Trip from Mesa, AZ to Willow Valley, AZ

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

4h 52m

Distance

250.9 mi

404 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$50

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 39m ★

6 AM

4h 52m

8 AM

5h 19m

10 AM

5h 1m

12 PM

4h 59m

3 PM

5h 3m

5 PM

5h 18m

8 PM

4h 44m

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

Willow Valley, AZ

Önder Karagülle

Trip Overview

This 250.9-mile drive from Mesa, AZ, to Willow Valley, AZ, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 52 minutes. You'll primarily be on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Route 95, and the Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway. With a fuel cost estimated around $50, this journey through the Desert Southwest offers a mixed driving experience. Plan for one stop along the way to break up the drive. Given its manageable length, you have flexibility in departure time and pacing.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

125.5 miles from Mesa, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This route offers a mixed drive, with 32% of it being highway. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 105 miles on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, so be prepared for extended periods on this road. The character of the drive shifts as you transition between major highways, offering a varied experience behind the wheel. Expect a blend of faster-paced road sections and potentially more local road segments as you progress toward Willow Valley.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 105 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 250.9 miles you will encounter 18 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: at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

3.6 mi into trip | ~7m in

Turn left toward AZ 202 Loop West

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward AZ 202 Loop West

3.9 mi into trip | ~7m in | AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway

Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

14.8 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the exit toward I 10 West

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

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 10 West

15.8 mi into trip | ~21m in | I 10 / Papago Freeway

Merge onto I 10 / Papago Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

245.4 mi into trip | ~4h 41m in | Front Street

At end of road, turn left onto Front Street

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

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 Willow Valley, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Yuma along the way.

Yuma

142.3 mi in | ~2h 32m | via I 10 Business

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway	105 mi	1h 45m
Route 95	47.5 mi	55m
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway	30.9 mi	35m
Papago Freeway	21 mi	24m
Aqueduct Road	16.5 mi	24m
Red Mountain Freeway	10.9 mi	12m
North Central Boulevard	3.1 mi	3m
Mohave Valley Highway	3 mi	4m

Longest stretch: Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway — 105 mi, about 1h 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and Willow Valley, AZ.

Start on East University Drive

2.0 mi · 3 min · East University Drive

Turn right onto North Alma School Road

1.6 mi · 3 min · North Alma School Road

Turn left

0.3 mi · 46 sec

Toward AZ 202 Loop West Use the left lane.

Merge onto AZ 202 Loop

11 mi · 12 min · Red Mountain Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min

Toward I 10 West Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 10

1.3 mi · 1 min · Papago Freeway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Continue on I 10

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

Continue on I 10

20 mi · 22 min · Papago Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

105 mi · 1 hr 45 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto I 10 Business

0.4 mi · 41 sec · I 10 Business

Toward US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma

Turn right onto I 10 Bus

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Riggles Road

Turn left onto I 10 Bus

1.0 mi · 2 min · East Main Street

Turn right onto AZ 95

3.1 mi · 3 min · North Central Boulevard

Continue on AZ 95

20 mi · 22 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto AZ 95

11 mi · 13 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

Continue on AZ 95

1.7 mi · 3 min · California Avenue

Continue on CA 62

0.4 mi · 53 sec · CA 62

At end of road, turn left onto CA 62

16 mi · 24 min · Aqueduct Road

Turn sharp right onto US 95

48 mi · 55 min · Route 95

Take the exit onto US 95

0.3 mi · 19 sec · US 95

Merge onto I 40; US 95

0.8 mi · 51 sec · Needles Freeway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 19 sec

Toward J Street

Turn right onto J Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · J Street

At end of road, turn left onto Front Street

465 ft · 14 sec · Front Street

Turn right onto North K Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North K Street

Continue on AZ 95

1.2 mi · 2 min · Harbor Avenue

Continue on AZ 95

3.0 mi · 4 min · Mohave Valley Highway

Turn left onto Willow Drive

0.5 mi · 1 min · Willow Drive

Arrive at destination

Willow Drive

Trip Plan

Consider starting your journey in the morning to take advantage of daylight for the 4-hour and 52-minute drive. With only one recommended stop, you can choose a convenient point along the 250.9 miles to stretch your legs or refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 105-mile stretch on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, as services might be spaced out. The estimated $50 fuel cost should be factored into your budget for this single-day adventure.

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 125.5 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 2h 15m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105 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 80 miles or 1h 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 125.5 miles or 2h 15m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 54m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Willow Valley, 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 250.9 miles and 4h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 105 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 125.5 mi from Mesa, AZ · 2h 15m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Buckeye, AZ

125 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

Buckeye, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Yuma, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 125.5 miles from Mesa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105 miles.

Arriving in Willow Valley, AZ

The final approach into Willow Valley, 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 Willow Valley, AZ.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$49.98 one way

$99.96 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 88 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.36	$52.90	$105.79
premium	$5.59	$55.23	$110.46
diesel	$5.61	$55.40	$110.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$50

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$75–$100

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 87.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	75.3	0	$26.34	$12.04
Efficient EV	62.7	0	$21.95	$10.04
EV Truck/SUV	100.4	1	$35.13	$16.06

Gas CO2

88 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Mesa, AZ

Night in Mesa on Tuesday

Local time

11:46 PM

MST

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Willow Valley, AZ

Night in Willow Valley on Tuesday

Local time

11:46 PM

MST

Current temp

54°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

5 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

4h 52m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 Willow Valley, AZ covers 250.9 miles and takes about 4h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Route 95, Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 125.5 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 $49.98 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.