Trip from Miami, AZ to Mesa, AZ

Drive Time

1h 26m

Distance

66.2 mi

106 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 19m ★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m

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

Downtown Mesa, AZ, AZ

Mesa, AZ

Zsolt Pujsz

Trip Overview

The drive from Miami, AZ to Mesa, AZ covers 66.2 miles and takes about 1h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Phoenix–Globe Highway, Superstition Freeway, South Mesa Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.9 miles on Phoenix–Globe Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.17 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

33.1 miles from Miami, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 26m drive with frequent turns across 66.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Phoenix–Globe Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 42.9 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.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 1h 26m 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 60 / West Live Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 63.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 60 / West Live Oak Street

Turn left onto US 60 / West Live Oak Street

Navigation decision point

7
63.2 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in

Take the exit toward Mesa Drive

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 180 Toward Mesa Drive
5
63.7 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in | South Mesa Drive

Turn right onto South Mesa Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / none lanes.
5
66.2 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in | East University Drive

Turn right onto East University Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Phoenix–Globe Highway 42.9 mi 55m
Superstition Freeway 18.6 mi 21m
South Mesa Drive 2 mi 3m
West Live Oak Street 1.7 mi 3m
North Mesa Drive 0.5 mi 1m
East University Drive <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Phoenix–Globe Highway — 42.9 mi, about 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

85 ft · 8 sec · this road
2

Turn right

153 ft · 12 sec
3

Turn left onto US 60

1.7 mi · 3 min · West Live Oak Street
4

Continue on US 60

43 mi · 55 min · Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the none lane.
5

Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist

19 mi · 21 min · Superstition Freeway
Use the none lane.
6

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 180 Toward Mesa Drive Use the slight right lane.
7

Turn right onto South Mesa Drive

2.0 mi · 3 min · South Mesa Drive
Use the left / none lanes.
8

Continue on North Mesa Drive

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Mesa Drive
Use the none lane.
9

Turn right onto East University Drive

73 ft · 1 sec · East University Drive
Use the none lane.
10

Arrive at destination

East University Drive

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 33.1 miles from Miami, AZ, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.9 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 66.2 miles or 1h 26m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 33.1 miles or 43m 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 12m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mesa, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Miami, 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 Miami, AZ

This is one driving day of about 66.2 miles and 1h 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Miami, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Phoenix–Globe Highway for about 42.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 33.1 mi from Miami, AZ · 43m into the drive

Downtown Queen Creek, AZ, AZ

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Queen Creek, AZ

33 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.

Popular next leg

Queen Creek, AZ to Mesa, AZ

22.8 mi · 32m

Pacing Suggestions

Gilbert, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 66.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Queen Creek, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 33.1 miles from Miami, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Mesa, AZ

The final approach into Mesa, 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 Mesa, 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

$13.17 one way

$26.35 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.34 $13.91 $27.82
premium $5.59 $14.56 $29.12
diesel $5.64 $14.71 $29.41

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.9 0 $6.95 $3.18
Efficient EV 16.6 0 $5.79 $2.65
EV Truck/SUV 26.5 0 $9.27 $4.24

Gas CO2

23 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (65% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Miami, AZ

Afternoon in Miami on Sunday

Local time

4:05 PM

MST

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mesa, AZ

Afternoon in Mesa on Sunday

Local time

4:05 PM

MST

Current temp

59°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

6 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 26m 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 Miami, AZ to Mesa, AZ covers 66.2 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Phoenix–Globe Highway, Superstition Freeway, South Mesa Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.1 miles from Miami, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.17 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 1h 26m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 60 / West Live Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 63.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Miami, AZ to Mesa, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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