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Trip from Mesa, AZ to Corona de Tucson, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

2h 32m

Distance

128.7 mi

207 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 23m ★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 53m
10 AM
2h 40m
12 PM
2h 38m
3 PM
2h 41m
5 PM
2h 52m
8 PM
2h 27m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Mesa, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Mesa, AZ to Corona de Tucson, AZ covers 128.7 miles and takes about 2h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Country Club Drive, North Arizona Avenue, I 10 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.64 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

64.4 miles from Mesa, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 32m drive with frequent turns across 128.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Country Club Drive is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Mesa, AZ to Corona de Tucson, AZ is easy. At 2h 32m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mesa, AZ to Corona de Tucson, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Country Club Drive
North Arizona Avenue
I 10 East
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
North Freeway
Tucson-Benson Highway
Houghton Road

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: North Country Club Drive — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and Corona de Tucson, AZ.

1

Start on East University Drive

1.0 mi · 2 min · East University Drive
2

Turn left onto North Country Club Drive

4.0 mi · 7 min · North Country Club Drive
3

Continue on North Arizona Avenue

11 mi · 18 min · North Arizona Avenue
4

Continue straight

6.1 mi · 9 min
5

Take the ramp left toward I 10 East: Tucson

0.3 mi · 37 sec · I 10 East: Tucson
6

Merge slight left onto Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

24 mi · 23 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
7

Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

55 mi · 55 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
8

Continue on North Freeway

6.1 mi · 6 min · North Freeway
9

Continue on Tucson-Benson Highway

15 mi · 16 min · Tucson-Benson Highway
10

Take the exit slight right toward Houghton Road

0.4 mi · 56 sec · Houghton Road
11

Keep slight right to continue on Pima County Fairgrounds, Motorsports Facilities

338 ft · 9 sec · Pima County Fairgrounds, Motorsports Facilities
12

Turn straight onto South Houghton Road

6.8 mi · 11 min · South Houghton Road
13

Turn right onto East Sahuarita Road

0.2 mi · 17 sec · East Sahuarita Road
14

Arrive at your destination

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.4 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 1h 16m into the drive.

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 28 miles or 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 64.4 miles or 1h 16m 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 5m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Corona de 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 128.7 miles and 2h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 64.4 mi from Mesa, AZ · 1h 16m into the drive

city in Pinal County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Casa Grande, AZ

64 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

Chandler, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Casa Grande, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 64.4 miles from Mesa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Corona de Tucson, AZ

The final approach into Corona de Tucson, 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 Corona de Tucson, 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

$25.64 one way

$51.28 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $27.13 $54.27
premium $5.59 $28.33 $56.66
diesel $5.61 $28.42 $56.83

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 45 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 38.6 0 $13.51 $6.18
Efficient EV 32.2 0 $11.26 $5.15
EV Truck/SUV 51.5 0 $18.02 $8.24

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Mesa, AZ

Afternoon in Mesa on Wednesday

Local time

2:10 PM

MST

Current temp

93°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Corona de Tucson, AZ

Afternoon in Corona de Tucson on Wednesday

Local time

2:10 PM

MST

Current temp

86°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

7 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 32m 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 Corona de Tucson, AZ covers 128.7 miles and takes about 2h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Country Club Drive, North Arizona Avenue, I 10 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.4 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 $25.64 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Mesa, AZ to Corona de Tucson, AZ is easy. At 2h 32m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mesa, AZ to Corona de Tucson, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Mesa, AZ to Corona de Tucson, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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