Origin
Winslow, AZ
Late night in Winslow on Wednesday
Local time
4:41 AM
MST
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winslow, AZ to Mesa, AZ
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 44m
Distance
165.9 mi
267 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 32m
★
6 AM
3h 45m
8 AM
4h 10m
10 AM
3h 54m
12 PM
3h 51m
3 PM
3h 55m
5 PM
4h 9m
8 PM
3h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Winslow, AZ
András Nyemczovszky
Mesa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 165.9-mile drive from Winslow, AZ to Mesa, AZ will take you approximately 3 hours and 44 minutes, making it a very manageable one-day trip. You'll primarily travel on the South Beeline Highway, Payson-Winslow Highway, and State Highway 87. With an estimated fuel cost of $33, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Desert Southwest. It's a good option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two Arizona locations without needing to break it up into an overnight stay.
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
82.9 miles from Winslow, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with about 30% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 73.1 miles along the South Beeline Highway, which suggests some longer segments of consistent travel. The road character will likely evolve as you move from the Payson-Winslow Highway onto State Highway 87, offering varied driving conditions throughout the 3-hour and 44-minute trip.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Beeline Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 73.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Kinsley Avenue.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 44m drive. You will face about 8 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 (North Kinsley Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 40 Bus; AZ 99; US 66 Hist / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 87.2 miles (AZ 87; AZ 260 / North Beeline Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Kinsley Avenue
Turn left onto North Kinsley Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 40 Bus; AZ 99; US 66 Hist / West 2nd Street
Turn left onto I 40 Bus; AZ 99; US 66 Hist / West 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
5
87.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 7m in
|
AZ 87; AZ 260 / North Beeline Highway
Enter roundabout onto AZ 87; AZ 260 / North Beeline Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
87.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m in
|
AZ 87; AZ 260 / North Beeline Highway
Enter roundabout onto AZ 87; AZ 260 / North Beeline Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
165.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 44m in
|
East University Drive
Turn left onto East University Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Beeline Highway | 73.1 mi | 1h 26m |
| Payson-Winslow Highway | 37.4 mi | 55m |
| State Highway 87 | 27.1 mi | 39m |
| State Route 87 | 17.8 mi | 25m |
| Arizona State Highway 87 | 4 mi | 5m |
| North Mesa Drive | 2 mi | 3m |
| North Beeline Highway | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| West McKellips Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
South Beeline Highway
— 73.1 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winslow, AZ and Mesa, AZ.
1
Start on I 40 Bus; AZ 99; US 66 Hist
54 ft
·
6 sec
·
East 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto North Kinsley Avenue
362 ft
·
21 sec
·
North Kinsley Avenue
3
Turn left onto I 40 Bus; AZ 99; US 66 Hist
359 ft
·
8 sec
·
West 2nd Street
4
Turn right onto AZ 87; AZ 99
18 mi
·
27 min
·
Payson-Winslow Highway
5
Continue on AZ 87
19 mi
·
28 min
·
State Highway 87
6
Continue on AZ 87
344 ft
·
5 sec
·
Starlight Drive
7
Continue on AZ 87
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
State Route 87
8
Continue on AZ 87
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 87
9
Continue on AZ 87
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Payson–Winslow Highway
10
Continue on AZ 87
12 mi
·
16 min
·
State Route 87
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 260
7.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Payson-Winslow Highway
12
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 260
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
North AZ Highway 87
13
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 260
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Payson-Winslow Highway
14
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 260
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Arizona State Highway 87
15
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 260
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Payson-Winslow Highway
16
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 260
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Arizona State Highway 87
17
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 260
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
North Beeline Highway
18
Enter roundabout onto AZ 87; AZ 260
122 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Beeline Highway
19
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 260
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Beeline Highway
20
Enter roundabout onto AZ 87; AZ 260
147 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Beeline Highway
21
Continue on AZ 87; AZ 260
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Beeline Highway
22
Continue on AZ 87
73 mi
·
1 hr 26 min
·
South Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on AZ 87
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Country Club Drive
24
Turn left onto West McKellips Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West McKellips Road
Use the left lane.
25
Turn right onto North Mesa Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Mesa Drive
26
Turn left onto East University Drive
73 ft
·
1 sec
·
East University Drive
Use the left lane.
27
Arrive at destination
East University Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 165.9-mile distance and 3-hour 44-minute estimated duration, starting your trip in the morning is recommended to allow for flexibility. You'll want to consider fuel stops, especially with a longest stretch of 73.1 miles, and the $33 fuel cost estimate. There's only one designated stop mentioned, so plan your breaks strategically. Keep an eye on the road conditions as you transition between the South Beeline Highway and State Highway 87, as the driving experience can change.
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 82.9 miles from Winslow, AZ, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.1 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 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.9 miles or 2h 1m 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 6m
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 Winslow, 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 Winslow, AZ
This is one driving day of about 165.9 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Winslow, 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 South Beeline Highway for about 73.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 82.9 mi from Winslow, AZ · 2h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
83 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 82.9 miles from Winslow, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South Beeline Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.1 miles.
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
$33.05 one way
$66.10 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $34.98 | $69.95 |
| premium | $5.59 | $36.52 | $73.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.63 | $73.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.8 | 0 | $17.42 | $7.96 |
| Efficient EV | 41.5 | 0 | $14.52 | $6.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66.4 | 0 | $23.23 | $10.62 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
Mesa, AZ
Late night in Mesa on Wednesday
Local time
4:41 AM
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
16 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
3h 44m 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 Winslow, AZ to Mesa, AZ covers 165.9 miles and takes about 3h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Beeline Highway, Payson-Winslow Highway, State Highway 87. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 82.9 miles from Winslow, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.05 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 44m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Kinsley Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 40 Bus; AZ 99; US 66 Hist / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 87.2 miles (AZ 87; AZ 260 / North Beeline Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Winslow, AZ to Mesa, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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