Origin
Chandler, AZ
Afternoon in Chandler on Sunday
Local time
2:58 PM
MST
Current temp
91°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chandler, AZ to Catalina Foothills, AZ
Drive Time
1h 54m
Distance
96.8 mi
156 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 46m
★
6 AM
1h 54m
8 AM
2h 11m
10 AM
2h 0m
12 PM
1h 58m
3 PM
2h 1m
5 PM
2h 10m
8 PM
1h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chandler, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Catalina Foothills, AZ
Mark Direen
Trip Overview
The drive from Chandler, AZ to Catalina Foothills, AZ covers 96.8 miles and takes about 1h 54m 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-Casa Grande Highway, North Arizona Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 50 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.26 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
48.4 miles from Chandler, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 54m drive with frequent turns across 96.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 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 50 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 0.1 miles in near North Washington Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 54m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles (I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Washington Street
Turn right onto North Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
13.6 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
87.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward Orange Grove Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 250
Toward Orange Grove Road
6
87.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
|
West River Road
Turn right onto West River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / none lanes.
5
95.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
|
North Hacienda del Sol Road
Turn left onto North Hacienda del Sol Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 50 mi | 50m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 23.5 mi | 23m |
| North Arizona Avenue | 6.9 mi | 11m |
| AZ 587 | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| West River Road | 5.2 mi | 8m |
| East River Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| North Hacienda del Sol Road | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| West Orange Grove Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 50 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chandler, AZ and Catalina Foothills, AZ.
1
Start on East Chandler Boulevard
357 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Chandler Boulevard
2
Turn right onto North Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
North Washington Street
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto East Buffalo Street
393 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Buffalo Street
4
Turn left onto AZ 87
6.9 mi
·
11 min
·
North Arizona Avenue
Use the none lane.
5
Continue on AZ 587
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
AZ 587
Use the none lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
7
Merge onto I 10
24 mi
·
23 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 10
50 mi
·
50 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 250
Toward Orange Grove Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto North Casa Grande Highway
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
North Casa Grande Highway
11
Turn left onto West Orange Grove Road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
West Orange Grove Road
12
Turn right onto West River Road
5.2 mi
·
8 min
·
West River Road
Use the left / none lanes.
13
Continue on East River Road
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
East River Road
Use the none lane.
14
Turn left onto North Hacienda del Sol Road
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
North Hacienda del Sol Road
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
North Hacienda del Sol Road
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 48.4 miles from Chandler, AZ, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50 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 80 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.4 miles or 57m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Catalina Foothills, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chandler, 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 Chandler, AZ
This is one driving day of about 96.8 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chandler, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 50 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.4 mi from Chandler, AZ · 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 48.4 miles from Chandler, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Catalina Foothills, AZ
The final approach into Catalina Foothills, 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 Catalina Foothills, 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
$19.26 one way
$38.53 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $20.34 | $40.69 |
| premium | $5.59 | $21.29 | $42.58 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $21.51 | $43.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29 | 0 | $10.16 | $4.65 |
| Efficient EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.47 | $3.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.7 | 0 | $13.55 | $6.20 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Catalina Foothills, AZ
Afternoon in Catalina Foothills on Sunday
Local time
2:58 PM
MST
Current temp
54°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
37 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 54m 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 Chandler, AZ to Catalina Foothills, AZ covers 96.8 miles and takes about 1h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, North Arizona Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.4 miles from Chandler, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.26 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 54m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles (I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Chandler, AZ to Catalina Foothills, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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