Origin
Catalina Foothills, AZ
Morning in Catalina Foothills on Thursday
Local time
6:22 AM
MST
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 3m
Distance
258.2 mi
415 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$51
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 51m
★
6 AM
4h 4m
8 AM
4h 30m
10 AM
4h 13m
12 PM
4h 10m
3 PM
4h 14m
5 PM
4h 28m
8 PM
3h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Catalina Foothills, AZ
Mark Direen
Flagstaff, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ covers 258.2 miles and takes about 4h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East River Road, West Orange Grove Road, North Casa Grande Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $51.44 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
129.1 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 3m. Total distance: 258.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 3m drive with frequent turns across 258.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East River Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 3m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East River Road | — | — |
| West Orange Grove Road | — | — |
| North Casa Grande Highway | — | — |
| I 10 West | — | — |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | — | — |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | — | — |
| Maricopa Freeway | — | — |
| Black Canyon Freeway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East River Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Catalina Foothills, AZ and Flagstaff, AZ.
1
Start on North Hacienda del Sol Road
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
North Hacienda del Sol Road
2
Turn right onto East River Road
7.7 mi
·
13 min
·
East River Road
3
Turn left onto West Orange Grove Road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
West Orange Grove Road
4
Turn right onto North Casa Grande Highway
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
North Casa Grande Highway
5
Take the ramp slight left toward I 10 West
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 10 West
6
Merge slight left onto Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
50 mi
·
50 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
7
Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
8
Continue on Maricopa Freeway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
9
Keep slight right to continue on Maricopa Freeway
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
10
Continue on Black Canyon Freeway
41 mi
·
45 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
11
Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
8.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
12
Continue on Arizona Veterans Highway
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
13
Keep slight left to continue on Arizona Veterans Highway
77 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
14
Continue on Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
15
Continue on Arizona Veterans Highway
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
16
Continue on South Milton Road
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
South Milton Road
17
Continue on West Historic Route 66
449 ft
·
14 sec
·
West Historic Route 66
18
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 129.1 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 57 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.1 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Flagstaff, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Catalina Foothills, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Catalina Foothills, AZ
This is one driving day of about 258.2 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 129.1 mi from Catalina Foothills, AZ · 2h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
129 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 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 129.1 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Flagstaff, AZ
The final approach into Flagstaff, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Flagstaff, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.44 one way
$102.87 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
90 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $54.44 | $108.87 |
| premium | $5.59 | $56.83 | $113.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $57.01 | $114.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.5 | 0 | $27.11 | $12.39 |
| Efficient EV | 64.6 | 0 | $22.59 | $10.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103.3 | 1 | $36.15 | $16.52 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Flagstaff, AZ
Morning in Flagstaff on Thursday
Local time
6:22 AM
MST
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
9 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 3m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ covers 258.2 miles and takes about 4h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East River Road, West Orange Grove Road, North Casa Grande Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 129.1 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $51.44 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 3m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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Return Trip
Flagstaff, AZ to Catalina Foothills, AZPlan the drive back the other way.
257 mi
4h 36m
Continue From Flagstaff, AZ
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