Mesa

Mesa, population 518,000 (2019), is in Maricopa County. It is Arizona's third-largest city, and is part of the Greater Phoenix urban complex.

Understand
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. The city has a larger population than better-known United States cities such as Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Saint Louis and Saint Paul.

Although it has a large population, Mesa is a "bedroom community." Neighborhoods across the city are diverse — some areas have experienced urban blight, while others contain elaborate custom homes.



By car

 * US 60.svg 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.
 * Arizona 87.svg 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. It goes north-south through Mesa as Country Club Dr.
 * Arizona 101.svg State Route (SR) 101 goes north-south between Scottsdale and Chandler. It divides Tempe from Mesa.
 * Arizona 202.svg SR-202 loops around the northern and eastern edge of Mesa, from it junction with SR-101 in the NW corner of Mesa to its junction with US Hwy 60 east of Mesa. Going west of SR-101 the 202 goes alongside the Salt River, along the northern edge of Tempe towards Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
 * There are various east-west roads (Rio Salado, Apache Blvd/Main St, Broadway Rd, Southern Ave) connecting Tempe to Mesa which are not designated as a state or US Highway except Apache Blvd/Main St which was US Highway 60 before the Superstition Freeway (present US 60) was built.

By plane

 * Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is to the west of Mesa and is the major air hub for all of Arizona and the southwestern United States. Flights arrive and depart to domestic and international destinations. If you're prone to airsickness, try to get flights into this airport that arrive either before noon or after sundown, particularly during late spring and early summer. The high elevation, hot sun, and spring winds combine to produce thermals that can make afternoon arrivals an extremely bumpy proposition.

By train
The Valley Metro Light Rail runs through Mesa along Main St, connecting to Tempe and Downtown Phoenix. It begins/ends at the in Mesa. There's a transit center next to the Gilbert Rd/Main St Station served by the 40 & 45 buses. The 136 bus passes by along Gilbert Rd and does not go into the transit center. From Sky Harbor Airport, take the PHX Sky Train (people-mover) to the light rail station. (44th St/Washington Station).

By bus

 * Valley Metro buses pass through Mesa on multiple routes, connecting Mesa into the neighboring cities of Tempe, Chandler and Gilbert.
 * Valley Metro buses pass through Mesa on multiple routes, connecting Mesa into the neighboring cities of Tempe, Chandler and Gilbert.

Get 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.

See



 * Mesa Temple Visitors' Center, 455 E. Main St. The center includes a children’s play area, with interactive activities; a hang out room for teens; a community section, with displays explaining the city's diverse history and spiritual heritage built by Native Americans, Hispanic migrants and Mormon pioneers. There is also a coloring wall, an interactive justserve.org screen to locate local community service opportunities, a 3D-scale model of the temple, and a display where visitors learn more about God and Jesus Christ. In addition, there is a family research area with computer workstations and helpers where guests can work at their own pace researching, adding to their family history and connecting their family tree. Free admission. Open daily 10AM-9PM.
 * Mesa Temple Visitors' Center, 455 E. Main St. The center includes a children’s play area, with interactive activities; a hang out room for teens; a community section, with displays explaining the city's diverse history and spiritual heritage built by Native Americans, Hispanic migrants and Mormon pioneers. There is also a coloring wall, an interactive justserve.org screen to locate local community service opportunities, a 3D-scale model of the temple, and a display where visitors learn more about God and Jesus Christ. In addition, there is a family research area with computer workstations and helpers where guests can work at their own pace researching, adding to their family history and connecting their family tree. Free admission. Open daily 10AM-9PM.
 * Mesa Temple Visitors' Center, 455 E. Main St. The center includes a children’s play area, with interactive activities; a hang out room for teens; a community section, with displays explaining the city's diverse history and spiritual heritage built by Native Americans, Hispanic migrants and Mormon pioneers. There is also a coloring wall, an interactive justserve.org screen to locate local community service opportunities, a 3D-scale model of the temple, and a display where visitors learn more about God and Jesus Christ. In addition, there is a family research area with computer workstations and helpers where guests can work at their own pace researching, adding to their family history and connecting their family tree. Free admission. Open daily 10AM-9PM.
 * Mesa Temple Visitors' Center, 455 E. Main St. The center includes a children’s play area, with interactive activities; a hang out room for teens; a community section, with displays explaining the city's diverse history and spiritual heritage built by Native Americans, Hispanic migrants and Mormon pioneers. There is also a coloring wall, an interactive justserve.org screen to locate local community service opportunities, a 3D-scale model of the temple, and a display where visitors learn more about God and Jesus Christ. In addition, there is a family research area with computer workstations and helpers where guests can work at their own pace researching, adding to their family history and connecting their family tree. Free admission. Open daily 10AM-9PM.

Annual events

 * Mesa Temple Christmas Lights, 101 S. LeSueur. Hundreds of thousands of lights and Biblical displays adorn the north lawn and gardens of the Mesa Arizona Temple. This free event, which started in 1979, starts each year on the day after Thanksgiving and runs through New Year's Eve. The lights are on every night from 5 to 10PM. During the season, an International Nativity Display featuring more than 150 nativity scenes from around the world (many handcrafted) is held at the Visitors' Center at the northeast corner of the temple lot. Both events are free and free parking is available nearby.
 * Mesa Temple Christmas Lights, 101 S. LeSueur. Hundreds of thousands of lights and Biblical displays adorn the north lawn and gardens of the Mesa Arizona Temple. This free event, which started in 1979, starts each year on the day after Thanksgiving and runs through New Year's Eve. The lights are on every night from 5 to 10PM. During the season, an International Nativity Display featuring more than 150 nativity scenes from around the world (many handcrafted) is held at the Visitors' Center at the northeast corner of the temple lot. Both events are free and free parking is available nearby.
 * Mesa Temple Christmas Lights, 101 S. LeSueur. Hundreds of thousands of lights and Biblical displays adorn the north lawn and gardens of the Mesa Arizona Temple. This free event, which started in 1979, starts each year on the day after Thanksgiving and runs through New Year's Eve. The lights are on every night from 5 to 10PM. During the season, an International Nativity Display featuring more than 150 nativity scenes from around the world (many handcrafted) is held at the Visitors' Center at the northeast corner of the temple lot. Both events are free and free parking is available nearby.
 * Mesa Temple Christmas Lights, 101 S. LeSueur. Hundreds of thousands of lights and Biblical displays adorn the north lawn and gardens of the Mesa Arizona Temple. This free event, which started in 1979, starts each year on the day after Thanksgiving and runs through New Year's Eve. The lights are on every night from 5 to 10PM. During the season, an International Nativity Display featuring more than 150 nativity scenes from around the world (many handcrafted) is held at the Visitors' Center at the northeast corner of the temple lot. Both events are free and free parking is available nearby.
 * Mesa Temple Christmas Lights, 101 S. LeSueur. Hundreds of thousands of lights and Biblical displays adorn the north lawn and gardens of the Mesa Arizona Temple. This free event, which started in 1979, starts each year on the day after Thanksgiving and runs through New Year's Eve. The lights are on every night from 5 to 10PM. During the season, an International Nativity Display featuring more than 150 nativity scenes from around the world (many handcrafted) is held at the Visitors' Center at the northeast corner of the temple lot. Both events are free and free parking is available nearby.
 * Mesa Temple Christmas Lights, 101 S. LeSueur. Hundreds of thousands of lights and Biblical displays adorn the north lawn and gardens of the Mesa Arizona Temple. This free event, which started in 1979, starts each year on the day after Thanksgiving and runs through New Year's Eve. The lights are on every night from 5 to 10PM. During the season, an International Nativity Display featuring more than 150 nativity scenes from around the world (many handcrafted) is held at the Visitors' Center at the northeast corner of the temple lot. Both events are free and free parking is available nearby.

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.

Go next

 * Within in the Greater Phoenix area:
 * "Old Town" Scottsdale in the northeast Phoenix metropolitan area is the single most tourist friendly area in the valley.
 * Downtown Tempe has a lively night life, being a college town. Accessible by light rail.
 * Head to Phoenix – catch a show or a ballgame, or see the Phoenix Zoo or the Desert Botanical Garden.
 * There are many museums and other cultural venues in Phoenix. Accessible by light rail.


 * North of the Metro Phoenix area &mdash; on Interstate 17 North:
 * Visit the Grand Canyon – a four hours drive to the South Rim, north near Flagstaff.
 * Elsewhere north: Prescott, Sedona and Route 66.


 * South &mdash; on Interstate 10 East:
 * See South Central Arizona, with an hour-and-a-half drive to Tucson.
 * Elsewhere south: Picacho Peak State Park, Saguaro National Park, Santa Catalina Mountains.


 * West &mdash; on Interstate 10 West (via Loop 202 West):
 * Head towards the Palm Springs area in the California Desert, or continue onwards to Southern California for Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Hollywood.