Origin
Tempe, AZ
Afternoon in Tempe on Thursday
Local time
2:36 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe, AZ to Catalina, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 7m
Distance
101.3 mi
163 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 59m
★
6 AM
2h 8m
8 AM
2h 26m
10 AM
2h 14m
12 PM
2h 12m
3 PM
2h 15m
5 PM
2h 25m
8 PM
2h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Catalina, AZ
Allie
Trip Overview
The drive from Tempe, AZ to Catalina, AZ covers 101.3 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 East Apache Boulevard, South McClintock Drive, US 60 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.18 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
50.7 miles from Tempe, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 7m. Total distance: 101.3 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 (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 7m drive with frequent turns across 101.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Apache Boulevard 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Tempe, AZ to Catalina, AZ is easy. At 2h 7m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tempe, AZ to Catalina, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Apache Boulevard | — | — |
| South McClintock Drive | — | — |
| US 60 East | — | — |
| Superstition Freeway | — | — |
| Phoenix–Globe Highway | — | — |
| AZ 79 South | — | — |
| South Pinal Parkway Avenue | — | — |
| Pinal Pioneer Parkway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East Apache Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe, AZ and Catalina, AZ.
1
Start on East Apache Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
2
Continue on East Apache Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
3
Turn right onto South McClintock Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South McClintock Drive
4
Turn left onto US 60 East: Globe
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
US 60 East: Globe
5
Merge slight left onto Superstition Freeway
23 mi
·
27 min
·
Superstition Freeway
6
Continue on Phoenix–Globe Highway
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Phoenix–Globe Highway
7
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson
8
Keep slight right to continue on AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson
16 mi
·
20 min
·
AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson
9
Continue on South Pinal Parkway Avenue
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
South Pinal Parkway Avenue
10
Continue on Pinal Pioneer Parkway
36 mi
·
41 min
·
Pinal Pioneer Parkway
11
Continue on State Route 79
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
State Route 79
12
Turn right onto Tucson-Globe Highway
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Tucson-Globe Highway
13
Turn left onto Eagle Crest Ranch Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Eagle Crest Ranch Boulevard
14
Turn right onto Edwin Road
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Edwin Road
15
Turn right onto North Elkins Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Elkins Road
16
Turn right onto East Pinto Place
492 ft
·
22 sec
·
East Pinto Place
17
Arrive at your destination
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 50.7 miles from Tempe, AZ, or about 1h 3m 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 22 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.7 miles or 1h 3m 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 44m
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, 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, AZ
This is one driving day of about 101.3 miles and 2h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Tempe, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50.7 mi from Tempe, AZ · 1h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 50.7 miles from Tempe, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.18 one way
$40.36 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $21.36 | $42.71 |
| premium | $5.59 | $22.30 | $44.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.37 | $44.73 |
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: 35.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.4 | 0 | $10.64 | $4.86 |
| Efficient EV | 25.3 | 0 | $8.86 | $4.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.5 | 0 | $14.18 | $6.48 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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, AZ
Afternoon in Catalina on Thursday
Local time
2:36 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
7 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, AZ to Catalina, AZ covers 101.3 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 East Apache Boulevard, South McClintock Drive, US 60 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.7 miles from Tempe, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.18 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.
The drive from Tempe, AZ to Catalina, AZ is easy. At 2h 7m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tempe, AZ to Catalina, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Tempe, AZ to Catalina, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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