Origin
Queen Creek, AZ
Afternoon in Queen Creek on Sunday
Local time
3:43 PM
MST
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Queen Creek, AZ to Mesa, AZ
Drive Time
32m
Distance
22.8 mi
37 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Queen Creek, AZ
Fernando Capetillo
Mesa, AZ
Zsolt Pujsz
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Queen Creek to Mesa, you are looking at a quick 22.8-mile journey through the Desert Southwest. Expect to spend about 32 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via East Ocotillo Road, South Ellsworth Loop Road, and South Ellsworth Road. With a fuel budget of roughly $4, this is an incredibly efficient commute between these two Arizona hubs. Since the entire route remains within the same region, you won't experience any drastic environmental transitions, keeping the travel logistics simple and predictable.
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
11.4 miles from Queen Creek, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 22.8-mile stretch is strictly a local drive rather than an interstate haul, meaning your highway share is 0%. You should prepare for a turn-heavy experience as you navigate through the local infrastructure. Because there are no long highway stretches—the longest segment is 0 miles on East Ocotillo Road—your attention will be required for frequent turns and intersection navigation. The road's personality is defined by its stop-and-go nature, which contrasts sharply with the high-speed monotony of major interstates. Expect a steady, functional pace as you transition from the outskirts of Queen Creek into the heart of Mesa.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Ocotillo 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. 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 Queen Creek, AZ to Mesa, AZ is easy. At 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 Queen Creek, AZ to Mesa, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Ocotillo Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Ellsworth Loop Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Ellsworth Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| AZ 24 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Gateway Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| AZ 202 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Santan Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 60 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Ocotillo Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Queen Creek, AZ and Mesa, AZ.
1
Start on East Ocotillo Road
381 ft
·
35 sec
·
East Ocotillo Road
2
Turn uturn onto East Ocotillo Road
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Ocotillo Road
3
Turn right onto South Ellsworth Loop Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Ellsworth Loop Road
4
Continue on South Ellsworth Road
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
South Ellsworth Road
5
Turn left onto AZ 24 West
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
AZ 24 West
6
Merge slight left onto Gateway Freeway
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Gateway Freeway
7
Keep slight right to continue on AZ 202 Loop North
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
AZ 202 Loop North
8
Merge slight left onto Santan Freeway
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Santan Freeway
9
Take the exit slight right toward US 60 West: Phoenix
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
US 60 West: Phoenix
10
Merge slight left onto Superstition Freeway
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Superstition Freeway
11
Take the exit slight right toward Mesa Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Mesa Drive
12
Turn right onto South Mesa Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South Mesa Drive
13
Continue on North Mesa Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Mesa Drive
14
Turn right onto East University Drive
72 ft
·
2 sec
·
East University Drive
15
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Because this drive is short and direct, you have total flexibility in your departure time. You won't need to plan for any formal stops, as the 32-minute duration allows you to reach your destination quickly without a break. With a total fuel cost of only $4, you can easily manage your travel expenses without specialized planning. To ensure a smooth trip, keep a close eye on your navigation during the Ellsworth Road segments, as the route relies on several transitions between local roads. Prioritize checking local traffic alerts before you leave, as the turn-heavy nature of the route means that minor delays can impact your arrival time more than they would on a straight highway.
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 11.4 miles from Queen Creek, AZ, or about 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 22.8 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 11.4 miles or 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 27m
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 Queen Creek, 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 Queen Creek, AZ
This is one driving day of about 22.8 miles and 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Queen Creek, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11.4 mi from Queen Creek, AZ · 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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 22.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 11.4 miles from Queen Creek, 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
$4.54 one way
$9.08 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $4.79 | $9.58 |
| premium | $5.59 | $5.02 | $10.03 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.07 | $10.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.39 | $1.09 |
| Efficient EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.19 | $1.46 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Mesa, AZ
Afternoon in Mesa on Sunday
Local time
3:43 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
3 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
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 Queen Creek, AZ to Mesa, AZ covers 22.8 miles and takes about 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Ocotillo Road, South Ellsworth Loop Road, South Ellsworth Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.4 miles from Queen Creek, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.54 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.
The drive from Queen Creek, AZ to Mesa, AZ is easy. At 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 Queen Creek, AZ to Mesa, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Queen Creek, AZ to Mesa, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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