Origin
Catalina Foothills, AZ
Late night in Catalina Foothills on Wednesday
Local time
5:24 AM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Catalina Foothills, AZ to San Tan Valley, AZ
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 6m
Distance
87.1 mi
140 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 58m
★
6 AM
2h 7m
8 AM
2h 25m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 11m
3 PM
2h 14m
5 PM
2h 24m
8 PM
2h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Catalina Foothills, AZ
Mark Direen
San Tan Valley, AZ
Mark Direen
Trip Overview
The drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to San Tan Valley, AZ covers 87.1 miles and takes about 2h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pinal Pioneer Parkway, East Hunt Highway, North Oracle Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.9 miles on Pinal Pioneer Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.35 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
43.6 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to San Tan Valley, AZ covers 87.1 miles and takes about 2h 6m, 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 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pinal Pioneer Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 35.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 6.2 miles in near AZ 77; US 80 Hist / North Oracle Road.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 6m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.2 miles (AZ 77; US 80 Hist / North Oracle Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles (AZ 79; US 80 Hist / State Route 79): Lane positioning matters here; at 66.5 miles (East Hunt Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
6.2 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
AZ 77; US 80 Hist / North Oracle Road
Turn right onto AZ 77; US 80 Hist / North Oracle Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
22.4 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
AZ 79; US 80 Hist / State Route 79
Turn left onto AZ 79; US 80 Hist / State Route 79
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
66.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
East Hunt Highway
Turn left onto East Hunt Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
80.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
|
North Gantzel Road
Turn right onto North Gantzel Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
82.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
East Bella Vista Road
Turn right onto East Bella Vista Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pinal Pioneer Parkway | 35.9 mi | 41m |
| East Hunt Highway | 14.4 mi | 21m |
| North Oracle Road | 13 mi | 20m |
| South Pinal Parkway Avenue | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| Tucson-Globe Highway | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| East Skyline Drive | 3 mi | 5m |
| East Bella Vista Road | 2 mi | 5m |
| North Sierra Vista Drive | 2 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Pinal Pioneer Parkway
— 35.9 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Catalina Foothills, AZ and San Tan Valley, AZ.
1
Start on North Hacienda del Sol Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Hacienda del Sol Road
2
Turn straight onto East Sunrise Drive
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
East Sunrise Drive
3
Continue on East Sunrise Drive
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Sunrise Drive
4
Continue on East Skyline Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East Skyline Drive
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on East Ina Road
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
East Ina Road
Use the right lane.
6
Turn right onto AZ 77; US 80 Hist
13 mi
·
20 min
·
North Oracle Road
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on AZ 77
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Tucson-Globe Highway
8
Turn left onto AZ 79; US 80 Hist
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
State Route 79
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist
36 mi
·
41 min
·
Pinal Pioneer Parkway
10
Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
South Pinal Parkway Avenue
11
Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
North Pinal Parkway
12
Turn left onto East Hunt Highway
14 mi
·
21 min
·
East Hunt Highway
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto North Gantzel Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Gantzel Road
Use the right lane.
14
Turn right onto East Bella Vista Road
2.0 mi
·
5 min
·
East Bella Vista Road
15
Turn left onto North Sierra Vista Drive
2.0 mi
·
6 min
·
North Sierra Vista Drive
16
Turn left onto East Skyline Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Skyline Drive
17
Arrive at destination
East Skyline Drive
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.6 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.9 miles.
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 80 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.6 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Tan Valley, 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 87.1 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Pinal Pioneer Parkway for about 35.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.6 mi from Catalina Foothills, AZ · 1h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.6 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in San Tan Valley, AZ
The final approach into San Tan Valley, 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 San Tan Valley, 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
$17.35 one way
$34.70 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $18.36 | $36.73 |
| premium | $5.59 | $19.17 | $38.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.23 | $38.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.15 | $4.18 |
| Efficient EV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.62 | $3.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.8 | 0 | $12.19 | $5.57 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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
San Tan Valley, AZ
Late night in San Tan Valley on Wednesday
Local time
5:24 AM
MST
Current temp
90°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
36 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
2h 6m 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 Catalina Foothills, AZ to San Tan Valley, AZ covers 87.1 miles and takes about 2h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pinal Pioneer Parkway, East Hunt Highway, North Oracle Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.6 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 $17.35 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 is a straightforward 2h 6m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.2 miles (AZ 77; US 80 Hist / North Oracle Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles (AZ 79; US 80 Hist / State Route 79): Lane positioning matters here; at 66.5 miles (East Hunt Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Catalina Foothills, AZ to San Tan Valley, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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