Tucson to Mesa AZ road trip: Drive time, distance & best stops

The best road trip stops on the Tucson to Mesa AZ drive are Saguaro National Park, Picacho Peak State Park and Casa Grande. The distance from Tucson to Mesa by car is 108 miles, with a 1h45m driving time.

Planning a Tucson to Mesa road trip itinerary

The Tucson to Mesa AZ drive connects two of Arizona’s biggest cities.

Tucson is often used as a base for exploring the Sonoran Desert. But it’s a proper city with an arty streak, a Spanish-tinged history and excellent Mexican food.

Top Tucson experiences include exploring the city’s many murals, taking a self-guided audio tour through Saguaro National Park and canyoneering at Mt Lemmon.

There are also several good bike tours you can do in and around Tucson. Choose from a history-focused ride through the city, e-biking in Saguaro National Park and taco-tasting on two wheels.

For resort-style accommodation in Tucson, take a look at the impressive Casino Del Sol Resort. To stay downtown, within walking distance of several restaurants, try the Leo Kent Hotel.

Mesa is the third-biggest city in Arizona. You’ll find the Arizona Museum of Natural History here, as well as the Mesa Arts Center.

For fun in the sun, you can always take to the slides of the Golfland Sunsplash water park. Or, for hiking and outdoor activities in the Sonoran Desert, head for Usery Mountain Regional Park.

Top Mesa accommodation options with a pool include the Azure and the Delta.

Tucson to Mesa AZ distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Tucson to Mesa is 108 miles. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 45 minutes. The quickest route is mainly along the I-10.

The best stops to add to a Tucson to Mesa road trip itinerary are Saguaro National Park, Picacho Peak State Park and Casa Grande.

Tucson to Mesa AZ drive: Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park is a celebration of the biggest cactus in the US – the enormous saguaro – is split into two sections. The western section to the west of Tucson has a cactus garden outside the visitor center, but you can get great photos of cacti with a desert mountain backdrop elsewhere in the park.

There are several hiking trails in the western section. The 1.8 mile Wild Dog Trail is the easiest introductory walk for those passing through.

Best stops between Tucson and Mesa AZ: Picacho Peak State Park

Picacho Peak is a part of a volcanic flow that has been eroded away over the centuries. Jutting 1,500ft out from the Sonoran Desert, Picacho Peak has long been an iconic landmark.

There are a series of short, easy walking trails with interpretive signs in Picacho Peak State Park. The difficult and very steep two mile Hunter Trail will take you to the top, though. Come after winter rains, and you’re likely to see an explosion of wildflowers.

Tucson to Mesa AZ road trip attractions: Casa Grande AZ

In Casa Grande, you can learn about local history at the Museum of Casa Grande. However, the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument provides a far more evocative history lesson. Here, the remains of a great house and farming sites belonging to the Ancestral Sonoran People are preserved.

For something more quirky, head to the Casa Grande Neon Sign Park, where unwanted neon signs spend their retirement.