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Trip from Catalina, AZ to Chandler, AZ

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 55m

Distance

85.9 mi

138 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 47m ★
6 AM
1h 55m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 11m
8 PM
1h 50m

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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Downtown Catalina, AZ, AZ

Catalina, AZ

Allie

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Chandler, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Catalina, AZ to Chandler, AZ covers 85.9 miles and takes about 1h 55m 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, Junction I-10-Mesa Highway, Florence-Coolidge Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.9 miles on Pinal Pioneer Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.74 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

42.9 miles from Catalina, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .

About the Cities

Arriving in Chandler, AZ

Full guide →

Chandler is a city in Arizona, and a medium-sized suburb of Phoenix with over 240,000 residents. It is a delightful place to visit.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 85.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (78%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 55m highway drive covering 85.9 miles, with most of the trip on Pinal Pioneer Parkway and Junction I-10-Mesa Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 35.9 miles on Pinal Pioneer Parkway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pinal Pioneer Parkway and Junction I-10-Mesa Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near AZ 77 / Tucson-Globe Highway.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 55m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (AZ 77 / Tucson-Globe Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (AZ 79; US 80 Hist / State Route 79): Lane positioning matters here; at 46 miles (AZ 287 / Florence-Coolidge Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.9 mi into trip | ~3m in | AZ 77 / Tucson-Globe Highway

Turn right onto AZ 77 / Tucson-Globe Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
4.1 mi into trip | ~7m 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
46 mi into trip | ~57m in | AZ 287 / Florence-Coolidge Highway

Enter roundabout onto AZ 287 / Florence-Coolidge Highway

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
78.8 mi into trip | ~1h 42m in | AZ 87 / South Arizona Avenue

Turn right onto AZ 87 / South Arizona Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
85.8 mi into trip | ~1h 55m in | East Chandler Boulevard

Turn right onto East Chandler Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pinal Pioneer Parkway 35.9 mi 41m
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway 24.7 mi 33m
Florence-Coolidge Highway 8.1 mi 11m
South Arizona Avenue 7 mi 12m
South Pinal Parkway Avenue 5 mi 6m
Tucson-Globe Highway 3.2 mi 4m
AZ 79 Bus 0.7 mi 1m
State Route 79 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Pinal Pioneer Parkway — 35.9 mi, about 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Catalina, AZ and Chandler, AZ.

1

Start on East Pinto Place

491 ft · 27 sec · East Pinto Place
2

Turn left onto North Elkins Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Elkins Road
3

At end of road, turn left onto Edwin Road

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Edwin Road
4

Turn left onto Eagle Crest Ranch Boulevard

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Eagle Crest Ranch Boulevard
5

Turn right onto AZ 77

3.2 mi · 4 min · Tucson-Globe Highway
Use the right lane.
6

Turn left onto AZ 79; US 80 Hist

0.4 mi · 28 sec · State Route 79
Use the left lane.
7

Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist

36 mi · 41 min · Pinal Pioneer Parkway
8

Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist

5.0 mi · 6 min · South Pinal Parkway Avenue
9

Turn left onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist

0.6 mi · 1 min · AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
10

Enter roundabout onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist

119 ft · 2 sec · AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
11

Continue on AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist

407 ft · 7 sec · AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
12

Enter roundabout onto AZ 287

260 ft · 4 sec · Florence-Coolidge Highway
13

Continue on AZ 287

8.1 mi · 11 min · Florence-Coolidge Highway
14

Continue on AZ 87

25 mi · 33 min · Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
15

Continue on AZ 87; BIA 56

226 ft · 7 sec · East Hunt Highway
Use the left lane.
16

Turn right onto AZ 87

7.0 mi · 12 min · South Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
17

Turn right onto East Chandler Boulevard

47 ft · 0 sec · East Chandler Boulevard
Use the right lane.
18

Arrive at destination

East Chandler Boulevard

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 42.9 miles from Catalina, AZ, or about 52m 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 19 miles or 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 42.9 miles or 52m 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 34m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chandler, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Catalina, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Catalina, AZ

This is one driving day of about 85.9 miles and 1h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Catalina, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 42.9 mi from Catalina, AZ · 52m into the drive

town in and county seat of Pinal County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Florence, AZ

43 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

Florence, AZ to Chandler, AZ

40.6 mi · 59m

Pacing Suggestions

Tortolita, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Florence, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42.9 miles from Catalina, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Chandler, AZ

The final approach into Chandler, 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.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

National Monument

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...

1 mi from route ~3 min detour Free near mile 53.3
View on nps.gov
Saguaro National Park

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...

23 mi from route ~57 min detour $25
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.74 one way

$33.49 round trip

$4.95/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.34 $18.05 $36.11
premium $5.57 $18.82 $37.65
diesel $6.37 $21.53 $43.06

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: 30.1 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.8 0 $9.02 $4.12
Efficient EV 21.5 0 $7.52 $3.44
EV Truck/SUV 34.4 0 $12.03 $5.50

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Catalina, AZ

Late night in Catalina on Saturday

Local time

3:24 AM

MST

Current temp

86°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chandler, AZ

Late night in Chandler on Saturday

Local time

3:24 AM

MST

Current temp

90°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

89°F

Florence, AZ

43 mi in

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

4 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 55m 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, AZ to Chandler, AZ covers 85.9 miles and takes about 1h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Pinal Pioneer Parkway, Junction I-10-Mesa Highway, Florence-Coolidge Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 42.9 miles from Catalina, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.74 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 55m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (AZ 77 / Tucson-Globe Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (AZ 79; US 80 Hist / State Route 79): Lane positioning matters here; at 46 miles (AZ 287 / Florence-Coolidge Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

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

Yes. Nearby national parks include Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Saguaro National Park.

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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Chandler, AZ to Catalina, AZ

Plan the drive back the other way.

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