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Mesa
Elevated area of land with a flat top and sides, usually much wider than buttes

Mesa

A mesa is an isolated, flat-topped elevation, ridge, or hill, bounded from all sides by steep escarpments and standing distinctly above a surrounding plain.

Plan a trip to Mesa→

Mesas consist of flat-lying soft sedimentary rocks, such as shales, capped by a resistant layer of harder rock, like sandstone or limestone, forming a caprock that protects the flat summit. The caprock may also include dissected lava flows or eroded duricrust.

Get in

Getting to Mesa

If you happen to be coming from an "easterly" direction (a.k.a. New Mexico), that means you'll probably be taking US-60 (the Superstition Freeway) right through the 17 exits that comprise Mesa, as part of the Greater Phoenix metropolitan area. SR-87 connects Tonto National Forest (in the NE) through the Salt River-Pima-Marico Indian Community, Mesa and Chandler, towards I-10 in Sweet Water Village.

  1. 01
    Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport
  2. 02
    Falcon Field
  3. 03
    Gilbert Rd/Main St Station in Mesa

    There's a transit center next to the Gilbert Rd/Main St Station served by the 40 & 45 buses.

  4. 04
    Greyhound

    1423 N Country Club Dr #7, toll-free: +1-800-231-2222.

See

Worth seeing

  1. 01
    Mesa Historical Museum

    This rapidly growing museum, split between two buildings, features displays of the different phases of Mesa's history.

  2. 02
    Mesa Arts Center

    This uniquely designed building in downtown Mesa features theatres, art galleries, and contemporary public art spaces.

  3. 03
    Mesa Arizona Temple

    This unique, historic building opened in 1927.

  4. 04
    Arizona Museum of Natural History

    Tue-Fri 10AM-5PM, Sat 11AM-5PM, Sun 1-5PM.

  5. 05
    Commemorative Air Force Museum

    2017 N Greenfield Rd, wingleader@azcaf.org.

  6. 06
    Mesa Grande Cultural Park

    Thu Fri 10AM-4PM, Sat 11AM-4PM, Sun noon-4PM.

Do

Things to do

  1. 01
    Jake's Unlimited
  2. 02
    Golfland Sunsplash
  3. 03
    Cactus League Spring Training

    A treat for baseball fans happens every spring with the Cactus League Spring Training games happening all over Phoenix and Tucson.

  4. 04
    Fighter Combat International

    Fly an actual dogfight mission in the cockpit of a jet.

  5. 05
    Desert Belle Paddleboat Cruises

    90-minute cruises aboard the desert belle paddleboat on Saguaro Lake which is known for towering canyon walls, wildlife, and desert/mountain vistas.

  6. 06
    Park of the Canals

    This 31 acres (13 hectares) park includes evidence of ancient Hohokam Indian canals dating back to 700B.C.

Eat

Where to eat

  1. 01
    Baby Kay's Cajun Kitchen

    Camelback area local Cajun cuisine restaurant featuring po boys and, in season, crawfish boils on Wednesday nights.

  2. 02
    Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill

    Homemade tortillas, huge burritos, addicting taco salads with spicy avocado ranch dressing.

  3. 03
    Pete's Fish and Chips

    Eight other locations in the Phoenix Valley.

  4. 04
    Ned's Krazy Sub

    1927 N Gilbert Rd,.

  5. 05
    Steve's Krazy Sub

    1211 N Country Club Dr,.

How locals move

Getting around Mesa the local way

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From Wikivoyage: Mesa, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.