Sacaton Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Mesa, AZ to Catalina Foothills, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 9m
Distance
105.7 mi
170 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 0m
★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 28m
10 AM
2h 16m
12 PM
2h 14m
3 PM
2h 17m
5 PM
2h 27m
8 PM
2h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mesa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Catalina Foothills, AZ
Mark Direen
Trip Overview
Traveling from Mesa to the Catalina Foothills covers 105.7 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 9 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip through the Desert Southwest, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, and North Arizona Avenue. Budgeting approximately $21 for fuel should cover your needs for the journey. Since there are no required stops, you have the flexibility to drive straight through or build in your own breaks along the way. It is a straightforward connection between two desert communities that requires no overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.8 miles from Mesa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m 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 | 11 mi | 18m |
| AZ 587 | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| West River Road | 5.2 mi | 8m |
| North Country Club Drive | 4 mi | 7m |
| East River Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| North Hacienda del Sol Road | 1.3 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 50 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and Catalina Foothills, AZ.
1
Start on East University Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East University Drive
2
Turn left onto AZ 87
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
North Country Club Drive
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on AZ 87
11 mi
·
18 min
·
North Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on AZ 587
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
AZ 587
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
6
Merge onto I 10
24 mi
·
23 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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 250
Toward Orange Grove Road
Use 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
Since the trip is under two and a half hours, you have the benefit of timing your departure to avoid peak local traffic. While there are no mandated stops, keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route can make for a more engaging, albeit more tiring, drive. Ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave, as the $21 cost estimate is a good benchmark for your total fuel consumption. Use the 50-mile stretch on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway as your primary opportunity to settle into a steady rhythm. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so feel free to head out whenever your schedule allows.
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 52.8 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 1h 8m 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 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.8 miles or 1h 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 1h 42m
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 Mesa, 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 Mesa, AZ
This is one driving day of about 105.7 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Mesa, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.8 miles from Mesa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Sacaton Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Xpress Fuel Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pride Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Valley of the Moon
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
1.8 mi from route
~5 min detour
mile 105.7
Tucson, Arizona
+15203231331
Visit websiteRiverview Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Mesa, Arizona
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+14806442352
Visit websiteTyrannostorus
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~10 min detour
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
mile 7.5
Mesa, Arizona
Hours: 11 am–6 pm
+14805974467
Visit websiteVillago Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour
4.1 mi from route
~10 min detour
mile 37.7
Casa Grande, Arizona
Hours: 5 am–11 pm
+15204218600
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 104.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive
Turn left onto AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
22.5 mi into trip
|
~37m 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
96 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m 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
96.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
West River Road
Turn right onto West River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
104.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 6m 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
$21.06 one way
$42.11 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $22.28 | $44.57 |
| premium | $5.59 | $23.27 | $46.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.34 | $46.67 |
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: 37 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 | 31.7 | 0 | $11.10 | $5.07 |
| Efficient EV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.25 | $4.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.3 | 0 | $14.80 | $6.76 |
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.
Origin
Mesa, AZ
Morning in Mesa on Sunday
Local time
7:42 AM
MST
Current temp
71°F
Mostly Clear
NNE 0 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 12:22PM MST until April 19 at 1:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 12:22PM MST until April 19 at 1:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
Destination
Catalina Foothills, AZ
Morning in Catalina Foothills on Sunday
Local time
7:42 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
16 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
2h 9m 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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 36.4
View on nps.gov
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 105.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Only about 6% of this route consists of highway driving, meaning you will spend the majority of your time navigating local roads. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, which spans 50 miles. The experience shifts from the suburban feel of Mesa to the more technical, winding nature of local desert roads as you approach the Catalina Foothills. Prepare for a transition that requires more active steering than a standard interstate cruise.
Only 6% 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?
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 miles in near AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 9m drive. You will face about 6 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 miles (AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.5 miles (I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 96 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Mesa, AZ
Full guide →Founded 1878
Mesa, population 518,000 (2019), is in Maricopa County. It is Arizona's third-largest city, and is part of the Greater Phoenix urban complex.
Top landmarks
- • Mesa Arizona Temple — the seventh operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
- • Mesa Grande — cultural park in Mesa, Arizona, preserving a group of Hohokam structures
- • Buckhorn Baths Motel — historic defunct mineral hot spring resort in Mesa, Arizona
Arriving in Catalina Foothills, AZ
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 105.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Straightforward navigation.
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 — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 miles (AZ 87 / North Country Club Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.5 miles (I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 96 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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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