How far is Mesa, AZ from Desert Hills, AZ?

The driving distance from Mesa, AZ to Desert Hills, AZ is about 223.9 miles (360.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 165.7 miles (266.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 31m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MST.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
223.93 mi
04h 15m
Flight
165.68 mi
266.63 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Mesa.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
165.68 mi
Kilometers
266.63 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
223.93 mi
Kilometers
360.38 km
Drive Time
04h 15m

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 04h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Desert Hills
Sat, Apr 18, 10:31 AM MST
Return by in Mesa
Sat, Apr 18, 2:46 PM MST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Mesa
2026-04-18T06:15
Arrive Desert Hills
Sat, Apr 18, 10:31 AM MST
Route Timing
04h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MST
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:16 AM to 12:16 PM MST

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:28 AM MST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Mesa
9:00 PM MST
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Salome
AZ

Census-designated place in La Paz County, Arizona, United States

From Mesa
111.8 mi
02h 07m
To Desert Hills
112 mi
02h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
90°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MST
Wind
5 mph NNE
Destination
82°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MST
Wind
6 to 12 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Mesa and Desert Hills.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mesa and Desert Hills.

  1. 1

    Start on East University Drive

    2 mi · 4 min · East University Drive

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Alma School Road

    1.6 mi · 3 min · North Alma School Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto AZ 202 Loop West

    1717 ft · 46 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Red Mountain Freeway

    10.9 mi · 13 min · Red Mountain Freeway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight left toward I 10 West

    1 mi · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight right onto Papago Freeway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Papago Freeway

  7. 7

    Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

    2756 ft · 36 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

  8. 8

    Continue on Papago Freeway

    19.6 mi · 23 min · Papago Freeway

  9. 9

    Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

    105 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma

    1851 ft · 42 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Riggles Road

    561 ft · 17 sec · Riggles Road

  12. 12

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    1 mi · 2 min · East Main Street

  13. 13

    Turn right onto North Central Boulevard

    3.1 mi · 3 min · North Central Boulevard

  14. 14

    Continue on Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

    19.6 mi · 22 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

    11.4 mi · 13 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on California Avenue

    1.4 km · 2 min · California Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Rio Vista Highway

    4.4 mi · 6 min · Rio Vista Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

    6.6 mi · 7 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on Riverside Drive

    7.1 mi · 8 min · Riverside Drive

  20. 20

    Continue on Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

    25.6 mi · 34 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Chenoweth Road

    1.1 km · 2 min · Chenoweth Road

  22. 22

    Turn right onto London Bridge Road

    1 km · 1 min · London Bridge Road

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Thrasher Drive

    560 ft · 30 sec · Thrasher Drive

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Mountain View Drive

    780 ft · 34 sec · Mountain View Drive

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Bayshore Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Mesa and Desert Hills.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
25 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
105 mi · 47%
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
63.1 mi · 28%
Papago Freeway
21 mi · 9%
Red Mountain Freeway
10.9 mi · 5%
Riverside Drive
7.13 mi · 3%
Rio Vista Highway
4.37 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

105 mi · 01h 46m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
04h 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+58.2 mi
165.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Salome
02h 07m from Mesa
Leave By
8:28 AM MST
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Mesa and Sunny near Desert Hills.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Mesa to Desert Hills?

The road trip is about 223.9 miles (360.4 km) and usually takes 04h 15m 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?

Salome is a useful midpoint, sitting about 111.8 miles from Mesa and 112 miles from Desert Hills.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 165.7 miles (266.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 58.2 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 8:28 AM MST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.11 one way or $78.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 70.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Mesa and Sunny near Desert Hills.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Mesa and Desert Hills. Straight-line distance: 165.68 mi (266.63 km).

Mesa

#1 Mesa

The fourth most populous city in Arizona and the center of the Mesa metropolitan area.

Population528,159
Coordinates33.4222700, -111.8226400
Altitude378
CountryUnited States
Desert Hills

#2 Desert Hills

Census designated place

Population2,245
Coordinates34.5539000, -114.3724600
Altitude167
CountryUnited States
Start: Mesa (-111.82264, 33.42227)
End: Desert Hills (-114.37246, 34.5539)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 360 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 47m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.9 gal
29.91 L · about $39.11
Round trip
$78.23
15.8 gal · 59.82 L
Estimated CO2
70.2 kg one way
Round trip: 140.4 kg / 310 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $39.11 $78.23
Mid-grade $5.34 $42.17 $84.34
Premium $5.57 $43.97 $87.94
Diesel $6.37 $50.29 $100.58

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Mesa and Desert Hills. The current time is 06:15:40.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.