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Mesa day trips - where to go in 3 months?
honestly if you want something totally different from the desert stuff, head north to sedona. it's about 2 hours from mesa but the red rocks are a completely different world. the airport loop trail is an easy one with killer views and you don't need a permit like some of the busy ones. grab a slice at pizzeria bocce after, their margherita is solid and the patio overlooks the rocks
for a real small town vibe, jerome is on the way back from sedona and it's this old mining town clinging to a hill. the haunted hamburger joint is touristy but the patty melt is actually good and the views from their deck are insane. just be ready for winding roads, my buddy got car sick the first time we went
You can head southeast to the Gila River and the town of Globe. The drive is about 90 minutes and takes you through some classic Sonoran desert scenery. From there, the lower Salt River Canyon is about 30 minutes further and has a scenic drive and pull-offs that feel like a mini Grand Canyon without the crowds. Stop at the Guayo's on the Trail in Globe for a green chile burrito, it's been there forever and the salsa bar is legit.
If you're based in Mesa, the drive up to Payson is about 90 minutes and gives you a different feel than the desert floor. The Mogollon Rim has some solid hikes like Horton Creek or the Highline Trail, and it'll be 15-20 degrees cooler than Mesa that time of year. For a small town stop, grab lunch at the Beeline Cafe in Payson, their green chili cheeseburger is a local staple.
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3 Days in Mesa: Itinerary 2026
Start your day at 9:00 AM at the Mesa Arts Center (1 E Main St) to see the free outdoor sculptures and catch a morning show if scheduled. From there, walk two blocks to the… 🗺️ Day 1: Downtown Mesa
Start your day at 9:00 AM at the Mesa Arts Center (1 E Main St) to see the free outdoor sculptures and catch a morning show if scheduled. From there, walk two blocks to the Arizona Museum of Natural History (53 N Macdonald) for dinosaur exhibits, open 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, admission $12 for adults. Grab lunch at the Nile Cafe (105 W Main St), a local favorite for Mediterranean plates around $10 to $15. In the afternoon, explore the Mesa Grande Cultural Park (1000 N Date) to see a 500-year-old Hohokam platform mound, then head to the Mesa Historical Museum (2345 N Horne) before it closes at 4:00 PM.
🚌 Getting Around Mesa
Mesa is spread out, so a car is the most practical option for covering the 15 to 20 minute drives between downtown, east Mesa, and the Superstition Springs area. Valley Metro buses run along Main Street and University Drive every 15 to 30 minutes, with a single ride costing $2 or a day pass for $4. Light rail's Valley Metro Rail extends to Mesa Drive and Main Street, connecting to Tempe and Phoenix in about 35 minutes. Rideshares like Uber and Lyft are plentiful but expect $12 to $20 fares for cross-town trips during peak hours.
🌵 Day 2: Usery and East Mesa
Begin at 7:30 AM at Usery Mountain Regional Park (3939 N Usery Pass Rd) for the Wind Cave Trail, a 3.2-mile round trip that takes about 2 hours and costs $7 per vehicle to enter. After hiking, drive 15 minutes to the Superstition Springs Center (6555 E Southern Ave) for lunch at one of the food court options or a sit-down meal at BJ's Restaurant. Spend the early afternoon at the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum (2017 N Greenfield Rd), open 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM with $15 adult admission. Finish with a sunset walk at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch (2757 E Guadalupe Rd) in nearby Gilbert, about 20 minutes from east Mesa.
🍽️ Where to Eat
For breakfast, try the Original Pancake House (1951 S Val Vista Dr) for Dutch babies around $12, open from 6:30 AM daily. Lunch options include Republica Empanada (204 E 1st Ave) for Argentine-style empanadas at $4 to $6 each, or the family-run Los Dos Molinos (2602 N Mesa Dr) for spicy New Mexican plates. Dinner reservations are wise at The Cutting Board (2700 N Mesa Dr) for steak and seafood, with entrees $25 to $40. For a casual evening, the Mesa Riverview complex (1061 N Dobson Rd) has over a dozen restaurants and a cinema.
🏨 Where to Stay
Downtown Mesa has boutique options like the Delta Hotels by Marriott Phoenix Mesa (200 N Centennial Way), with rates from $130 per night in 2026. Budget travelers often choose the Motel 6 Mesa South (3360 S Country Club Dr) for around $70 per night, though it's a 15-minute drive from downtown. For families, the Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West (860 N Riverview) offers pool access and is next to the Chicago Cubs spring training stadium, with rates from $180. Book at least two months ahead if you're visiting during spring training (March) or the Arizona Celebration of Freedom in July.
🎨 Day 3: Arts and Culture
Start at 9:00 AM at the i.d.e.a. Museum (150 W Pepper Pl), perfect for families with kids, open 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and $9 admission. Then walk to the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum (1 E Main St) for rotating exhibitions, free entry, open 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday. Lunch at the nearby Worth Takeaway (218 W Main St) for gourmet sandwiches around $12. In the afternoon, drive 10 minutes to the Arizona Museum of Natural History if you missed it on Day 1, or explore the antique shops along Main Street before catching a show at the Mesa Arts Center in the evening.
🚗 Transport Times and Tips
Allow 15 to 20 minutes to drive between downtown Mesa and the Superstition Springs area, and 25 minutes to reach Usery Mountain Regional Park from downtown. Valley Metro's Route 40 runs along Main Street every 20 minutes on weekdays, but service is less frequent on Sundays. If you're using rideshare, expect a 5 to 10 minute wait for pickup in most parts of Mesa. Parking is free at most attractions and shopping centers, but downtown street parking meters cost $1 per hour from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday.
💡 Budget and Practicalities
A realistic daily budget for one person is $120 to $180, covering meals, attractions, and local transport, or $200 to $300 if you add a rental car and nicer dinners. Many museums offer free admission on the first weekend of the month, so check schedules in advance. Summer temperatures from June to September often exceed 105°F, so plan outdoor activities before 10:00 AM or after 6:00 PM. Carry cash for small taquerias and farmers markets, though most businesses accept cards.
Nobody ever mentions the air quality angle for the Usery hike. From roughly May through September the valley ozone gets bad enough that the county issues health advisories, and Wind Cave is exposed the whole way with zero shade. I've turned around at the saddle more than once because the haze over Red Mountain made it pointless. Go at 6am or not at all in summer.
On the budget side, the $4 Valley Metro day pass only works if you're staying near Main Street or University. From the Motel 6 on Country Club you're looking at a 25 minute walk just to reach a usable stop, so factor that in before you skip the rental car.
One correction on the guide: the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum shares a campus with the Arts Center and both close at 5, but the Contemporary wing is closed Mondays and the free courtyard shows are usually Thursday nights, not Friday. Worth calling ahead either way.
The guide's timing on the Riparian Preserve is worth adjusting. Going at sunset is nice but you'll miss the best part, which is the viewing blind on the north side near the water recharge ponds. That's where the great egrets and black-crowned night herons actually are, and they're most active in the first hour after sunrise, not dusk. I've been there at 6am in October and counted over thirty species before 8. If you only have one slot, take the morning one.
One thing the itinerary doesn't flag is the reservation situation at The Cutting Board. It's small, maybe a dozen tables, and spring training plus a Friday means you're looking at a two week lead time, not a day-of call. Los Dos Molinos is the better walk-in bet if you decide last minute, just know the salsa is genuinely hot, not Arizona-hot.
solid writeup, the nile cafe rec is spot on, that place has been there forever and the owner actually remembers regulars. one thing id add is the monsoon thing, july & august afternoons can dump rain hard around 3 or 4pm so if ur doing usery or the riparian preserve keep an eye on the sky, those washes fill up fast and ppl get stranded out there every year. also for breakfast nobody mentions it but taqueria mi casita on broadway has better chorizo & egg burritos than the pancake house for half the price, opens at 6.