Spanning 134.4 miles across the Desert Southwest, this journey from Catalina to Surprise typically takes about 2 hours and 44 minutes. It is a straightforward trip that is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $27 for fuel should cover your transit across these two Arizona locations. You will primarily navigate via Pinal Pioneer Parkway, the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, and the Papago Freeway. Whether you are heading out for business or visiting friends, this route offers a reliable connection between the two points without unnecessary complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
67.2 miles from Catalina, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pinal Pioneer Parkway
35.9 mi
41m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
23.2 mi
23m
Papago Freeway
15 mi
17m
Maricopa Freeway
12 mi
13m
Agua Fria Freeway
8.8 mi
10m
Florence-Coolidge Highway
8.1 mi
11m
Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway
7 mi
9m
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
7 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Pinal Pioneer Parkway
— 35.9 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Catalina, AZ and Surprise, AZ.
1
Start on East Pinto Place
491 ft·27 sec·East Pinto Place
2
Turn left onto North Elkins Road
0.4 mi·1 min·North Elkins Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto Edwin Road
0.3 mi·43 sec·Edwin Road
4
Turn left onto Eagle Crest Ranch Boulevard
0.1 mi·28 sec·Eagle Crest Ranch Boulevard
5
Turn right onto AZ 77
3.2 mi·4 min·Tucson-Globe Highway
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto AZ 79; US 80 Hist
0.4 mi·28 sec·State Route 79
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist
36 mi·41 min·Pinal Pioneer Parkway
8
Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist
5.0 mi·6 min·South Pinal Parkway Avenue
9
Turn left onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
0.6 mi·1 min·AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
10
Enter roundabout onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
119 ft·2 sec·AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
11
Continue on AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
407 ft·7 sec·AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
12
Enter roundabout onto AZ 287
260 ft·4 sec·Florence-Coolidge Highway
13
Continue on AZ 287
8.1 mi·11 min·Florence-Coolidge Highway
14
Continue on AZ 87
7.0 mi·8 min·Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
15
Turn left onto AZ 387
6.9 mi·9 min·Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway
16
At end of road, turn left onto AZ 387
520 ft·10 sec·Casa Grande-I-10-Coolidge Highway
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·20 sec
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
18
Merge onto I 10
23 mi·23 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 10
12 mi·13 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi·2 min·Papago Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.7 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
23
Continue on I 10
10 mi·12 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 133BToward AZ 101 Loop NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
8.8 mi·10 min·Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 11Toward US 60Use the slight right lane.
27
Turn left onto US 60
4.7 mi·8 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
28
Turn right onto West Greenway Road
212 ft·10 sec·West Greenway Road
Use the right lane.
29
Turn left onto Santa Fe Drive
0.3 mi·32 sec·Santa Fe Drive
Use the left lane.
30
Turn right onto North Nash Street
0.3 mi·50 sec·North Nash Street
31
Arrive at destination
North Nash Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Plan for at least one dedicated stop during your 2 hour and 44 minute travel time to stretch your legs and refresh. Keep in mind that with over two-thirds of your time spent on highways, traffic patterns near the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway and Papago Freeway can fluctuate during peak hours. If you want to avoid potential congestion, try to time your transit outside of morning or evening rush periods. Ultimately, this route is a simple point-to-point transit that rewards steady driving and basic preparation.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.2 miles from Catalina, AZ, or about 1h 25m 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 30 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.2 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Surprise, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Catalina, 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 Catalina, AZ
This is one driving day of about 134.4 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Catalina, 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 Pinal Pioneer Parkway for about 35.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 133.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.9 mi into trip|~3m in|AZ 77 / Tucson-Globe Highway
Turn right onto AZ 77 / Tucson-Globe Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
103.6 mi into trip|~2h 4m 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 slight left lane.
7
119.2 mi into trip|~2h 22m in
Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 133B
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
7
128.8 mi into trip|~2h 34m in
Take the exit toward US 60
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward US 60
7
133.9 mi into trip|~2h 43m in|Santa Fe Drive
Turn left onto Santa Fe Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.77 one way
$53.55 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$28.34
$56.67
premium
$5.59
$29.58
$59.17
diesel
$5.61
$29.67
$59.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.3
0
$14.11
$6.45
Efficient EV
33.6
0
$11.76
$5.38
EV Truck/SUV
53.8
0
$18.82
$8.60
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Catalina, AZ
Late night
in Catalina on Sunday
Local time
12:32 AM
MST
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Surprise, AZ
Late night
in Surprise on Sunday
Local time
12:32 AM
MST
Current temp
57°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 3:02AM MST until April 17 at 1:00PM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 12:31AM PDT until April 17 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
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
29 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 44m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 68% of this trip is spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend a significant portion of your time on these high-speed roads, including a longest stretch of 35.9 miles along the Pinal Pioneer Parkway. The drive maintains a consistent pace, transitioning from the open desert stretches of the Parkway into the more urbanized flow of the Phoenix-area freeways. While the character of the road is functional and designed for efficiency, the transition from rural desert surroundings to the busier metropolitan corridors provides a clear change in traffic volume as you approach your destination.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.9 mi on Pinal Pioneer Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 0.9 miles in near AZ 77 / Tucson-Globe Highway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 134.4 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 0.9 miles (AZ 77 / Tucson-Globe Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 103.6 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 119.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Sun City is a suburb 20 miles (30km) northwest of downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It was built as a planned retirement community in Maricopa County in the 1960s. An adjacent retirement community Sun City West was built in the late 1970s; there is also a Sun City Grand. Directly northwest of the three "Sun City" suburbs is Surprise, Arizona.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 134.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.9 miles on Pinal Pioneer Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Surprise, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (AZ 77 / Tucson-Globe Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 103.6 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 119.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Saguaro National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Surprise, AZ before heading back.
