m

Longest stretch: Pinal Pioneer Parkway — 35.9 mi, about 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on East University Drive

73 ft · 8 sec · East University Drive

Turn left onto North Mesa Drive

0.5 mi · 56 sec · North Mesa Drive

Use the left lane.

Continue on South Mesa Drive

2.0 mi · 3 min · South Mesa Drive

Use the left lane.

Turn left

0.4 mi · 55 sec

Toward US 60 East: Globe Use the left lane.

Merge onto US 60

19 mi · 21 min · Superstition Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist

12 mi · 15 min · Phoenix–Globe Highway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit onto US 80 Hist

0.5 mi · 1 min · US 80 Hist

Toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson

Keep slight right at fork onto US 80 Hist

16 mi · 20 min · US 80 Hist

Toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson

Continue on AZ 79

6.2 mi · 8 min · South Pinal Parkway Avenue

Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist

36 mi · 41 min · Pinal Pioneer Parkway

Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist

0.4 mi · 28 sec · State Route 79

Turn left onto AZ 77

13 mi · 17 min · Tucson-Globe Highway

Use the left lane.

Continue on AZ 77

2.0 mi · 2 min · American Avenue

Continue on AZ 77

2.4 mi · 3 min · Tucson-Globe Highway

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 21 sec

Turn right onto Veterans Memorial Boulevard

4.5 mi · 6 min · Veterans Memorial Boulevard

Use the right lane.

Continue on North Redington Road

0.5 mi · 58 sec · North Redington Road

Turn right onto South McNab Parkway

1.1 mi · 2 min · South McNab Parkway

Use the right lane.

Arrive at destination

South McNab Parkway

Trip Plan

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 57.8 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 1h 14m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.9 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 25 miles or 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 57.8 miles or 1h 14m 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 57m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Manuel, 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 115.6 miles and 2h 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Mesa, AZ.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on Pinal Pioneer Parkway for about 35.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 57.8 mi from Mesa, AZ · 1h 14m into the drive

town in and county seat of Pinal County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Florence, AZ

58 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

Apache Junction, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Florence, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 57.8 miles from Mesa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in San Manuel, AZ

The final approach into San Manuel, 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 San Manuel, 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.

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...

9 mi from route ~23 min detour Free near mile 51.8

View on nps.gov

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...

27 mi from route ~67 min detour $25 near mile 91.7

View on nps.gov

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...

29 mi from route ~72 min detour $10 near mile 23.9

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.03 one way

$46.06 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.36	$24.37	$48.74
premium	$5.59	$25.45	$50.89
diesel	$5.61	$25.52	$51.05

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	34.7	$12.14	$5.55
Efficient EV	28.9	$10.11	$4.62
EV Truck/SUV	46.2	$16.18	$7.40

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

14 kg (65% 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

2:52 PM

MST

Current temp

93°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

San Manuel, AZ

Afternoon in San Manuel on Thursday

Local time

2:52 PM

MST

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

89°F

Florence, AZ

58 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

41 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 27m 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 San Manuel, AZ covers 115.6 miles and takes about 2h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Pinal Pioneer Parkway, Superstition Freeway, US 80 Hist. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 57.8 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 $23.03 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.