The drive from Tempe Junction, AZ to Catalina, AZ covers 102.7 miles and takes about 2h 7m 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, 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 $20.46 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
51.4 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 7m. Total distance: 102.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 7m highway drive covering 102.7 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 2.3 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
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 102.7 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 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.2 miles (I 10 / Maricopa Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
2.3 mi into trip|~5m in
Turn left toward I 10 East: Tucson
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
5
4 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: East Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 10 East: East Tucson
5
4.2 mi into trip|~7m in|I 10 / Maricopa Freeway
Merge onto I 10 / Maricopa Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
34 mi into trip|~39m 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
34.3 mi into trip|~39m 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 Tempe Junction, AZ and Catalina, AZ, road signs point toward Coolidge, Florence and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
Coolidge
34 mi in|~39m
Florence
34.3 mi in|~39m
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
34.3 mi in|~39m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pinal Pioneer Parkway
35.9 mi
41m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
23.1 mi
23m
Florence-Coolidge Highway
8.1 mi
11m
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
7 mi
8m
AZ 387
6.9 mi
9m
Maricopa Freeway
6.7 mi
7m
South Pinal Parkway Avenue
5 mi
6m
Tucson-Globe Highway
3.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Pinal Pioneer Parkway
— 35.9 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe Junction, AZ and Catalina, AZ.
1
Start on West 13th Street
0.3 mi·55 sec·West 13th Street
2
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Roosevelt Street
3
Turn right onto West Broadway Road
1.3 mi·2 min·West Broadway Road
4
Continue on West Broadway Road
0.3 mi·1 min·West Broadway Road
5
Turn left
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward I 10 East: TucsonUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto AZ 143
1.4 mi·1 min·Hohokam Expressway
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 10 East: East Tucson
8
Merge onto I 10
6.7 mi·7 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 51.4 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ, or about 1h 2m 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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.4 miles or 1h 2m 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 42m
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 Tempe Junction, 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 Tempe Junction, AZ
This is one driving day of about 102.7 miles and 2h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Tempe Junction, 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 51.4 mi from Tempe Junction, AZ
· 1h 2m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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 102.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.46 one way
$40.92 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$21.65
$43.30
premium
$5.59
$22.61
$45.21
diesel
$5.61
$22.67
$45.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.8
0
$10.78
$4.93
Efficient EV
25.7
0
$8.99
$4.11
EV Truck/SUV
41.1
0
$14.38
$6.57
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Tempe Junction, AZ
Afternoon
in Tempe Junction on Thursday
Local time
3:59 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Catalina, AZ
Afternoon
in Catalina on Thursday
Local time
3:59 PM
MST
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
89°F
Florence, AZ
51 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 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 7m 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 Tempe Junction, AZ to Catalina, AZ covers 102.7 miles and takes about 2h 7m 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, 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 51.4 miles from Tempe Junction, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.46 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 102.7 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 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.2 miles (I 10 / Maricopa Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Tempe Junction, AZ and Catalina, AZ, road signs point toward Coolidge, Florence and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
