Mesa, AZ to South Tucson, AZ is 106.8 miles and takes about 2h 5m via the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway and other local roads, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Desert Southwest region of Arizona, offering a straightforward, single-day journey. Expect a local feel for much of the trip rather than a pure interstate experience. It’s a practical route for getting between these two Arizona cities without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.4 miles from Mesa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.6 mi
55m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
23.5 mi
23m
North Arizona Avenue
11 mi
18m
AZ 587
6.1 mi
9m
North Freeway
4.6 mi
5m
North Country Club Drive
4 mi
7m
East University Drive
1 mi
2m
West 22nd Street
0.7 mi
1m
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 South Tucson, 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
4.6 mi·5 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 259Toward 22nd Street - 29th Street, Starr Pass Boulevard, Silverlake RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on South Freeway Road
377 ft·8 sec·South Freeway Road
11
Turn left onto West 22nd Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West 22nd Street
12
Turn right onto US 80 Hist
0.5 mi·57 sec·South 6th Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
US 80 Hist
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 5m duration and the turn-heavy nature of this route, starting in the morning is advisable to allow ample time for any unexpected delays. With 106.8 miles, you can easily complete this trip in one day, so focus on enjoying the local scenery rather than rushing. Keep an eye on your fuel as you depart Mesa, as the longest stretch without significant services is 54.6 miles. The estimated fuel cost is $21, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before heading out, especially if you plan on making any detours off the main path.
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 53.4 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 1h 8m 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 23 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.4 miles or 1h 8m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Tucson, 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 106.8 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Mesa, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 106.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
8
105.2 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Take the exit toward 22nd Street - 29th Street, Starr Pass Boulevard, Silverlake Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 259
Toward 22nd Street - 29th Street, Starr Pass Bo...
4
106.3 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|US 80 Hist / South 6th Avenue
Turn right onto US 80 Hist / South 6th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.28 one way
$42.55 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$22.52
$45.03
premium
$5.59
$23.51
$47.02
diesel
$5.61
$23.58
$47.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
6 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Gilbert Crossing - Tesla Supercharger
Gilbert, AZ
Tesla
16 DCFC
The Pavilions - Tesla Supercharger
Mesa, AZ
Tesla
16 DCFC
Mesa Grand Shopping Center - Tesla Supercharger
Mesa, AZ
Tesla
12 DCFC
The Park at San Tan - Tesla Supercharger
Chandler, AZ
Tesla
12 DCFC
Kroger Frys 62 (Mesa, AZ)
Mesa, AZ
Electrify America
4 DCFC
WinCo Foods - Gilbert
Gilbert, AZ
eVgo Network
4 DCFC
Tesla: 4
Electrify America: 1
eVgo Network: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32
0
$11.21
$5.13
Efficient EV
26.7
0
$9.34
$4.27
EV Truck/SUV
42.7
0
$14.95
$6.84
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Mesa, AZ
Morning
in Mesa on Saturday
Local time
10:42 AM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Tucson, AZ
Morning
in South Tucson on Saturday
Local time
10:42 AM
MST
Current temp
55°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
38 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 5m 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.
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 36.8
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
$25
near mile 106.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as turn-heavy and local, with only a 10% highway share. You'll navigate a mix of main roads like the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, and North Arizona Avenue. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 54.6 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before transitioning back to local roads. Be prepared for frequent changes in direction and speed as you navigate through towns and smaller communities.
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?
3/10
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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 5m 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.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Mesa, AZ to South Tucson, AZ covers 106.8 miles and takes about 2h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, North Arizona Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 53.4 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 $21.28 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.
This is a straightforward 2h 5m 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 South Tucson, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
