How far is Mesa, AZ from Cottonwood, AZ?
The driving distance from Mesa, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ is about 274.1 miles (441.1 km), with a travel time of about 06h 33m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 213.4 miles (343.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 06m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 06h 33m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Census-designated place in Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Mesa and Cottonwood.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mesa and Cottonwood.
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1
Start on East University Drive
22 m · 6 sec · East University Drive
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2
Turn right onto North Mesa Drive
2 mi · 4 min · North Mesa Drive
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3
Turn left onto East McKellips Road
1.6 km · 2 min · East McKellips Road
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4
Turn right onto North Country Club Drive
1.2 km · 1 min · North Country Club Drive
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5
Continue on North Beeline Highway
4.5 mi · 5 min · North Beeline Highway
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6
Continue on Beeline Highway
68.4 mi · 1 hr 20 min · Beeline Highway
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7
Continue on North Beeline Highway
1.2 mi · 2 min · North Beeline Highway
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8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Payson-Winslow Highway
40 m · 3 sec · North Beeline Highway
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9
Exit the rotary onto North Beeline Highway
3063 ft · 1 min · North Beeline Highway
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10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Payson-Winslow Highway
35 m · 2 sec · North Beeline Highway
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11
Exit the rotary onto North Beeline Highway
663 ft · 11 sec · North Beeline Highway
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12
Continue on Arizona State Highway 87
2.6 mi · 4 min · Arizona State Highway 87
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13
Continue on Payson-Winslow Highway
10.8 mi · 16 min · Payson-Winslow Highway
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14
Continue on Arizona State Highway 87
1.4 mi · 2 min · Arizona State Highway 87
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15
Continue on Payson-Winslow Highway
1.4 km · 1 min · Payson-Winslow Highway
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16
Continue on North AZ Highway 87
2253 ft · 55 sec · North AZ Highway 87
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17
Continue on Payson-Winslow Highway
7.5 mi · 11 min · Payson-Winslow Highway
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18
Continue on State Route 87
11.8 mi · 16 min · State Route 87
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19
Continue on Payson–Winslow Highway
631 ft · 10 sec · Payson–Winslow Highway
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20
Continue on State Highway 87
8.2 mi · 11 min · State Highway 87
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21
Continue on State Route 87
6 mi · 9 min · State Route 87
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22
Continue on Starlight Drive
105 m · 6 sec · Starlight Drive
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23
Continue on State Highway 87
18.9 mi · 28 min · State Highway 87
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24
Continue on Payson-Winslow Highway
18.3 mi · 27 min · Payson-Winslow Highway
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25
Turn right onto East 2nd Street
2.4 mi · 4 min · East 2nd Street
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26
Continue on Winslow–Kayenta Highway
40.1 mi · 47 min · Winslow–Kayenta Highway
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27
Continue on AZ 87
4.1 mi · 5 min · AZ 87
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28
Continue on Winslow–Kayenta Highway
16.7 mi · 19 min · Winslow–Kayenta Highway
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29
At the end of the road, turn right onto Arizona State Highway 264
11.7 mi · 14 min · Arizona State Highway 264
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30
Turn left onto Indian Route 60
6.6 mi · 16 min · Indian Route 60
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31
Continue on Hopi Route 65
8.4 mi · 20 min · Hopi Route 65
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32
Continue on Navajo Route 65
1.3 mi · 3 min · Navajo Route 65
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33
Continue on Indian Route 65
2.8 mi · 7 min · Indian Route 65
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34
Continue on Navajo Route 65
1.9 mi · 5 min · Navajo Route 65
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35
At the end of the road, turn right onto Navajo Route 4
4 mi · 10 min · Navajo Route 4
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36
Continue on Indian Route 4
1.8 mi · 4 min · Indian Route 4
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37
Continue on Navajo Route 4
6.4 mi · 16 min · Navajo Route 4
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38
Turn right
1460 ft · 1 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 Cottonwood.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Beeline Highway
Continue on Beeline Highway
68.4 mi · 01h 20m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving Mesa and Sunny near Cottonwood.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Mesa to Cottonwood?
The road trip is about 274.1 miles (441.1 km) and usually takes 06h 33m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
LeChee is a useful midpoint, sitting about 137.1 miles from Mesa and 137 miles from Cottonwood.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 213.4 miles (343.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 60.7 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 7:30 AM MST. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $47.88 one way or $95.75 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 85.9 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Mesa and Cottonwood, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Mesa and Sunny near Cottonwood.
Stop Ideas Near LeChee
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 LeChee.
Winslow
Flagstaff (Greyhound), Arizona
Flagstaff Station
Sedona (Center Bus Stop), Arizona
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Mesa and Cottonwood. Straight-line distance: 213.42 mi (343.47 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 Cottonwood
City in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
| Population | 12,762 |
| Coordinates | 36.0730600, -109.8923400 |
| Altitude | 1850 |
| Country | United States |
End: Cottonwood (-109.89234, 36.07306)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 441 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 07m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 51m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 28m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 34m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 54m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 25m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.95 | $47.88 | $95.75 |
| Mid-grade | $5.34 | $51.62 | $103.24 |
| Premium | $5.57 | $53.82 | $107.65 |
| Diesel | $6.37 | $61.56 | $123.12 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Arizona · Apr 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.