The drive from Glendale, AZ to Catalina, AZ covers 118.7 miles and takes about 2h 27m 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, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Maricopa Freeway 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 $23.65 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
59.4 miles from Glendale, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 118.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 27m highway drive covering 118.7 miles, with most of the trip on Pinal Pioneer Parkway and Phoenix-Casa Grande 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 28 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 Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.4 miles in near US 60 / West Thomas Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 118.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.4 miles (US 60 / West Thomas Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles (US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
6.4 mi into trip|~11m in|US 60 / West Thomas Road
Turn left onto US 60 / West Thomas Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / slight left lanes.
5
6.6 mi into trip|~12m in|US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway
Turn right onto US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway
Navigation decision point
5
6.9 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward I 17 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 17 South
8
50 mi into trip|~59m in
Take the exit toward AZ 187, AZ 387: Casa Grande, Coolidge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 185
Toward AZ 187, AZ 387: Casa Grande, Coolidge
6
50.3 mi into trip|~1h in
Keep slight left at fork toward AZ 187 North, AZ 387 North: Coolidge, Florence, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AZ 187 North, AZ 387 North: Coolidge, Fl...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Glendale, AZ and Catalina, AZ, road signs point toward Coolidge, Florence and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
Coolidge
50 mi in|~59m
Florence
50.3 mi in|~1h
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
50.3 mi in|~1h
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pinal Pioneer Parkway
35.9 mi
41m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
23.1 mi
23m
Maricopa Freeway
16.3 mi
18m
Florence-Coolidge Highway
8.1 mi
11m
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
7 mi
8m
AZ 387
6.9 mi
9m
Grand Avenue
5.9 mi
10m
South Pinal Parkway Avenue
5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Pinal Pioneer Parkway
— 35.9 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glendale, AZ and Catalina, AZ.
1
Start on US 60
0.3 mi·36 sec·Grand Avenue
2
Continue on US 60
5.5 mi·9 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the exit onto US 60
0.5 mi·1 min·US 60
Toward 27th Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 60
0.2 mi·26 sec·West Thomas Road
Use the left / slight left lanes.
5
Turn right onto US 60
0.3 mi·28 sec·North Black Canyon Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 17 South
7
Merge onto I 17; US 60
3.5 mi·4 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 17; US 60
16 mi·18 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
23 mi·23 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 185Toward AZ 187, AZ 387: Casa Grande, CoolidgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
298 ft·14 sec
Toward AZ 187 North, AZ 387 North: Coolidge, Florence, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
12
Turn left onto AZ 387
0.4 mi·38 sec·Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway
13
Turn right onto AZ 387
6.9 mi·9 min·AZ 387
14
Turn right onto AZ 87
7.0 mi·8 min·Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
15
Continue on AZ 287
8.1 mi·11 min·Florence-Coolidge Highway
16
Enter roundabout onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
55 ft·1 sec·AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
17
Continue on AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
416 ft·7 sec·AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
18
Enter roundabout onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
97 ft·1 sec·AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
19
Continue on AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
0.6 mi·1 min·AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
20
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 79; US 80 Hist
5.0 mi·6 min·South Pinal Parkway Avenue
21
Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist
36 mi·41 min·Pinal Pioneer Parkway
22
Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist
0.4 mi·29 sec·State Route 79
23
Turn right onto AZ 77; US 80 Hist
3.2 mi·4 min·Tucson-Globe Highway
Use the right lane.
24
Turn left onto Eagle Crest Ranch Boulevard
0.2 mi·28 sec·Eagle Crest Ranch Boulevard
Use the left lane.
25
Turn right onto Edwin Road
0.3 mi·45 sec·Edwin Road
26
Turn right onto North Elkins Road
0.4 mi·1 min·North Elkins Road
27
Turn right onto East Pinto Place
491 ft·21 sec·East Pinto Place
28
Arrive at destination
East Pinto Place
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 59.4 miles from Glendale, AZ, or about 1h 12m 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 26 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.4 miles or 1h 12m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Catalina, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Glendale, 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 Glendale, AZ
This is one driving day of about 118.7 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Glendale, 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 59.4 mi from Glendale, AZ
· 1h 12m into the drive
The midpoint is around 59.4 miles from Glendale, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Catalina, AZ
The final approach into Catalina, 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, AZ.
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
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...
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
near mile 118.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.65 one way
$47.29 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$25.03
$50.05
premium
$5.59
$26.13
$52.26
diesel
$5.61
$26.21
$52.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.6
0
$12.46
$5.70
Efficient EV
29.7
0
$10.39
$4.75
EV Truck/SUV
47.5
0
$16.62
$7.60
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Glendale, AZ
Morning
in Glendale on Friday
Local time
10:51 AM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Catalina, AZ
Morning
in Catalina on Friday
Local time
10:51 AM
MST
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
89°F
Florence, AZ
59 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
6 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
2h 27m 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 Glendale, AZ to Catalina, AZ covers 118.7 miles and takes about 2h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pinal Pioneer Parkway, Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, Maricopa Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.4 miles from Glendale, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.65 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 demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 118.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.4 miles (US 60 / West Thomas Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles (US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Between Glendale, AZ and Catalina, AZ, road signs point toward Coolidge, Florence 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.
