Trip from Flagstaff, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ

Drive Time

3h 14m

Distance

180.1 mi

290 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

Trip Overview

The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ covers 180.1 miles and takes about 3h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Route 66, South Milton Road, Purple Heart Trail for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.11 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

90.1 miles from Flagstaff, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 14m drive with frequent turns across 180.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Route 66 is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Route 66 Unavailable Refreshing
South Milton Road Unavailable Refreshing
Purple Heart Trail Unavailable Refreshing
US 93 Unavailable Refreshing
West Beale Street Unavailable Refreshing
Hoover Dam–Kingman Highway Unavailable Refreshing
AZ 68 West Unavailable Refreshing
Bullhead City–Kingman Highway Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Route 66 — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on West Historic Route 66

502 ft · 15 sec · West Historic Route 66
2

Turn slight left onto South Milton Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Milton Road
3

Turn right onto West Historic Route 66

4.0 mi · 6 min · West Historic Route 66
4

Take the ramp straight

0.5 mi · 1 min
5

Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

141 mi · 2 hr 21 min · Purple Heart Trail
6

Take the exit slight right toward US 93: Beale Street, Las Vegas

0.3 mi · 43 sec · US 93: Beale Street, Las Vegas
7

Turn slight right onto US 93: Beale Street, Las Vegas

223 ft · 7 sec · US 93: Beale Street, Las Vegas
8

Merge slight left onto West Beale Street

1.8 mi · 2 min · West Beale Street
9

Continue on Hoover Dam–Kingman Highway

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

Take the exit slight right toward AZ 68 West: Bullhead City, Laughlin

1.0 mi · 1 min · AZ 68 West: Bullhead City, Laughlin
11

Continue on Bullhead City–Kingman Highway

6.5 mi · 8 min · Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
12

Continue on Bullhead City-Kingman Highway

1.9 mi · 2 min · Bullhead City-Kingman Highway
13

Continue on Bullhead City–Kingman Highway

1.5 mi · 1 min · Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
14

Continue on Bullhead City-Kingman Highway

16 mi · 19 min · Bullhead City-Kingman Highway
15

Continue on Bullhead City–Kingman Highway

0.8 mi · 1 min · Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
16

Continue on Mohave Valley Highway

1.7 mi · 2 min · Mohave Valley Highway
17

Turn left onto 4th Street

20 ft · 1 sec · 4th Street
18

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 90.1 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, or about 1h 37m 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 80 miles or 1h 26m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 90.1 miles or 1h 37m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 39m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Flagstaff, 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 Flagstaff, AZ

This is one driving day of about 180.1 miles and 3h 14m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Flagstaff, 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 90.1 mi from Flagstaff, AZ · 1h 37m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Surprise, AZ

90 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

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 90.1 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bullhead City, AZ

The final approach into Bullhead City, 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 Bullhead City, 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

$35.11 one way

$70.21 round trip

$4.95/gal 25.4 MPG avg 63 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.34 $37.85 $75.70
premium $5.57 $39.47 $78.93
diesel $6.37 $45.14 $90.28

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 63 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 54 0 $18.91 $8.64
Efficient EV 45 0 $15.76 $7.20
EV Truck/SUV 72 0 $25.21 $11.53

Gas CO2

63 kg

EV CO2

21 kg (67% 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

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Flagstaff, AZ

Morning in Flagstaff on Saturday

Local time

8:21 AM

MST

Current temp

30°F

Forecast unavailable right now

MST Live mapsof forecast

Destination

Bullhead City, AZ

Morning in Bullhead City on Saturday

Local time

8:21 AM

MST

Current temp

60°F

Forecast unavailable right now

MST Live mapsof forecast

Along the Route

56°F

Surprise, AZ

90 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

30 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 14m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ covers 180.1 miles and takes about 3h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Route 66, South Milton Road, Purple Heart Trail. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 90.1 miles from Flagstaff, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.11 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.

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