How far is Mesa, AZ from Bagdad, AZ?
The driving distance from Mesa, AZ to Bagdad, AZ is about 140.5 miles (226.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 23m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 112.6 miles (181.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MST.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 03h 23m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Mesa and Bagdad.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mesa and Bagdad.
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1
Start on East University Drive
2 mi · 4 min · East University Drive
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2
Turn right onto North Alma School Road
1.6 mi · 3 min · North Alma School Road
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3
Turn left onto AZ 202 Loop West
1717 ft · 46 sec
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4
Merge slight left onto Red Mountain Freeway
10.9 mi · 13 min · Red Mountain Freeway
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5
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 West
1 mi · 1 min
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6
Merge slight right onto Papago Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Papago Freeway
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7
Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
2756 ft · 36 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
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8
Continue on Papago Freeway
10.4 mi · 12 min · Papago Freeway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 101 Loop North
1.4 km · 1 min
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10
Continue on Agua Fria Freeway
8.8 mi · 10 min · Agua Fria Freeway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward US 60
1831 ft · 37 sec
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12
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
20.2 mi · 29 min · Grand Avenue
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13
Keep slight right to continue on Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
49 m · 3 sec · Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
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14
Continue on Grand Avenue
1.5 km · 1 min · Grand Avenue
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15
Continue on Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
1206 ft · 16 sec · Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
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16
Continue on Wickenburg–Phoenix Highway
648 ft · 8 sec · Wickenburg–Phoenix Highway
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17
Continue on Grand Avenue
6.3 mi · 7 min · Grand Avenue
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18
Continue on Phoenix-Wickenburg Highway
2405 ft · 32 sec · Phoenix-Wickenburg Highway
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19
Continue on Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
8.7 mi · 11 min · Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
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20
Continue on East Wickenburg Way
1.5 mi · 3 min · East Wickenburg Way
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21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
1 m · 1 sec · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
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22
Exit the rotary onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
1.2 mi · 2 min · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
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23
Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
2772 ft · 1 min · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
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24
Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
1.4 km · 2 min · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
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25
Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
1.4 km · 2 min · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
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26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
30 m · 4 sec · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
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27
Exit the roundabout onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
1.2 mi · 3 min · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
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28
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
47 m · 7 sec · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
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29
Exit the roundabout onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
3017 ft · 1 min · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
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30
Turn left onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
34 m · 4 sec · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
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31
Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
39.1 mi · 45 min · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
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32
Turn right onto Santa Maria-Bagdad Highway
10.9 mi · 20 min · Santa Maria-Bagdad Highway
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33
At the end of the road, turn left onto Hillside-Bagdad Highway
4 mi · 7 min · Hillside-Bagdad Highway
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34
Continue on Main Street
1586 ft · 34 sec · Main Street
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35
Turn right onto Lindahl Road
1.6 mi · 4 min · Lindahl Road
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36
Continue on North Lindahl
1.1 km · 3 min · North Lindahl
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37
Turn left
1.3 mi · 8 min
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38
Turn right
1.3 km · 5 min
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39
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Mesa and Bagdad.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
39.1 mi · 00h 45m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Sunny leaving Mesa and Sunny near Bagdad.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Mesa to Bagdad?
The road trip is about 140.5 miles (226.1 km) and usually takes 03h 23m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Wickenburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 70.2 miles from Mesa and 70.3 miles from Bagdad.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 112.6 miles (181.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:14 AM MST.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.18 one way or $46.37 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 44.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Mesa and Sunny near Bagdad.
Stop Ideas Near Wickenburg
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Wickenburg.
Phoenix (Metro Center Transit Station), Arizona
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Phoenix (Airport), Arizona
Camp Verde, Arizona
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Mesa and Bagdad. Straight-line distance: 112.59 mi (181.2 km).
#1 Mesa
The fourth most populous city in Arizona and the center of the Mesa metropolitan area.
| Population | 528,159 |
| Coordinates | 33.4222700, -111.8226400 |
| Altitude | 378 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Bagdad
Located in the rugged high desert of western Yavapai County at an elevation of 3,304 feet, this isolated community functions primarily as a company town.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 34.5811300, -113.2046400 |
| Altitude | 1007 |
| Country | United States |
End: Bagdad (-113.20464, 34.58113)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 226 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 04h 40m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 30m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 02h 48m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 20m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 00m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 45m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.67 | $23.18 | $46.37 |
| Mid-grade | $5.03 | $24.97 | $49.94 |
| Premium | $5.36 | $26.60 | $53.20 |
| Diesel | $6.27 | $31.11 | $62.22 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
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