Trip from Maryvale, AZ to Catalina Foothills, AZ

Drive Time

2h 19m

Distance

123.3 mi

198 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 10m ★
6 AM
2h 20m
8 AM
2h 39m
10 AM
2h 26m
12 PM
2h 24m
3 PM
2h 27m
5 PM
2h 38m
8 PM
2h 14m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Maryvale, AZ, AZ

Maryvale, AZ

Mikhail Nilov

Downtown Catalina Foothills, AZ, AZ

Catalina Foothills, AZ

Mark Direen

Trip Overview

Traveling from Maryvale to the Catalina Foothills covers 123.3 miles of the Arizona Desert Southwest, typically taking about 2 hours and 19 minutes behind the wheel. Because the duration is relatively short, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $25 for fuel to complete the journey. By navigating the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, the Maricopa Freeway, and the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, you can transition smoothly between these two desert regions. It is a straightforward, practical commute that allows you to reach your destination efficiently while staying within the heart of the state.

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

61.6 miles from Maryvale, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a mix of fast-paced transit and local navigation, as this drive is characterized as a turn-heavy local route. While only 18% of the trip is spent on highways, you will encounter a significant 50-mile uninterrupted stretch along the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway that serves as the backbone of your journey. The road's personality shifts from the busy freeway segments near your start point to more localized driving as you approach the Catalina Foothills. You will need to stay alert for frequent turns, which keeps the experience more engaging than a simple monotonous interstate grind. It is a functional drive that requires your full attention on the road rather than just coasting.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 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. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near North 51st Avenue.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 123.3 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (North 51st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

6
1 mi into trip | ~2m in | North 51st Avenue

Turn right onto North 51st Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
7
3.2 mi into trip | ~6m in

Turn left toward I 10 East: Tucson

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 10 East: Tucson
6
12.2 mi into trip | ~17m in | I 10 / Papago Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
113.6 mi into trip | ~2h 1m 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
114.3 mi into trip | ~2h 3m in | West River Road

Turn right onto West River Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / none lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway 50 mi 50m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway 37.8 mi 38m
Maricopa Freeway 12.3 mi 14m
Papago Freeway 9.3 mi 10m
West River Road 5.2 mi 8m
East River Road 2.5 mi 4m
North 51st Avenue 2.3 mi 4m
North Hacienda del Sol Road 1.3 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Casa Grande-Tucson Highway — 50 mi, about 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North 55th Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · North 55th Avenue
2

Turn left onto West Indian School Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Indian School Road
Use the none lane.
3

Turn right onto North 51st Avenue

2.3 mi · 4 min · North 51st Avenue
Use the none lane.
4

Turn left

0.4 mi · 58 sec
Toward I 10 East: Tucson Use the left lane.
5

Merge onto I 10

4.9 mi · 5 min · Papago Freeway
Use the none lane.
6

Continue on I 10

0.5 mi · 35 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
7

Continue on I 10

3.2 mi · 3 min · Papago Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

1.2 mi · 1 min · Papago Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 10; US 60

12 mi · 14 min · Maricopa Freeway
Use the none lane.
10

Continue on I 10

38 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on I 10

50 mi · 50 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the none lane.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 250 Toward Orange Grove Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Turn straight onto North Casa Grande Highway

0.1 mi · 13 sec · North Casa Grande Highway
14

Turn left onto West Orange Grove Road

0.4 mi · 47 sec · West Orange Grove Road
15

Turn right onto West River Road

5.2 mi · 8 min · West River Road
Use the left / none lanes.
16

Continue on East River Road

2.5 mi · 4 min · East River Road
Use the none lane.
17

Turn left onto North Hacienda del Sol Road

1.3 mi · 3 min · North Hacienda del Sol Road
Use the left lane.
18

Arrive at destination

North Hacienda del Sol Road

Trip Plan

Since this is a manageable drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Given the 2-hour and 19-minute travel time, you can easily make the entire journey without planning for formal stops. If you prefer a steady pace, aim to complete the longest 50-mile stretch on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway during off-peak hours to avoid potential traffic congestion. Keep your $25 fuel budget in mind before you head out, as ensuring your tank is ready at the start will save you from making unnecessary fueling detours. Take advantage of the trip's direct nature to arrive at your destination refreshed and ready to explore the Catalina Foothills.

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 61.6 miles from Maryvale, AZ, or about 1h 9m 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 27m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 61.6 miles or 1h 9m 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 49m

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 Maryvale, 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 Maryvale, AZ

This is one driving day of about 123.3 miles and 2h 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Maryvale, 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 61.6 mi from Maryvale, AZ · 1h 9m into the drive

Downtown Casa Grande, AZ, AZ

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Casa Grande, AZ

62 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

Casa Grande, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Casa Grande, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 61.6 miles from Maryvale, 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

$24.54 one way

$49.08 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 43 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.34 $25.91 $51.82
premium $5.59 $27.12 $54.24
diesel $5.64 $27.39 $54.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 43.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 37 0 $12.95 $5.92
Efficient EV 30.8 0 $10.79 $4.93
EV Truck/SUV 49.3 0 $17.26 $7.89

Gas CO2

43 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Maryvale, AZ

Afternoon in Maryvale on Sunday

Local time

4:12 PM

MST

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Catalina Foothills, AZ

Afternoon in Catalina Foothills on Sunday

Local time

4:12 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

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 19m 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 Maryvale, AZ to Catalina Foothills, AZ covers 123.3 miles and takes about 2h 19m 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, Maricopa Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 61.6 miles from Maryvale, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.54 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 123.3 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (North 51st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Maryvale, AZ to Catalina Foothills, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Catalina Foothills, AZ to Maryvale, AZ

Plan the drive back the other way.

123.2 mi 2h 20m

Explore more options from Maryvale, AZ or browse trips ending in Catalina Foothills, AZ.

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