Spanning 239.7 miles across the Desert Southwest, this trip from Catalina Foothills to Yuma takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes of driving time. Because the route is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won’t need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Budget roughly $47 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating this route involves a mix of local thoroughfares, including East River Road, West Orange Grove Road, and North Casa Grande Highway. Since you are staying within the same region, the landscape remains consistent, offering a familiar transition across the Arizona desert. It is a straightforward trip that rewards drivers who prefer a steady pace over long-haul interstate cruising.
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
119.6 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
118.9 mi
2h 2m
Phoenix Bypass Route
58.9 mi
58m
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
49.8 mi
50m
East River Road
7.7 mi
13m
North Hacienda del Sol Road
1.3 mi
3m
Harold C Giss Parkway
1 mi
1m
West Orange Grove Road
0.3 mi
<1m
South 4th Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 118.9 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Catalina Foothills, AZ and Yuma, 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
Take the exit
0.4 mi·35 sec
Exit 199Toward I 8 West: San Diego
8
Continue on I 8
59 mi·58 min·Phoenix Bypass Route
9
Continue on I 8
119 mi·2 hr 2 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Giss Parkway
11
Keep slight left at fork
189 ft·4 sec
12
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
251 ft·4 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
13
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
0.6 mi·1 min·Harold C Giss Parkway
14
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
120 ft·2 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
15
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
0.3 mi·36 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
16
Turn right onto I 8 BUS; US 80 Hist
0.3 mi·35 sec·South 4th Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
I 8 BUS
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour and 30-minute journey, plan for at least one stop to break up the turns and keep your focus sharp. Leaving early in the day is your best bet to manage the local traffic patterns effectively and reach Yuma before the heat or congestion builds up. Because you are navigating local roads exclusively, keep your GPS updated to handle the various turn-heavy segments along the way. Since this is a manageable day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time to fit your schedule without the pressure of a long-distance itinerary. Keep your $47 fuel budget in mind, and ensure you top off your tank before departing Catalina Foothills to avoid unnecessary stops on local roads.
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 119.6 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.9 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 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.6 miles or 2h 8m 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 Yuma, 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 239.2 miles and 4h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Catalina Foothills, 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 118.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 238 — 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.
5
59.5 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward I 8 West: San Diego
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 199
Toward I 8 West: San Diego
5
237.9 mi into trip|~4h 10m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
238 mi into trip|~4h 10m in|Harold C Giss Parkway
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.65 one way
$95.30 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$50.43
$100.86
premium
$5.59
$52.65
$105.30
diesel
$5.61
$52.81
$105.62
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, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.8
0
$25.12
$11.48
Efficient EV
59.8
0
$20.93
$9.57
EV Truck/SUV
95.7
1
$33.49
$15.31
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Catalina Foothills, AZ
Morning
in Catalina Foothills on Sunday
Local time
10:51 AM
MST
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yuma, AZ
Morning
in Yuma on Sunday
Local time
10:51 AM
MST
Current temp
87°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
32 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
4h 12m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Saguaro National Park
National Park
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
$25
Park Closure: Red Hills Visitor Center (TMD) theater closed for repairs
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...
15 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 57.7
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 rather than a monotonous interstate haul, as this route features 0% highway share. You will navigate a series of local roads that demand your attention, trading high-speed cruising for a more technical driving experience. With the longest stretch on East River Road measuring 0 miles, you should be prepared for frequent adjustments and turns throughout the journey. This lack of highway miles gives the drive a distinct local personality that feels more engaged and hands-on. By avoiding major interstates, you get a unique perspective on the desert transit that stays grounded in local infrastructure.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.9 mi on Blue Star Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 1.3 miles in near East River Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 12m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 59.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 118.9 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 59.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Saguaro National Park and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Yuma, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
