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Trip from Bullhead City, AZ to Tucson, AZ

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 24m

Distance

344.9 mi

555 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$69

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 11m ★
6 AM
5h 25m
8 AM
5h 51m
10 AM
5h 34m
12 PM
5h 31m
3 PM
5h 35m
5 PM
5h 50m
8 PM
5h 17m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Mohave County, Arizona, United States

Bullhead City, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States

Tucson, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Bullhead City, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 344.9 miles and takes about 5h 24m 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 $68.71 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

172.4 miles from Bullhead City, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 42m into the drive .

About the Cities

Starting in Bullhead City, AZ

Full guide →

Bullhead City is in Northern Arizona.

Arriving in Tucson, AZ

Full guide →

Tucson (TOO-sawn), also known as the "Old Pueblo", is the second-largest city in the state of Arizona and the county seat of Pima County in the Sonoran Desert. It is at a higher elevation than nearby Phoenix and is correspondingly cooler. Although with half a million residents it is smaller than the capital city, its cultural life is just as vibrant.

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 5h 24m. Total distance: 344.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 24m drive with frequent turns across 344.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 47 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.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

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 5h 24m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bullhead City, AZ to Tucson, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

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

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Mohave Valley Highway — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bullhead City, AZ and Tucson, AZ.

1

Start on 4th Street

20 ft · 3 sec · 4th Street
2

Turn right onto Mohave Valley Highway

1.7 mi · 2 min · Mohave Valley Highway
3

Continue on Bullhead City–Kingman Highway

1.5 mi · 2 min · Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
4

Continue on Bullhead City-Kingman Highway

17 mi · 19 min · Bullhead City-Kingman Highway
5

Continue on Bullhead City–Kingman Highway

3.4 mi · 3 min · Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
6

Continue on Bullhead City-Kingman Highway

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Bullhead City-Kingman Highway
7

Merge slight left onto Bullhead City–Kingman Highway

5.1 mi · 6 min · Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
8

Keep slight right to continue on US 93 South: Kingman

0.5 mi · 1 min · US 93 South: Kingman
9

Merge slight left onto Hoover Dam–Kingman Highway

1.7 mi · 1 min · Hoover Dam–Kingman Highway
10

Continue on West Beale Street

2.0 mi · 3 min · West Beale Street
11

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

0.3 mi · 37 sec · US 93, I 40, I 11 Future: Flagstaff, Phoenix
12

Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

22 mi · 22 min · Purple Heart Trail
13

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

91 mi · 1 hr 46 min · US 93 South: Wickenburg, Phoenix
14

Merge slight left onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway

11 mi · 12 min · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
15

Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway

0.6 mi · 1 min · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
16

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

138 ft · 6 sec · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
17

Exit the roundabout onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway

1.2 mi · 2 min · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
18

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

138 ft · 4 sec · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
19

Exit the roundabout onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway

0.9 mi · 1 min · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
20

Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway

0.9 mi · 1 min · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
21

Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway

0.5 mi · 1 min · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
22

Continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway

105 ft · 4 sec · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
23

Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway

1.2 mi · 2 min · Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
24

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

200 ft · 9 sec · Wickenburg-Phoenix Highway
25

Exit the rotary onto East Wickenburg Way

1.5 mi · 2 min · East Wickenburg Way
26

Continue on Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway

8.7 mi · 10 min · Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
27

Continue on Grand Avenue

5.2 mi · 5 min · Grand Avenue
28

Continue on Wickenburg–Phoenix Highway

1.7 mi · 1 min · Wickenburg–Phoenix Highway
29

Continue on Grand Avenue

1.1 mi · 1 min · Grand Avenue
30

Keep slight right to continue on Grand Avenue

20 mi · 29 min · Grand Avenue
31

Take the exit right toward AZ 101 Loop South

0.4 mi · 47 sec · AZ 101 Loop South
32

Merge slight left onto Agua Fria Freeway

8.9 mi · 10 min · Agua Fria Freeway
33

Keep slight left to continue on I 10 East: Phoenix

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 10 East: Phoenix
34

Merge slight left onto Papago Freeway

10 mi · 12 min · Papago Freeway
35

Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

0.5 mi · 35 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
36

Continue on Papago Freeway

3.2 mi · 3 min · Papago Freeway
37

Keep slight left to continue on Papago Freeway

1.2 mi · 1 min · Papago Freeway
38

Merge slight right onto Maricopa Freeway

12 mi · 14 min · Maricopa Freeway
39

Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

38 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
40

Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

55 mi · 55 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
41

Continue on North Freeway

3.6 mi · 4 min · North Freeway
42

Take the exit slight right toward Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard

0.4 mi · 44 sec · Congress Street, Broadway Boulevard
43

Turn straight onto North Freeway Road

161 ft · 5 sec · North Freeway Road
44

Turn left onto West Congress Street

0.3 mi · 56 sec · West Congress Street
45

Continue on West Broadway Boulevard

2.9 mi · 6 min · West Broadway Boulevard
46

Turn left onto North Country Club Road

131 ft · 9 sec · North Country Club Road
47

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 172.4 miles from Bullhead City, AZ, or about 2h 42m into the drive.

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 76 miles or 1h 11m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 172.4 miles or 2h 42m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tucson, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Bullhead City, AZ

This is one driving day of about 344.9 miles and 5h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 172.4 mi from Bullhead City, AZ · 2h 42m into the drive

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Surprise, AZ

172 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.

Popular next leg

Surprise, AZ to Tucson, AZ

142.7 mi · 2h 41m

Pacing Suggestions

Kingman, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Surprise, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 172.4 miles from Bullhead City, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Tucson, AZ

The final approach into Tucson, 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 Tucson, AZ.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$68.71 one way

$137.42 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 121 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $72.71 $145.43
premium $5.59 $75.92 $151.84
diesel $5.61 $76.15 $152.30

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$69

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$94–$119

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 120.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 103.5 1 $36.21 $16.56
Efficient EV 86.2 0 $30.18 $13.80
EV Truck/SUV 138 1 $48.29 $22.07

Gas CO2

121 kg

EV CO2

40 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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

Bullhead City, AZ

Morning in Bullhead City on Saturday

Local time

9:37 AM

MST

Current temp

90°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tucson, AZ

Morning in Tucson on Saturday

Local time

9:37 AM

MST

Current temp

54°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

36 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

5h 24m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Bullhead City, AZ to Tucson, AZ covers 344.9 miles and takes about 5h 24m 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 172.4 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 $68.71 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This is a straightforward 5h 24m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bullhead City, AZ to Tucson, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Bullhead City, AZ to Tucson, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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