Origin
Catalina Foothills, AZ
Afternoon in Catalina Foothills on Sunday
Local time
4:08 PM
MST
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Yuma, AZ
Drive Time
3h 30m
Distance
239.7 mi
386 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 18m
★
6 AM
3h 31m
8 AM
3h 55m
10 AM
3h 39m
12 PM
3h 37m
3 PM
3h 41m
5 PM
3h 54m
8 PM
3h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Catalina Foothills, AZ
Mark Direen
Yuma, AZ
cottonbro studio
Trip Overview
Spanning 239.7 miles across the Desert Southwest, this trip from Catalina Foothills to Yuma takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes of driving time. Because the route is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won’t need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Budget roughly $47 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating this route involves a mix of local thoroughfares, including East River Road, West Orange Grove Road, and North Casa Grande Highway. Since you are staying within the same region, the landscape remains consistent, offering a familiar transition across the Arizona desert. It is a straightforward trip that rewards drivers who prefer a steady pace over long-haul interstate cruising.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
119.9 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 45m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul, as this route features 0% highway share. You will navigate a series of local roads that demand your attention, trading high-speed cruising for a more technical driving experience. With the longest stretch on East River Road measuring 0 miles, you should be prepared for frequent adjustments and turns throughout the journey. This lack of highway miles gives the drive a distinct local personality that feels more engaged and hands-on. By avoiding major interstates, you get a unique perspective on the desert transit that stays grounded in local infrastructure.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 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 3h 30m 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 Yuma, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East River Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Orange Grove Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Casa Grande Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 10 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 8 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Phoenix Bypass Route | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
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 Yuma, 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
Take the exit slight right toward I 8 West: San Diego
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 8 West: San Diego
8
Continue on Phoenix Bypass Route
59 mi
·
58 min
·
Phoenix Bypass Route
9
Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway
119 mi
·
2 hr 2 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit slight right toward Giss Parkway
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Giss Parkway
11
Keep slight left
190 ft
·
5 sec
12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Harold C Giss Parkway
249 ft
·
5 sec
·
Harold C Giss Parkway
13
Exit the rotary onto Harold C Giss Parkway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Harold C Giss Parkway
14
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Harold C Giss Parkway
121 ft
·
2 sec
·
Harold C Giss Parkway
15
Exit the roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Harold C Giss Parkway
16
Turn right onto South 4th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
South 4th Avenue
17
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour and 30-minute journey, plan for at least one stop to break up the turns and keep your focus sharp. Leaving early in the day is your best bet to manage the local traffic patterns effectively and reach Yuma before the heat or congestion builds up. Because you are navigating local roads exclusively, keep your GPS updated to handle the various turn-heavy segments along the way. Since this is a manageable day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time to fit your schedule without the pressure of a long-distance itinerary. Keep your $47 fuel budget in mind, and ensure you top off your tank before departing Catalina Foothills to avoid unnecessary stops on local roads.
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 119.9 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ, or about 1h 45m 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 80 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.9 miles or 1h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yuma, 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 239.7 miles and 3h 30m.
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.
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 119.9 mi from Catalina Foothills, AZ · 1h 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
120 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 119.9 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Yuma, AZ
The final approach into Yuma, 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 Yuma, 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
$47.70 one way
$95.41 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
84 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $50.37 | $100.75 |
| premium | $5.59 | $52.72 | $105.45 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $53.25 | $106.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 71.9 | 0 | $25.17 | $11.51 |
| Efficient EV | 59.9 | 0 | $20.97 | $9.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 95.9 | 1 | $33.56 | $15.34 |
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 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
Yuma, AZ
Afternoon in Yuma on Sunday
Local time
4:08 PM
MST
Current temp
59°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
5 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
3h 30m 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 Yuma, AZ covers 239.7 miles and takes about 3h 30m 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 119.9 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 $47.70 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 30m 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 Yuma, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Yuma, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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