Traveling from Chandler to the Catalina Foothills covers 96.8 miles of the Desert Southwest, making for a straightforward trek that typically takes about 1 hour and 54 minutes. Because the distance is relatively short, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $19 for fuel to complete the journey comfortably. Navigating through the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway and the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, you will find this path serves as a functional transition between these desert communities. It is an efficient choice if you are looking to move between these regions without a complex itinerary or multiple stopovers.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.4 miles from Chandler, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
50 mi
50m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
23.5 mi
23m
North Arizona Avenue
6.9 mi
11m
AZ 587
6.1 mi
9m
West River Road
5.2 mi
8m
East River Road
2.5 mi
4m
North Hacienda del Sol Road
1.3 mi
3m
West Orange Grove Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 50 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chandler, AZ and Catalina Foothills, 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
Continue on AZ 587
6.1 mi·9 min·AZ 587
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
7
Merge onto I 10
24 mi·23 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 10
50 mi·50 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 250Toward Orange Grove RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto North Casa Grande Highway
0.1 mi·13 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
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on East River Road
2.5 mi·4 min·East River Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn left onto North Hacienda del Sol Road
1.3 mi·3 min·North Hacienda del Sol Road
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
North Hacienda del Sol Road
Trip Plan
Given the drive's total duration of under two hours, you have the flexibility to depart whenever your schedule allows, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily complete the entire 96.8-mile stretch in one go without the need for a formal break. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before you leave Chandler, as setting aside $19 for gas will cover your transit needs for the day. Because this is a turn-heavy local route, ensure your GPS is updated to handle the transitions between the highway segments and the local roads leading into Catalina Foothills. Taking advantage of the route's simplicity means you can focus on a smooth, direct arrival at your final destination.
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 48.4 miles from Chandler, AZ, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50 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 21 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.4 miles or 57m 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 28m
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 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 96.8 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Chandler, 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 50 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 95.5 — 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
13.6 mi into trip|~22m in|I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
87.1 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward Orange Grove Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 250
Toward Orange Grove Road
6
87.8 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|West River Road
Turn right onto West River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
95.5 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|North Hacienda del Sol Road
Turn left onto North Hacienda del Sol Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.28 one way
$38.57 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$20.41
$40.82
premium
$5.59
$21.31
$42.61
diesel
$5.61
$21.37
$42.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29
0
$10.16
$4.65
Efficient EV
24.2
0
$8.47
$3.87
EV Truck/SUV
38.7
0
$13.55
$6.20
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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 19, 2026
Origin
Chandler, AZ
Morning
in Chandler on Sunday
Local time
6:33 AM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Catalina Foothills, AZ
Morning
in Catalina Foothills on Sunday
Local time
6:33 AM
MST
Current temp
55°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 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
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
$25
near mile 96.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mix of driving conditions that transition from local streets like North Arizona Avenue to more consistent highway travel. With a highway share of only 6 percent, the route is defined largely as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. You will spend the most significant portion of your time on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, which offers the longest uninterrupted stretch of 50 miles. As you progress, the road demands your attention with its frequent turns and localized traffic patterns. Prepare for a more hands-on driving experience compared to a standard highway haul, as the route requires you to navigate through various road types to reach the foothills.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50 mi on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 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 8 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 13.6 miles (I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. 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 13.6 miles (I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.1 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 Catalina Foothills, AZ before heading back.
