Arizona · United States
Mesa travel guide
Mesa is a city in Arizona, United States, home to about 504,000 people.
- Best months
- November to March
- Nearest airport
- PHX16 km · Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
- Currency
- USDUnited States dollar
- Time zone
- America/Phoenix
- Language
- Carolinian, Chamorro, Hawaiian
About
About Mesa
Mesa ( MAY-sə) is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. The population was 504,258 at the 2020 census.
Mesa was founded in January 1878 by Latter-day Saint or LDS (often nicknamed Mormon) pioneers and its population is still roughly one-tenth Mormon. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints operates one of its oldest temples in Mesa (the Mesa Arizona Temple, opened in 1927), and the city is a hub for Latter-day Saints residing in the Phoenix Metro area. Mesa is one of the United States' fastest-growing cities and ranks as the 38th-largest.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Mesa
See
- Mesa Historical Museum
- Mesa Arts Center
- Mesa Arizona Temple
- i.d.e.a. Museum
- Arizona Museum of Natural History
- Commemorative Air Force Museum
- Mesa Grande Cultural Park
- Mesa Community College Arboretum
Do
- Jake's Unlimited
- Golfland Sunsplash
- Cactus League Spring Training
- Fighter Combat International
- 2nd Friday Night Out
- Desert Belle Paddleboat Cruises
- Park of the Canals
- Rose Garden at Mesa Community College
- Saguaro Lake Ranch Trail Rides
- Salt River Tubing and Recreation
- Tonto National Forest, Mesa District
- Arizona Fall League
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Mesa
2 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West | 4.7 km | |
| Wekopa Casino Resort | 23.2 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Mesa
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Mesa are November to March. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 41 °C; August is the wettest, with about 33 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Mesa: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), about 16 km from the city centre in a straight line; Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA, 20 km) and Prescott Regional Airport - Ernest A. Love Field (PRC, 148 km) are also within reach.
Getting around
Mesa is laid out on a straightforward north-south, east-west grid pattern as regards its major streets. Center Street and Main Street are perpendicular to each other and, as suits their names, intersect in the city center in a manner that provides an excellent reference point and makes city navigation relatively easy.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
PHX · Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
AZA · Mesa Gateway Airport
PRC · Prescott Regional Airport - Ernest A. Love Field
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Mesa
Stay safe
Mesa has a fairly high crime rate compared to some other American cities, but most of it is property crime of more concern to residents than to visitors.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Mesa: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Mesa?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Mesa are November to March. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 41 °C; August is the wettest, with about 33 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Mesa?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), about 16 km from the city centre in a straight line; Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA, 20 km) and Prescott Regional Airport - Ernest A. Love Field (PRC, 148 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Mesa?
United States dollar (USD).
Nearby
Destinations near Mesa
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.