Trip from Bullhead City, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ

Drive Time

3h 50m

Distance

235.4 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Same-day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Bullhead City, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ covers 235.4 miles and takes about 3h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Mohave Valley Highway, Bullhead City–Kingman Highway, Bullhead City-Kingman Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.88 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

117.7 miles from Bullhead City, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 50m drive with frequent turns across 235.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Mohave Valley Highway is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Mohave Valley Highway	0 mi	0m
Bullhead City–Kingman Highway	0 mi	0m
Bullhead City-Kingman Highway	0 mi	0m
US 93 South	0 mi	0m
Hoover Dam–Kingman Highway	0 mi	0m
West Beale Street	0 mi	0m
US 93	0 mi	0m
Purple Heart Trail	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: Mohave Valley Highway — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on 4th Street

2

Turn right onto Mohave Valley Highway

3

Continue on Bullhead City–Kingman Highway

4

Continue on Bullhead City-Kingman Highway

5

Continue on Bullhead City–Kingman Highway

6

Continue on Bullhead City-Kingman Highway

7

Merge slight left onto Bullhead City–Kingman Highway

8

Keep slight right to continue on US 93 South: Kingman

9

Merge slight left onto Hoover Dam–Kingman Highway

10

Continue on West Beale Street

11

Turn left onto US 93, I 40, I 11 Future: Flagstaff, Phoenix

12

Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

13

Take the exit slight right toward US 93 South: Wickenburg, Phoenix

14

Merge slight left onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway

15

Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway

16

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Wickenburg–Kingman Highway

17

Exit the roundabout onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway

18

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Wickenburg–Kingman Highway

19

Exit the roundabout onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway

20

Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway

21

Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway

22

Continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway

23

Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway

24

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Wickenburg-Phoenix Highway

25

Exit the rotary onto East Wickenburg Way

26

Continue on Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway

27

Continue on Grand Avenue

28

Continue on Wickenburg–Phoenix Highway

29

Continue on Grand Avenue

30

Keep slight right to continue on Grand Avenue

31

Take the exit slight left toward Bell Road

32

Turn left onto West Bell Road

33

Take the ramp slight left toward AZ 101 Loop North

34

Merge slight left onto Agua Fria Freeway

35

Continue on Pima Freeway

36

Take the exit slight right toward Chaparral Road

37

Turn right onto East Chaparral Road

38

Turn left

39

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 117.7 miles from Bullhead City, AZ.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 117.7 miles

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Last hour of driving

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scottsdale, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Bullhead City, AZ

This is one driving day of about 235.4 miles and 3h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bullhead City, AZ.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Surprise, AZ

118 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Scottsdale, 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 Scottsdale, AZ.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 117.7 mi from Bullhead City, AZ

Surprise, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Surprise, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 117.7 miles from Bullhead City, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$4.95	$45.88	$91.77
midgrade	$5.34	$49.47	$98.94
premium	$5.57	$51.58	$103.17
diesel	$6.37	$59.00	$118.00

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 82.4 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Bullhead City, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ covers 235.4 miles and takes about 3h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Mohave Valley Highway, Bullhead City–Kingman Highway, Bullhead City-Kingman Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 117.7 miles from Bullhead City, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.88 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.