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Phoenix to Mount Lemmon and the Catalina Highway road trip: best stops

The drive from Phoenix to Mount Lemmon and the Catalina Highway takes about 2 hr 50 min (southeast of Phoenix), by real roads from ZIP 85004. Along the way we found 57 stops within a short detour: 12 coffee shops, 8 ice cream and treats, 18 places to eat and 7 viewpoints.

The list below is the best few of each kind, in driving order, with how far into the drive you reach each one (counted from Phoenix) and the detour it adds. Stops marked Our pick are chosen by us; the rest come from OpenStreetMap listings, so confirm hours before you count on them.

Plan this trip All day trips from Phoenix

Where you are going: Mount Lemmon and the Catalina Highway 2 hr 50 min from Phoenix

Photo: WClarke, CC BY-SA 4.0

Scenic drive

Mount Lemmon and the Catalina Highway

Climb from saguaro desert to pine forest in about an hour, with big viewpoints like Windy Point on the way up and pie and cabins in tiny Summerhaven near the top.

Half day to full day
Year-round; summer escape from the heat; winter can bring snow
Free to drive; Coronado day-use fee (per vehicle) or America the Beautiful pass at fee picnic areas and trailheads

Heads-up: The road is narrow and curvy, and it can close or require chains in storms; check the Pima County Sheriff road line before winter trips. It is about 25 degrees cooler on top, so bring layers.

Map of the stops between Phoenix and Mount Lemmon and the Catalina Highway

Open the interactive map

First third Middle third Last third Mount Lemmon and the Catalina Highway

First stretch 3 stops

Hideout Steakhouse & BBQ Restaurant · Arizola
About 43 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Iron Skillet Quick bite · Toltec
About 47 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Medal Of Honor Monument Historic site · Eloy
About 54 min into the drive · detour about 6 min

Middle of the drive 21 stops

Subway Sandwich place · Wymola
About 1 hr 4 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Rooster Cogburn’s Ostrich Ranch Attraction · Picacho
About 1 hr 5 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
Dutch Bros. Coffee Coffee shop · Marana
About 1 hr 17 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Panda Express Chinese counter-service · Marana
About 1 hr 17 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Dairy Queen Ice cream counter-service · Marana
About 1 hr 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
Starbucks Coffee shop · Tortolita
About 1 hr 26 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: 04:30-20:30
Screamery Ice cream · Marana
About 1 hr 26 min into the drive · detour about 3 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Th,Su 12:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 12:00-22:00 Website
Filiberto's Mexican counter-service · Tortolita
About 1 hr 26 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
Saguarohenge Historic site · Tortolita
About 1 hr 29 min into the drive · detour about 3 min
Rio Grande Steel Sided Caboose 01433 Historic site · Tucson
About 1 hr 32 min into the drive · detour about 3 min Website
Gadsden-Pacific Division Toy Train Operating Museum Museum · Tucson
About 1 hr 32 min into the drive · detour about 3 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Sep-May Su 13:00-17:00 Website
Cafe Marcel Creperie and Espresso Bar Coffee shop · Tucson
About 1 hr 36 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Chef Wang Restaurant · Tucson
About 1 hr 37 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
néktər Coffee shop · Tucson
About 1 hr 40 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00; Su 08:00-19:00 Website
Screamery Ice cream · Tucson
About 1 hr 40 min into the drive · detour about 7 min Website
Coffee X Change Coffee shop · Tucson
About 1 hr 48 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
BoSA Donuts Donut counter-service · Tucson
About 1 hr 48 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
Frost Gelato Ice cream
About 1 hr 49 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
Tucson Desert Art Museum Museum · Tucson
About 1 hr 49 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
Crossroads Coffee Co Coffee shop · Tucson
About 1 hr 52 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Dairy Queen Ice cream counter-service · Tucson
About 1 hr 52 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website

Last stretch 6 stops

Babad Do'ag Viewpoint Viewpoint · Willow Canyon
About 2 hr 3 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Molino Canyon Vista Viewpoint · Willow Canyon
About 2 hr 6 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Thimble Mountain Vista Viewpoint · Willow Canyon
About 2 hr 13 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Seven Cateracts Vista Viewpoint · Willow Canyon
About 2 hr 14 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Windy Point Viewpoint · Willow Canyon
About 2 hr 23 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
San Pedro Vista Viewpoint · Willow Canyon
About 2 hr 29 min into the drive · detour about 2 min

Questions about the drive from Phoenix to Mount Lemmon and the Catalina Highway

How long is the drive from Phoenix to Mount Lemmon and the Catalina Highway?

About 2 hr 50 min by road, heading southeast from the middle of ZIP 85004. Traffic and weather change that.

What are the best stops on the way from Phoenix to Mount Lemmon and the Catalina Highway?

Good ones to start with: Hideout Steakhouse & BBQ (Arizola), Iron Skillet (Toltec), Medal Of Honor Monument (Eloy), Subway (Wymola) and Rooster Cogburn’s Ostrich Ranch (Picacho). The page lists 30 in all, in driving order.

Where can I get coffee or a bakery stop between Phoenix and Mount Lemmon and the Catalina Highway?

Dutch Bros. Coffee in Marana, Starbucks in Tortolita, Cafe Marcel Creperie and Espresso Bar in Tucson and néktər in Tucson. Check hours first; they come from OpenStreetMap listings.

Where can I eat on the way to Mount Lemmon and the Catalina Highway?

Hideout Steakhouse & BBQ in Arizola, Iron Skillet in Toltec, Subway in Wymola and Panda Express in Marana.

Are there viewpoints or quick sights on the way?

Medal Of Honor Monument in Eloy, Rooster Cogburn’s Ostrich Ranch in Picacho, Saguarohenge in Tortolita and Rio Grande Steel Sided Caboose 01433 in Tucson.

More about Phoenix and Mount Lemmon and the Catalina Highway

Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Stops come from our own picks and OpenStreetMap listings; hours and detours change, so check before you go. We do not store anyone's location.