How far is Mesa, AZ from White Mountain Lake, AZ?

The driving distance from Mesa, AZ to White Mountain Lake, AZ is about 173.2 miles (278.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 122.7 miles (197.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 40m 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
173.26 mi
03h 50m
Flight
122.68 mi
197.44 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
122.68 mi
Kilometers
197.44 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
173.26 mi
Kilometers
278.83 km
Drive Time
03h 50m

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 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in White Mountain Lake
Thu, Oct 15, 9:33 PM MST
Return by in Mesa
Fri, Oct 16, 1:23 AM MST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Mesa
2026-10-15T17:43
Arrive White Mountain Lake
Thu, Oct 15, 9:33 PM MST
Route Timing
03h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MST
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:50 AM to 11:50 AM MST

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

Leave by
9:20 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

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.

Mid-route stop
Globe
AZ

City in and county seat of Gila County, Arizona, United States

From Mesa
86.4 mi
01h 55m
To White Mountain Lake
86.9 mi
01h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
89°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 11:00 AM MST
Wind
5 mph NE
Destination
60°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM MST
Wind
5 to 14 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Mesa and White Mountain Lake.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mesa and White Mountain Lake.

  1. 1

    Start on East University Drive

    22 m · 9 sec · East University Drive

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Mesa Drive

    2619 ft · 56 sec · North Mesa Drive

  3. 3

    Continue on South Mesa Drive

    2 mi · 4 min · South Mesa Drive

  4. 4

    Turn left onto US 60 East: Globe

    2094 ft · 55 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Superstition Freeway

    18.5 mi · 21 min · Superstition Freeway

  6. 6

    Continue on Phoenix–Globe Highway

    43 mi · 56 min · Phoenix–Globe Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Live Oak Street

    1.9 mi · 4 min · Live Oak Street

  8. 8

    Continue on US 60

    4 mi · 8 min · US 60

  9. 9

    Continue on North Broad Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · North Broad Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto North Broad Street

    2703 ft · 1 min · North Broad Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto East Oak Street

    112 m · 9 sec · East Oak Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto South Hill Street

    1816 ft · 40 sec · South Hill Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto East Ash Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · East Ash Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Globe-Show Low Highway

    83.5 mi · 1 hr 36 min · Globe-Show Low Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on West Deuce of Clubs

    4.7 mi · 9 min · West Deuce of Clubs

  16. 16

    Continue on Show Low-Springerville-East Highway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Show Low-Springerville-East Highway

  17. 17

    Turn left

    1.5 mi · 3 min

  18. 18

    Continue on Bourdon Ranch Road

    3.8 mi · 7 min · Bourdon Ranch Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Silver Creek Drive

    1725 ft · 1 min · Silver Creek Drive

  20. 20

    Continue on Silver Creek Drive

    1.4 mi · 5 min · Silver Creek Drive

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Ortega Drive

    1919 ft · 1 min · Ortega Drive

  22. 22

    Continue on Silver Lake Boulevard

    969 ft · 47 sec · Silver Lake Boulevard

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Navajo Drive

    2626 ft · 2 min · Navajo Drive

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Navajo Drive

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Mesa and White Mountain Lake.

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
24 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
1 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Globe-Show Low Highway
83.5 mi · 48%
Phoenix–Globe Highway
43 mi · 25%
Superstition Freeway
18.5 mi · 11%
West Deuce of Clubs
4.67 mi · 3%
US 60
3.96 mi · 2%
Bourdon Ranch Road
3.8 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Globe-Show Low Highway

Turn left onto Globe-Show Low Highway

83.5 mi · 01h 36m

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
03h 50m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+50.5 mi
122.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Globe
01h 55m from Mesa
Leave By
9:20 AM MST
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Mesa and Sunny near White Mountain Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Mesa to White Mountain Lake?

The road trip is about 173.2 miles (278.8 km) and usually takes 03h 50m 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?

Globe is a useful midpoint, sitting about 86.4 miles from Mesa and 86.9 miles from White Mountain Lake.

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

The direct path is about 122.7 miles (197.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 50.5 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 9:20 AM MST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.56 one way or $57.12 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Mesa and Sunny near White Mountain Lake.

Stop Ideas Near Globe

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Globe, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Globe.

BUS

Phoenix (Airport), Arizona

114 mi away
3400 East Sky Harbor Blvd.
BUS

Phoenix (Greyhound), Arizona

116 mi away
2115 East Buckeye Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Mesa and White Mountain Lake. Straight-line distance: 122.68 mi (197.44 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
Photo coming soon

#2 White Mountain Lake

Located in Navajo County at an elevation of 6,119 feet, this census-designated place lies within the high desert transition zone of eastern Arizona's White Mountains region.

Population0
Coordinates34.3486500, -109.9978900
Altitude1865
CountryUnited States
Start: Mesa (-111.82264, 33.42227)
End: White Mountain Lake (-109.99789, 34.34865)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 279 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.11 gal
23.14 L · about $28.56
Round trip
$57.12
12.22 gal · 46.28 L
Estimated CO2
54.3 kg one way
Round trip: 108.6 kg / 239 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $28.56 $57.12
Mid-grade $5.03 $30.76 $61.52
Premium $5.36 $32.77 $65.54
Diesel $6.27 $38.32 $76.64

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Mesa and White Mountain Lake. The current time is 17:43:11.

Distance to Other Cities

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