Traveling from the Catalina Foothills to Maryvale covers 123.2 miles across the Desert Southwest, typically taking about 2 hours and 20 minutes to complete. Because this is a straightforward trek across Arizona, it is easily manageable as a single-day trip. You should budget approximately $25 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating the route requires transitioning from local connectors to major corridors like the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, and the Maricopa Freeway. Since you stay within the same desert region, the climate and environment remain consistent throughout your journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.6 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
49.8 mi
50m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
38.1 mi
38m
Maricopa Freeway
12 mi
13m
Papago Freeway
9.5 mi
10m
East River Road
7.7 mi
13m
North 51st Avenue
2.2 mi
3m
North Hacienda del Sol Road
1.3 mi
3m
North 55th Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 49.8 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Catalina Foothills, AZ and Maryvale, AZ.
1
Start on North Hacienda del Sol Road
1.3 mi·3 min·North Hacienda del Sol Road
2
Turn right onto East River Road
7.7 mi·13 min·East River Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto West Orange Grove Road
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Orange Grove Road
4
Turn right onto North Casa Grande Highway
0.1 mi·13 sec·North Casa Grande Highway
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 10 West
6
Merge onto I 10
50 mi·50 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 10
38 mi·38 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 10
12 mi·13 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi·2 min·Papago Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.7 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
12
Continue on I 10
4.9 mi·5 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 139Toward 51st Avenue, 59th AvenueUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto North 51st Avenue
2.2 mi·3 min·North 51st Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto West Indian School Road
0.5 mi·1 min·West Indian School Road
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto North 55th Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·North 55th Avenue
17
Continue on North 55th Avenue
169 ft·16 sec·North 55th Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
North 55th Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. You will not need to plan for overnight stays, as the 2-hour and 20-minute duration is perfect for a direct run. With zero mandatory stops built into the route, you can choose exactly where to pull over for rest or refreshments based on your personal needs. Keep in mind that because the majority of the route is local, traffic patterns may impact your arrival time more than on a standard interstate highway. Prioritize a steady pace during the 49.8-mile stretch on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway to keep your fuel efficiency within that $25 estimate.
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 61.6 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.8 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 27 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.6 miles or 1h 10m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maryvale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Catalina Foothills, 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 Foothills, AZ
This is one driving day of about 123.2 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 49.8 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 119.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in|East River Road
Turn right onto East River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
9.7 mi into trip|~17m in|I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
109.6 mi into trip|~2h 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.
6
111.6 mi into trip|~2h 2m 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 straight / slight right lanes.
8
119.6 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward 51st Avenue, 59th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 139
Toward 51st Avenue, 59th Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.54 one way
$49.09 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$25.97
$51.95
premium
$5.59
$27.12
$54.24
diesel
$5.61
$27.20
$54.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37
0
$12.94
$5.91
Efficient EV
30.8
0
$10.78
$4.93
EV Truck/SUV
49.3
0
$17.25
$7.88
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Catalina Foothills, AZ
Late night
in Catalina Foothills on Sunday
Local time
5:04 AM
MST
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Maryvale, AZ
Late night
in Maryvale on Sunday
Local time
5:04 AM
MST
Current temp
89°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
34 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 20m 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.
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 turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate through various segments. Only 17% of this trip is on the highway, meaning you will spend most of your time managing local road conditions rather than cruising on open interstates. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, which spans 49.8 miles of the total distance. The personality of this drive shifts from the suburban feel of the Catalina Foothills into the more urbanized environment of Maryvale. Be prepared for a mix of road types that requires you to stay alert behind the wheel.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.8 mi on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near East River Road.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 123.2 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (East River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 109.6 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 123.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.8 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. 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 Maryvale, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (East River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 109.6 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Maryvale, AZ before heading back.
