Origin
Mesa, AZ
Morning in Mesa on Saturday
Local time
6:20 AM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mesa, AZ to Mohave Valley, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 58m
Distance
253.8 mi
409 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$51
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 45m
★
6 AM
4h 59m
8 AM
5h 26m
10 AM
5h 8m
12 PM
5h 6m
3 PM
5h 10m
5 PM
5h 25m
8 PM
4h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mesa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Mohave Valley, AZ
Brent Singleton
Trip Overview
The drive from Mesa, AZ to Mohave Valley, AZ covers 253.8 miles and takes about 4h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Alma School Road, AZ 202, Red Mountain Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.56 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
126.9 miles from Mesa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .
About the Cities
Starting in Mesa, AZ
Full guide →Mesa, population 518,000 (2019), is in Maricopa County. It is Arizona's third-largest city, and is part of the Greater Phoenix urban complex.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 58m. Total distance: 253.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 58m drive with frequent turns across 253.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Alma School Road 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 58m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mesa, AZ to Mohave Valley, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Alma School Road | — | — |
| AZ 202 | — | — |
| Red Mountain Freeway | — | — |
| I 10 West | — | — |
| Papago Freeway | — | — |
| Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel | — | — |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | — | — |
| US 95 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Alma School Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and Mohave Valley, AZ.
1
Start on East University Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East University Drive
2
Turn right onto North Alma School Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Alma School Road
3
Turn left onto AZ 202 Loop West
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
AZ 202 Loop West
4
Merge slight left onto Red Mountain Freeway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Red Mountain Freeway
5
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 West
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10 West
6
Merge slight right onto Papago Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
7
Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
8
Continue on Papago Freeway
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Papago Freeway
9
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
105 mi
·
1 hr 45 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma
11
Turn right onto Riggles Road
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Riggles Road
12
Turn left onto East Main Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
13
Turn right onto North Central Boulevard
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Central Boulevard
14
Continue on Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
15
Turn left onto Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
16
Continue on California Avenue
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
California Avenue
17
Continue straight
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
18
At the end of the road, turn left onto Aqueduct Road
16 mi
·
24 min
·
Aqueduct Road
19
Turn sharp right onto Route 95
48 mi
·
55 min
·
Route 95
20
Take the exit left
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
21
Merge slight left onto Needles Freeway
0.8 mi
·
51 sec
·
Needles Freeway
22
Take the exit slight right toward J Street
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
J Street
23
Turn right onto J Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
J Street
24
At the end of the road, turn left onto Front Street
466 ft
·
14 sec
·
Front Street
25
Turn right onto North K Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North K Street
26
Continue on Harbor Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Harbor Avenue
27
Continue on Mohave Valley Highway
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Mohave Valley Highway
28
Turn right onto Hulet Avenue
1.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Hulet Avenue
29
At the end of the road, turn right onto Mountain View Road
157 ft
·
9 sec
·
Mountain View Road
30
Turn right onto Winter Haven Drive
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Winter Haven Drive
31
Arrive at your destination
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 126.9 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 2h 29m 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 56 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.9 miles or 2h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mohave 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 253.8 miles and 4h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 126.9 mi from Mesa, AZ · 2h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
127 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 126.9 miles from Mesa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Mohave Valley, AZ
The final approach into Mohave 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 Mohave Valley, 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
$50.56 one way
$101.12 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
89 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $53.51 | $107.02 |
| premium | $5.59 | $55.87 | $111.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $56.04 | $112.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.1 | 0 | $26.65 | $12.18 |
| Efficient EV | 63.5 | 0 | $22.21 | $10.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101.5 | 1 | $35.53 | $16.24 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Mohave Valley, AZ
Morning in Mohave Valley on Saturday
Local time
6:20 AM
MST
Current temp
90°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
3 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 58m 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 Mohave Valley, AZ covers 253.8 miles and takes about 4h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Alma School Road, AZ 202, Red Mountain Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 126.9 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 $50.56 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.
This is a straightforward 4h 58m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mesa, AZ to Mohave Valley, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Mesa, AZ to Mohave Valley, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Mohave Valley, AZ
Explore more options from Mesa, AZ or browse trips ending in Mohave Valley, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.