Mesa Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Mesa

Located in Maricopa County, Arizona, Mesa is the third-most populous city in the state and the largest municipality in the East Valley region of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Spanning nearly 139 square miles, the city is bordered by Tempe to the west, Apache Junction to the east, Chandler, Gilbert, and Queen Creek to the south, and the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community to the north. Center Street bisects the city into East and West Mesa. Set within the Sonoran Desert, Mesa experiences a hot desert climate characterized by mild winters and very hot summers.

Human history in the region dates back at least 2,000 years to the Hohokam culture, who built sophisticated canal networks spanning hundreds of miles across the desert. In the late nineteenth century, Mormon pioneers arrived from Utah and Idaho, establishing early settlements like Lehi and incorporating Mesa City in 1883 while utilizing and expanding the ancient irrigation systems. The opening of military aviation grounds such as Falcon Field in the early 1940s—originally used to train British pilots in World War II—alongside mid-century industrial growth, tourism, and air conditioning, propelled the community's transition from an agricultural base into a major urban center.

Mesa features a range of cultural institutions, archaeological sites, and historic landmarks. The Mesa Arts Center houses performance venues alongside the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, while additional educational exhibits can be found at the Arizona Museum of Natural History, the Mesa Historical Museum, and the i.d.e.a. Museum. Historic and sacred sites include the Mesa Arizona Temple, the Mesa Grande Ruins, and the Park of the Canals. Aviation heritage is on display at CAF Airbase Arizona at Falcon Field, while other local attractions include the Golfland Sunsplash waterpark and Organ Stop Pizza, which features a historic Wurlitzer organ.

Outdoor recreation and sports are prominent across Mesa's 2,280 acres of municipal parkland, anchored by the 1,146-acre Red Mountain Park, the 320-acre Legacy Park recreation complex, and local golf destinations like the Mesa Country Club. Baseball fans gather at Sloan Park and Hohokam Stadium for Cactus League spring training games. Major retail districts include Mesa Riverview and Superstition Springs Center. The city is accessible via several major freeways, including U.S. Route 60 and Loops 101 and 202, and is served by public transit through Valley Metro buses and light rail, as well as air travel through Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.