Trip from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 47m

Distance

108.1 mi

174 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min

4 AM

1h 40m ★

6 AM

1h 48m

8 AM

2h 4m

10 AM

1h 53m

12 PM

1h 52m

3 PM

1h 54m

5 PM

2h 3m

8 PM

1h 43m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ covers 108.1 miles and takes about 1h 47m 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 $21.53 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.

Midpoint

54 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 108.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 47m 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 1h 47m drive with frequent turns across 108.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 15 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ is easy. At 1h 47m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Tempe Junction, 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	—	—
Baseline Road	—	—

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 Tempe Junction, 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

5.8 mi · 6 min · Maricopa Freeway

9

Take the exit slight right toward Baseline Road

0.3 mi · 45 sec · Baseline Road

10

Turn right onto West Baseline Road

0.2 mi · 35 sec · West Baseline Road

11

Turn left onto South Priest Drive

2.0 mi · 4 min · South Priest Drive

12

Turn right onto West Broadway Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Broadway Road

13

Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Roosevelt Street

14

At the end of the road, turn right onto West 13th Street

0.3 mi · 48 sec · West 13th Street

15

Arrive at your destination

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 54 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ, or about 53m 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 24 miles or 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 54 miles or 53m 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 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tempe Junction, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Catalina Foothills, AZ

This is one driving day of about 108.1 miles and 1h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 54 mi from Catalina Foothills, AZ · 53m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Eloy, AZ

54 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.

Popular next leg

Eloy, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ

58.4 mi · 1h 6m

Pacing Suggestions

Flowing Wells, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Eloy, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 54 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Tempe Junction, AZ

The final approach into Tempe 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

$21.53 one way

$43.07 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 38 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.36	$22.79	$45.58
premium	$5.59	$23.79	$47.59
diesel	$5.61	$23.87	$47.73

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 37.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	32.4	$11.35	$5.19
Efficient EV	27	$9.46	$4.32
EV Truck/SUV	43.2	$15.13	$6.92

Gas CO2

38 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Catalina Foothills, AZ

Morning in Catalina Foothills on Thursday

Local time

9:22 AM

MST

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tempe Junction, AZ

Morning in Tempe Junction on Thursday

Local time

9:22 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

35 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

1h 47m 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 Tempe Junction, AZ covers 108.1 miles and takes about 1h 47m 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 54 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 $21.53 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.

The drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ is easy. At 1h 47m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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