Origin
Yuma, AZ
Afternoon in Yuma on Sunday
Local time
4:08 PM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Yuma, AZ to Catalina Foothills, AZ
Drive Time
4h 13m
Distance
239.3 mi
385 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 0m
★
6 AM
4h 13m
8 AM
4h 40m
10 AM
4h 23m
12 PM
4h 20m
3 PM
4h 24m
5 PM
4h 39m
8 PM
4h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Yuma, AZ
cottonbro studio
Catalina Foothills, AZ
Mark Direen
Trip Overview
Spanning 239.3 miles across the Desert Southwest, this journey from Yuma to Catalina Foothills typically takes about 4 hours and 13 minutes to complete. Because the trip is manageable in a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay, keeping your travel plans straightforward and flexible. You should budget approximately $47 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Utilizing a combination of Winterhaven Drive, Kumeyaay Highway, and Blue Star Memorial Highway, you will traverse the heart of Arizona's arid landscape. It is a practical route for travelers looking to move between these two distinct desert communities without the complexity of a multi-day itinerary.
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
119.7 miles from Yuma, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 6m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate a series of local roads that require your full attention, making for a more active time behind the wheel. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches on Winterhaven Drive, your pace will be dictated by the local road layout. The drive is characterized by its technical nature, keeping you engaged as you transition through the desert terrain. This is an ideal route for drivers who prefer avoiding monotonous highway stretches in favor of a more hands-on, localized travel experience.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Winterhaven Drive 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 13m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Yuma, AZ to Catalina Foothills, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Winterhaven Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Kumeyaay Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 10 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Phoenix Bypass Route | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Orange Grove Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Casa Grande Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Winterhaven Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yuma, AZ and Catalina Foothills, AZ.
1
Start on North 4th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
North 4th Avenue
2
Continue on Winterhaven Drive
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Winterhaven Drive
3
Take the ramp slight right
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
4
Merge slight left onto Kumeyaay Highway
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Kumeyaay Highway
5
Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway
178 mi
·
3 hr 2 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
6
Keep slight right to continue on I 10 East: Tucson
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 10 East: Tucson
7
Continue on Phoenix Bypass Route
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
Phoenix Bypass Route
8
Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
50 mi
·
50 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
9
Take the exit slight right toward Orange Grove Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Orange Grove Road
10
Turn straight onto North Casa Grande Highway
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
North Casa Grande Highway
11
Turn left onto West Orange Grove Road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
West Orange Grove Road
12
Turn right onto West River Road
5.2 mi
·
8 min
·
West River Road
13
Continue on East River Road
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
East River Road
14
Turn left onto North Hacienda del Sol Road
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
North Hacienda del Sol Road
15
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy route, plan to depart early in the day to ensure you have plenty of daylight for navigating local roads. You only need to account for one planned stop, which provides a perfect opportunity to stretch your legs and refresh before the final leg of the journey. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $47 estimate is a baseline that can fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency on winding local paths. Prioritize a steady, consistent pace to manage the technical nature of the drive effectively. Most importantly, stay alert for frequent turns, as the lack of highway segments means you will be making more directional changes than on a standard interstate route.
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 119.7 miles from Yuma, AZ, or about 2h 6m 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 80 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.7 miles or 2h 6m 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 27m
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 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 239.3 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 119.7 mi from Yuma, AZ · 2h 6m 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 119.7 miles from Yuma, 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
$47.62 one way
$95.25 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
84 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $50.29 | $100.58 |
| premium | $5.59 | $52.64 | $105.27 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $53.16 | $106.33 |
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: 83.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 71.8 | 0 | $25.13 | $11.49 |
| Efficient EV | 59.8 | 0 | $20.94 | $9.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 95.7 | 1 | $33.50 | $15.32 |
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 Foothills, AZ
Afternoon in Catalina Foothills on Sunday
Local time
4:08 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
5 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 13m 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 Foothills, AZ covers 239.3 miles and takes about 4h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Winterhaven Drive, Kumeyaay Highway, Blue Star Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 119.7 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 $47.62 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 13m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Yuma, AZ to Catalina Foothills, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Yuma, AZ to Catalina Foothills, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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