Chandler, AZ to Catalina, AZ is 86 miles and takes about 1 hour 54 minutes via Pinal Pioneer Parkway, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Desert Southwest, offering a straightforward drive through Arizona. It's a relatively short journey, making it ideal for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed. The route is primarily focused on highway driving, so expect consistent travel speeds for most of the trip. This makes it a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient way to get from one point to another in the region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43 miles from Chandler, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pinal Pioneer Parkway
35.9 mi
41m
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
24.7 mi
33m
Florence-Coolidge Highway
8.1 mi
11m
North Arizona Avenue
6.9 mi
11m
South Pinal Parkway Avenue
5 mi
6m
Tucson-Globe Highway
3.2 mi
4m
AZ 79 Bus
0.7 mi
1m
North Elkins Road
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Pinal Pioneer Parkway
— 35.9 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chandler, AZ and Catalina, AZ.
1
Start on East Chandler Boulevard
357 ft·9 sec·East Chandler Boulevard
2
Turn right onto North Washington Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·North Washington Street
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto East Buffalo Street
393 ft·15 sec·East Buffalo Street
4
Turn left onto AZ 87
6.9 mi·11 min·North Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto AZ 87; BIA 56
263 ft·8 sec·East Hunt Highway
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto AZ 87
25 mi·33 min·Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
7
Continue on AZ 287
8.1 mi·11 min·Florence-Coolidge Highway
8
Enter roundabout onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
55 ft·1 sec·AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
9
Continue on AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
416 ft·7 sec·AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
10
Enter roundabout onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
97 ft·1 sec·AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
11
Continue on AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
0.6 mi·1 min·AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
12
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 79; US 80 Hist
5.0 mi·6 min·South Pinal Parkway Avenue
13
Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist
36 mi·41 min·Pinal Pioneer Parkway
14
Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist
0.4 mi·29 sec·State Route 79
15
Turn right onto AZ 77; US 80 Hist
3.2 mi·4 min·Tucson-Globe Highway
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto Eagle Crest Ranch Boulevard
0.2 mi·28 sec·Eagle Crest Ranch Boulevard
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto Edwin Road
0.3 mi·45 sec·Edwin Road
18
Turn right onto North Elkins Road
0.4 mi·1 min·North Elkins Road
19
Turn right onto East Pinto Place
491 ft·21 sec·East Pinto Place
20
Arrive at destination
East Pinto Place
Trip Plan
Given this is a 1-day, 86-mile trip taking under 2 hours, you have plenty of flexibility. Aim to depart Chandler in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid any potential afternoon heat. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, you should have no trouble finding fuel stations along the main roads, but it's always wise to top off before leaving Chandler. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan for a brief pause if needed, perhaps around the halfway point. The longest stretch of 35.9 miles on Pinal Pioneer Parkway means you'll be cruising for a significant duration, so ensure you're comfortable and have your navigation set.
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 43 miles from Chandler, AZ, or about 1h 2m 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 19 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43 miles or 1h 2m 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 37m
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 Chandler, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chandler, AZ
This is one driving day of about 86 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Chandler, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 81.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North Washington Street
Turn right onto North Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
7.2 mi into trip|~12m in|AZ 87; BIA 56 / East Hunt Highway
Turn left onto AZ 87; BIA 56 / East Hunt Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
39.9 mi into trip|~57m in|AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
Enter roundabout onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
40 mi into trip|~58m in|AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
Enter roundabout onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
81.9 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|AZ 77; US 80 Hist / Tucson-Globe Highway
Turn right onto AZ 77; US 80 Hist / Tucson-Globe Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.13 one way
$34.26 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$18.13
$36.26
premium
$5.59
$18.93
$37.86
diesel
$5.61
$18.99
$37.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.8
0
$9.03
$4.13
Efficient EV
21.5
0
$7.52
$3.44
EV Truck/SUV
34.4
0
$12.04
$5.50
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 16, 2026
Origin
Chandler, AZ
Afternoon
in Chandler on Sunday
Local time
1:24 PM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Partly Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Catalina, AZ
Afternoon
in Catalina on Sunday
Local time
1:24 PM
MST
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
89°F
Florence, AZ
43 mi in
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
3 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
1h 54m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 77% of the route utilizing larger roads. You'll experience a consistent pace for much of the 86 miles, with the longest uninterrupted stretch measuring 35.9 miles along Pinal Pioneer Parkway. While the main roads like Pinal Pioneer Parkway, Junction I-10-Mesa Highway, and Florence-Coolidge Highway provide efficient travel, the overall character is that of a practical, highway-oriented journey. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes getting you to your destination smoothly and directly, rather than winding scenic byways.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pinal Pioneer Parkway and Junction I-10-Mesa Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Washington Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 54m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.2 miles (AZ 87; BIA 56 / East Hunt Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.9 miles (AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The longest stretch is about 35.9 miles on Pinal Pioneer Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.2 miles (AZ 87; BIA 56 / East Hunt Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.9 miles (AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 Catalina, AZ before heading back.
