Origin
Catalina Foothills, AZ
Morning in Catalina Foothills on Thursday
Local time
9:20 AM
MST
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Avondale, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 14m
Distance
128 mi
206 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 5m
★
6 AM
2h 15m
8 AM
2h 34m
10 AM
2h 21m
12 PM
2h 19m
3 PM
2h 22m
5 PM
2h 33m
8 PM
2h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Catalina Foothills, AZ
Mark Direen
Avondale, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
The drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Avondale, AZ covers 128 miles and takes about 2h 14m 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 $25.50 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
64 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 128 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 14m 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 2h 14m drive with frequent turns across 128 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 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 Avondale, AZ is easy. At 2h 14m 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 Avondale, 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 | — | — |
| AZ 202 | — | — |
| Congressman Ed Pastor 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 Avondale, 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
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 202 Loop
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
AZ 202 Loop
9
Keep slight left to continue on AZ 202 Loop West
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
AZ 202 Loop West
10
Merge slight left onto Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway
11
Take the exit slight right toward Buckeye Road
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Buckeye Road
12
Continue on South 59th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
South 59th Avenue
13
Turn left onto West Buckeye Road
8.9 mi
·
13 min
·
West Buckeye Road
14
Turn slight right onto South Dysart Road
364 ft
·
13 sec
·
South Dysart Road
15
Turn straight onto South Dysart Road
299 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Dysart Road
16
Turn left onto East Western Avenue
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
East Western Avenue
17
Turn right onto North Central Avenue
89 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Central Avenue
18
Turn right
26 ft
·
2 sec
19
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 64 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ, or about 1h 7m 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 28 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64 miles or 1h 7m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Avondale, 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 128 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 64 mi from Catalina Foothills, AZ · 1h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Avondale, AZ
The final approach into Avondale, 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 Avondale, 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
$25.50 one way
$51.00 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $26.99 | $53.97 |
| premium | $5.59 | $28.18 | $56.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.26 | $56.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.4 | 0 | $13.44 | $6.14 |
| Efficient EV | 32 | 0 | $11.20 | $5.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.2 | 0 | $17.92 | $8.19 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Avondale, AZ
Morning in Avondale on Thursday
Local time
9:20 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
2h 14m 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 Avondale, AZ covers 128 miles and takes about 2h 14m 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 64 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 $25.50 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 Avondale, AZ is easy. At 2h 14m 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 Avondale, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Avondale, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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