Origin
Yuma, AZ
Night in Yuma on Thursday
Local time
9:58 PM
MST
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Yuma, AZ to Catalina, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
4h 20m
Distance
240.1 mi
386 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 7m
★
6 AM
4h 20m
8 AM
4h 47m
10 AM
4h 29m
12 PM
4h 27m
3 PM
4h 31m
5 PM
4h 45m
8 PM
4h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Yuma, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Catalina, AZ
Allie
Trip Overview
The drive from Yuma, AZ to Catalina, AZ covers 240.1 miles and takes about 4h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Blue Star Memorial Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, West Tangerine Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 177.9 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.83 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
120 miles from Yuma, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 20m. Total distance: 240.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 20m 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 4h 20m drive with frequent turns across 240.1 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.
Blue Star Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 177.9 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 178.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 20m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 178.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 220 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 220.4 miles (West Tangerine Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
178.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 East: Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 178A
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
7
220 mi into trip
|
~3h 45m in
Take the exit toward Tangerine Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 240
Toward Tangerine Road
6
220.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 46m in
|
West Tangerine Road
Turn left onto West Tangerine Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
233.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 8m in
|
AZ 77 / North Oracle Road
At end of road, turn left onto AZ 77 / North Oracle Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
239.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 18m in
|
East Stallion Lane
At end of road, turn right onto East Stallion Lane
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 177.9 mi | 3h 2m |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 40.4 mi | 40m |
| West Tangerine Road | 13.5 mi | 22m |
| North Oracle Road | 5.5 mi | 8m |
| Phoenix Bypass Route | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Pinal Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| North 4th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Kumeyaay Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 177.9 mi, about 3h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yuma, AZ and Catalina, AZ.
1
Start on I 8 BUS
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
North 4th Avenue
2
Continue on I 8 BUS
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Winterhaven Drive
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
4
Merge onto I 8
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Kumeyaay Highway
5
Continue on I 8
178 mi
·
3 hr 2 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 178A
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
7
Continue on Phoenix Bypass Route
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
Phoenix Bypass Route
Exit 178A
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
8
Continue on I 10
40 mi
·
40 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 240
Toward Tangerine Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto West Tangerine Road
14 mi
·
22 min
·
West Tangerine Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
At end of road, turn left onto AZ 77
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
North Oracle Road
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto East Pinal Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Pinal Street
13
Turn left
414 ft
·
31 sec
14
At end of road, turn right onto East Stallion Lane
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Stallion Lane
15
Turn left onto North Elkins Road
499 ft
·
27 sec
·
North Elkins Road
16
Turn left onto East Pinto Place
491 ft
·
21 sec
·
East Pinto Place
17
Arrive at destination
East Pinto Place
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 120 miles from Yuma, AZ, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 177.9 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 53 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120 miles or 2h 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 3h 22m
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 Yuma, 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 Yuma, AZ
This is one driving day of about 240.1 miles and 4h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Yuma, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Blue Star Memorial Highway for about 177.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 120 mi from Yuma, AZ · 2h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
120 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 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 120 miles from Yuma, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Blue Star Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 177.9 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.83 one way
$95.66 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
84 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $50.62 | $101.24 |
| premium | $5.59 | $52.85 | $105.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.01 | $106.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72 | 0 | $25.21 | $11.52 |
| Efficient EV | 60 | 0 | $21.01 | $9.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96 | 1 | $33.61 | $15.37 |
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Night in Catalina on Thursday
Local time
9:58 PM
MST
Current temp
86°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
1 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
4h 20m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Yuma, AZ to Catalina, AZ covers 240.1 miles and takes about 4h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Blue Star Memorial Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, West Tangerine Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 120 miles from Yuma, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.83 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 20m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 178.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 220 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 220.4 miles (West Tangerine Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Yuma, AZ to Catalina, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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