Origin
Casa Grande, AZ
Morning in Casa Grande on Friday
Local time
6:33 AM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Casa Grande, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
54.5 mi
88 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Casa Grande, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Apache Junction, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Casa Grande, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ covers 54.5 miles and takes about 1h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Santan Freeway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, North Pinal Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.2 miles on Santan Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.86 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 54.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Casa Grande, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ covers 54.5 miles and takes about 1h 15m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Santan Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 16.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AZ 387 / North Pinal Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.5 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AZ 387 / North Pinal Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AZ 387 / North Pinal Avenue
Turn left onto AZ 387 / North Pinal Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
8.7 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
8
18.1 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward AZ 587 North: Chandler, Gilbert
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 175
Toward AZ 587 North: Chandler, Gilbert
7
46.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward US 60 East: Globe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 30A
Toward US 60 East: Globe
7
51.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward Ironwood Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 195
Toward Ironwood Drive
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Casa Grande, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Gilbert along the way.
Gilbert
18.1 mi in
|
~24m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santan Freeway | 16.2 mi | 18m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 9.1 mi | 9m |
| North Pinal Avenue | 7.9 mi | 13m |
| AZ 587 | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| South Arizona Avenue | 5.7 mi | 9m |
| Superstition Freeway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| South Ironwood Drive | 2 mi | 3m |
| West Apache Trail | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Santan Freeway
— 16.2 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Casa Grande, AZ and Apache Junction, AZ.
1
Start on AZ 287
33 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Gila Bend Highway
2
Turn left onto AZ 387
7.9 mi
·
13 min
·
North Pinal Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on AZ 387
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
State Route 387
4
Continue on AZ 387
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 10
9.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 175
Toward AZ 587 North: Chandler, Gilbert
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto AZ 587
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
AZ 587
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
9
Continue on AZ 87
5.7 mi
·
9 min
·
South Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop East: Santan Freeway
11
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Santan Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 30A
Toward US 60 East: Globe
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto US 60
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Superstition Freeway
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 195
Toward Ironwood Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto South Ironwood Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South Ironwood Drive
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto US 80 Hist
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Apache Trail
17
Turn slight left
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
18
Turn left onto North Apache Trail
178 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Apache Trail
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
North Apache Trail
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.2 mi from Casa Grande, AZ · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.2 miles from Casa Grande, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Apache Junction, AZ
The final approach into Apache Junction, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.86 one way
$21.71 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $11.49 | $22.98 |
| premium | $5.59 | $12.00 | $23.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.03 | $24.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.72 | $2.62 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.63 | $3.49 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Apache Junction, AZ
Morning in Apache Junction on Friday
Local time
6:33 AM
MST
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
28 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 15m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Casa Grande, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ covers 54.5 miles and takes about 1h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Santan Freeway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, North Pinal Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.2 miles from Casa Grande, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.86 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.5 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AZ 387 / North Pinal Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Casa Grande, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Gilbert along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Tonto National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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