The drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Maricopa, AZ covers 99.2 miles and takes about 1h 58m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix Bypass Route, South John Wayne Parkway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.8 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.76 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
49.6 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 99.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 58m drive with frequent turns across 99.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 49.8 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near East River Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 58m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (East River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in|East River Road
Turn right onto East River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
9.7 mi into trip|~17m in|I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
59.5 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward I 8 West: San Diego
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 199
Toward I 8 West: San Diego
5
76.7 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward Stanfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 161
Toward Stanfield
6
85.5 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|AZ 347 / South John Wayne Parkway
Turn right onto AZ 347 / South John Wayne Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Maricopa, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Stanfield along the way.
Stanfield
76.7 mi in|~1h 25m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
49.8 mi
50m
Phoenix Bypass Route
16.8 mi
16m
South John Wayne Parkway
13.1 mi
15m
East River Road
7.7 mi
13m
Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
4.6 mi
6m
Stanfield Road
3.4 mi
8m
North Hacienda del Sol Road
1.3 mi
3m
North John Wayne Parkway
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 49.8 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Catalina Foothills, AZ and Maricopa, 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
Use the left lane.
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
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 10 West
6
Merge onto I 10
50 mi·50 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·35 sec
Exit 199Toward I 8 West: San Diego
8
Continue on I 8
17 mi·16 min·Phoenix Bypass Route
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 161Toward Stanfield
10
Turn right onto BIA 42
3.4 mi·8 min·Stanfield Road
11
Turn left onto AZ 84
0.5 mi·51 sec·Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
12
Continue on AZ 84
0.5 mi·41 sec·Arizona Drive
13
Continue on AZ 84
4.1 mi·6 min·Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
14
Turn right onto AZ 347
13 mi·15 min·South John Wayne Parkway
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on AZ 347
0.5 mi·43 sec·North John Wayne Parkway
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
AZ 347
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 49.6 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.8 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 22 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.6 miles or 58m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maricopa, 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 99.2 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 49.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 49.6 mi from Catalina Foothills, AZ
· 58m into the drive
The midpoint is around 49.6 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Maricopa, AZ
The final approach into Maricopa, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Saguaro National Park
National Park
Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are pr...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
$25
Park Closure: Red Hills Visitor Center (TMD) theater closed for repairs
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 61.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.76 one way
$39.52 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$20.91
$41.83
premium
$5.59
$21.84
$43.67
diesel
$5.61
$21.90
$43.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.8
0
$10.42
$4.76
Efficient EV
24.8
0
$8.68
$3.97
EV Truck/SUV
39.7
0
$13.89
$6.35
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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 Saturday
Local time
7:04 AM
MST
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Maricopa, AZ
Morning
in Maricopa on Saturday
Local time
7:04 AM
MST
Current temp
57°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
2 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 58m 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 Maricopa, AZ covers 99.2 miles and takes about 1h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix Bypass Route, South John Wayne Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49.6 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 $19.76 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 1h 58m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (East River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Maricopa, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Stanfield along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Saguaro National Park and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
