Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 28m
Distance
224.5 mi
361 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bullhead City, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Buckeye, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Bullhead City, AZ to Buckeye, AZ covers 224.5 miles and takes about 4h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Route 95, Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 91.9 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.72 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
112.3 miles from Bullhead City, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Bullhead City is in Northern Arizona.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 28m. Total distance: 224.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (23%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 4h 28m drive with frequent turns across 224.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,630 ft
Total Descent
1,237 ft
Highest Point
1,405 ft
~160.4 mi in
Elevation Range
929 ft
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 22.5 miles in near J Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 28m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 22.5 miles (J Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.8 miles (US 95): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.8 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto J Street
Navigation decision point
Take the exit onto US 95 toward US 95 South: East Broadway, Blythe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward AZ 85: Gila Bend
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 80 Hist / MC 85
Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bullhead City, AZ to Buckeye, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Blythe along the way.
Blythe
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 91.9 mi | 1h 31m |
| Route 95 | 47.4 mi | 55m |
| Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway | 30.9 mi | 35m |
| Mohave Valley Highway | 20.5 mi | 32m |
| Aqueduct Road | 16.5 mi | 24m |
| South Oglesby Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| North Central Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| MC 85 | 2.1 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bullhead City, AZ and Buckeye, AZ.
Start on 4th Street
Turn left onto AZ 95
Continue on AZ 95
Continue on North K Street
At end of road, turn left onto Front Street
Turn right onto J Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 40; US 95
Take the exit onto US 95
Turn right onto US 95; US 66 Hist
Turn left onto CA 62
Turn right onto CA 62
Continue on AZ 95 Truck
Continue on AZ 95
Continue on AZ 95
Continue on AZ 95
Turn left onto I 10 BUS
Turn right onto I 10 Bus
Take the ramp onto I 10 Business
Merge onto I 10
Take the exit
Continue on AZ 85
Turn left onto US 80 Hist
Continue on US 80 Hist
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 49 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.3 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buckeye, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Bullhead City, 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 Bullhead City, AZ
This is one driving day of about 224.5 miles and 4h 28m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 112.3 mi from Bullhead City, AZ · 2h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
112 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.
A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 112.3 miles from Bullhead City, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 91.9 miles.
The final approach into Buckeye, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Buckeye, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$44.72 one way
$89.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $47.33 | $94.66 |
| premium | $5.59 | $49.42 | $98.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $49.57 | $99.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.4 | 0 | $23.57 | $10.78 |
| Efficient EV | 56.1 | 0 | $19.64 | $8.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89.8 | 1 | $31.43 | $14.37 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Bullhead City on Saturday
Local time
6:44 AM
MST
Current temp
52°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Buckeye on Saturday
Local time
6:44 AM
MST
Current temp
52°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
55°F
Parker, AZ
112 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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