Maricopa, AZ to Catalina Foothills, AZ is 105.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 57 minutes via Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Desert Southwest region of Arizona, offering a straightforward path between two points. Given its short duration and manageable distance, it's an ideal same-day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads with some highway segments, making it a less intense journey than a pure interstate cruise. Plan for a relatively quick transition between these two Arizona locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.6 miles from Maricopa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
50 mi
50m
Phoenix Bypass Route
26.4 mi
26m
North John Wayne Parkway
12.6 mi
14m
Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
5.7 mi
6m
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 Maricopa, AZ and Catalina Foothills, AZ.
1
Start on AZ 347
13 mi·14 min·North John Wayne Parkway
Use the left lane.
2
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 84
5.7 mi·6 min·Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
Use the right lane.
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 8 East: Tucson
4
Merge onto I 8
26 mi·26 min·Phoenix Bypass Route
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·38 sec
Exit 178AToward I 10 East: Tucson
6
Continue on Phoenix Bypass Route
0.4 mi·27 sec·Phoenix Bypass Route
Exit 178AToward I 10 East: Tucson
7
Continue on I 10
50 mi·50 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 250Toward Orange Grove RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto North Casa Grande Highway
0.1 mi·13 sec·North Casa Grande Highway
10
Turn left onto West Orange Grove Road
0.4 mi·47 sec·West Orange Grove Road
11
Turn right onto West River Road
5.2 mi·8 min·West River Road
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on East River Road
2.5 mi·4 min·East River Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn left onto North Hacienda del Sol Road
1.3 mi·3 min·North Hacienda del Sol Road
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
North Hacienda del Sol Road
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours, this is a trip you can easily complete in a single day, offering considerable flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave Maricopa in the morning to enjoy the full day in Catalina Foothills. Since the longest stretch is 50 miles, you won't need to worry about extended periods without services, but it's always wise to have a full tank before departing. Keep an eye on your navigation, as the 'turn-heavy' profile means paying attention to upcoming junctions is key to staying on track.
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 52.6 miles from Maricopa, AZ, or about 56m 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 23 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.6 miles or 56m 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 30m
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 Maricopa, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Maricopa, AZ
This is one driving day of about 105.3 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Maricopa, 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 12.6 and 96.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
12.6 mi into trip|~14m in|AZ 84 / Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 84 / Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
18.4 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the exit toward I 8 East: Tucson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 8 East: Tucson
6
44.6 mi into trip|~47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 East: Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 178A
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
7
95.5 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
96.3 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|West River Road
Turn right onto West River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.98 one way
$41.95 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$22.20
$44.40
premium
$5.59
$23.18
$46.36
diesel
$5.61
$23.25
$46.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.6
0
$11.06
$5.05
Efficient EV
26.3
0
$9.21
$4.21
EV Truck/SUV
42.1
0
$14.74
$6.74
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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 15, 2026
Origin
Maricopa, AZ
Morning
in Maricopa on Sunday
Local time
6:25 AM
MST
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Catalina Foothills, AZ
Morning
in Catalina Foothills on Sunday
Local time
6:25 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
2 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 57m 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.
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
near mile 105.3
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
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 43.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized by frequent turns, suggesting a local driving experience rather than an open highway cruise. While 12% of the drive involves highways, the majority is on local roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 50 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. Expect the road to feel more intricate and less direct than a typical interstate, requiring your attention to navigate the various junctions and changes in road names, including the Phoenix Bypass Route and North John Wayne Parkway.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 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?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12.6 miles in near AZ 84 / Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway.
Driving Effort5/10
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 105.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 12.6 miles (AZ 84 / Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 44.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 105.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (12%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
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 12.6 miles (AZ 84 / Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 44.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Saguaro National Park and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. 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.
