Origin
Catalina, AZ
Afternoon in Catalina on Thursday
Local time
4:10 PM
MST
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Catalina, AZ to Yuma, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 34m
Distance
237.7 mi
383 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 22m
★
6 AM
3h 35m
8 AM
3h 59m
10 AM
3h 43m
12 PM
3h 41m
3 PM
3h 45m
5 PM
3h 58m
8 PM
3h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Catalina, AZ
Allie
Yuma, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Catalina, AZ to Yuma, AZ covers 237.7 miles and takes about 3h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Elkins Road, East Stallion Lane, East Pinal Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.35 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
118.9 miles from Catalina, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 34m. Total distance: 237.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m 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 3h 34m drive with frequent turns across 237.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Elkins 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.
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 3h 34m 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, AZ to Yuma, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Elkins Road | — | — |
| East Stallion Lane | — | — |
| East Pinal Street | — | — |
| North Oracle Road | — | — |
| East Tangerine Road | — | — |
| North Casa Grande Highway | — | — |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | — | — |
| I 8 West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Elkins Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Catalina, AZ and Yuma, AZ.
1
Start on East Pinto Place
492 ft
·
24 sec
·
East Pinto Place
2
Turn right onto North Elkins Road
499 ft
·
24 sec
·
North Elkins Road
3
Turn right onto East Stallion Lane
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
East Stallion Lane
4
Turn left
413 ft
·
31 sec
5
Turn right onto East Pinal Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Pinal Street
6
Turn left onto North Oracle Road
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
North Oracle Road
7
Turn right onto East Tangerine Road
13 mi
·
21 min
·
East Tangerine Road
8
Turn right onto North Casa Grande Highway
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
North Casa Grande Highway
9
Take the ramp straight
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
10
Merge slight left onto Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
40 mi
·
40 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 8 West: San Diego
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 8 West: San Diego
12
Continue on Phoenix Bypass Route
59 mi
·
58 min
·
Phoenix Bypass Route
13
Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway
119 mi
·
2 hr 2 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
14
Take the exit slight right toward Giss Parkway
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Giss Parkway
15
Keep slight left
190 ft
·
5 sec
16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Harold C Giss Parkway
249 ft
·
5 sec
·
Harold C Giss Parkway
17
Exit the rotary onto Harold C Giss Parkway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Harold C Giss Parkway
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Harold C Giss Parkway
121 ft
·
2 sec
·
Harold C Giss Parkway
19
Exit the roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Harold C Giss Parkway
20
Turn right onto South 4th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
South 4th Avenue
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 118.9 miles from Catalina, AZ, or about 1h 47m 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 52 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.9 miles or 1h 47m 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 55m
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, 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, AZ
This is one driving day of about 237.7 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Catalina, 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 118.9 mi from Catalina, AZ · 1h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
119 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 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 118.9 miles from Catalina, 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
$47.35 one way
$94.71 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
83 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $50.11 | $100.23 |
| premium | $5.59 | $52.32 | $104.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $52.48 | $104.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 71.3 | 0 | $24.96 | $11.41 |
| Efficient EV | 59.4 | 0 | $20.80 | $9.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 95.1 | 1 | $33.28 | $15.21 |
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% 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 Thursday
Local time
4:10 PM
MST
Current temp
87°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
1 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 34m 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 Yuma, AZ covers 237.7 miles and takes about 3h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Elkins Road, East Stallion Lane, East Pinal Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 118.9 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 $47.35 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 34m 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, AZ to Yuma, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Catalina, AZ to Yuma, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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