Origin
Mesa, AZ
Late night in Mesa on Friday
Local time
4:16 AM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mesa, AZ to White Mountain Lake, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 50m
Distance
173.3 mi
279 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 37m
★
6 AM
3h 50m
8 AM
4h 16m
10 AM
3h 59m
12 PM
3h 56m
3 PM
4h 0m
5 PM
4h 14m
8 PM
3h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mesa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
White Mountain Lake, AZ
Andres Alaniz
Trip Overview
The drive from Mesa, AZ to White Mountain Lake, AZ covers 173.3 miles and takes about 3h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Globe-Show Low Highway, Phoenix–Globe Highway, Superstition Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 83.5 miles on Globe-Show Low Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.52 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
86.6 miles from Mesa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 55m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 50m. Total distance: 173.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (13%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 50m drive with frequent turns across 173.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Globe-Show Low Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 83.5 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 early in the drive near North Mesa 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 50m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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.
5
73.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
US 60; AZ 77 / Globe-Show Low Highway
Turn left onto US 60; AZ 77 / Globe-Show Low Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Globe-Show Low Highway | 83.5 mi | 1h 35m |
| Phoenix–Globe Highway | 43 mi | 55m |
| Superstition Freeway | 18.5 mi | 21m |
| West Deuce of Clubs | 4.7 mi | 9m |
| US 60 | 4 mi | 7m |
| Bourdon Ranch Road | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Show Low-Springerville-East Highway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| South Mesa Drive | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Globe-Show Low Highway
— 83.5 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and White Mountain Lake, 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
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Ash Street
14
Turn left onto US 60; AZ 77
83 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
Globe-Show Low Highway
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on US 60; AZ 77
4.7 mi
·
9 min
·
West Deuce of Clubs
16
Continue on US 60
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Show Low-Springerville-East Highway
17
Turn left
1.5 mi
·
2 min
18
Continue on Bourdon Ranch Road
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Bourdon Ranch Road
19
Turn left onto Silver Creek Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Silver Creek Drive
20
Continue on Silver Creek Drive
1.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Silver Creek Drive
21
Turn left onto Ortega Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Ortega Drive
22
Continue on Silver Lake Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
Silver Lake Boulevard
23
Turn left onto Navajo Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Navajo Drive
24
Arrive at destination
Navajo Drive
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 86.6 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.5 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 38 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.6 miles or 1h 55m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near White Mountain Lake, 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 173.3 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 Globe-Show Low Highway for about 83.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.6 mi from Mesa, AZ · 1h 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 86.6 miles from Mesa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Globe-Show Low Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.5 miles.
Arriving in White Mountain Lake, AZ
The final approach into White Mountain Lake, 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 White Mountain Lake, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.52 one way
$69.05 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $36.54 | $73.07 |
| premium | $5.59 | $38.15 | $76.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.26 | $76.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52 | 0 | $18.20 | $8.32 |
| Efficient EV | 43.3 | 0 | $15.16 | $6.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.3 | 0 | $24.26 | $11.09 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
White Mountain Lake, AZ
Late night in White Mountain Lake on Friday
Local time
4:16 AM
MST
Current temp
69°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
24 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 50m 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 White Mountain Lake, AZ covers 173.3 miles and takes about 3h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Globe-Show Low Highway, Phoenix–Globe Highway, Superstition Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.6 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 $34.52 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 50m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
The route from Mesa, AZ to White Mountain Lake, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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