Origin
Fortuna Foothills, AZ
Evening in Fortuna Foothills on Sunday
Local time
6:02 PM
MST
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fortuna Foothills, AZ to Yuma, AZ
Drive Time
21m
Distance
16 mi
26 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 22m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 20m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fortuna Foothills, AZ
Brent Singleton
Yuma, AZ
cottonbro studio
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Fortuna Foothills to Yuma, you are looking at a quick 16-mile journey that typically takes about 21 minutes. This short commute is ideal for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stops along the way. You will primarily navigate via the Blue Star Memorial Highway, South Foothills Boulevard, and Harold C. Giss Parkway. Budgeting about $3 for fuel should be plenty for this brief transit across the Desert Southwest. Whether you are heading into the city for errands or connecting between these two desert communities, the route is straightforward and manageable.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
8 miles from Fortuna Foothills, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that transitions from suburban stretches into the heart of Yuma. Only 6 miles of this 16-mile trip are spent on highways, meaning you will spend the majority of your time navigating local surface streets. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 12.9 miles you spend on the Blue Star Memorial Highway. Because the route is dominated by turns, you should stay alert as the environment shifts from the Foothills area toward the city center. It lacks the monotony of a long interstate haul, offering instead a more engaging, hands-on driving experience.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Blue Star Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 12.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 40th Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 16 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 40th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South Foothills Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East 40th Street
At end of road, turn left onto East 40th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Foothills Boulevard
Turn left onto South Foothills Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
14.7 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
14.8 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
Harold C Giss Parkway
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
15.8 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
I 8 BUS; US 80 Hist / South 4th Avenue
Turn right onto I 8 BUS; US 80 Hist / South 4th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 12.9 mi | 14m |
| South Foothills Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
| Harold C Giss Parkway | 1 mi | 1m |
| South 4th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East 40th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Sheryl Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North 4th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 12.9 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fortuna Foothills, AZ and Yuma, AZ.
1
Start on South Sheryl Drive
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
South Sheryl Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto East 40th Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
East 40th Street
3
Turn left onto South Foothills Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Foothills Boulevard
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
5
Merge onto I 8
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Giss Parkway
7
Keep slight left at fork
189 ft
·
4 sec
8
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
251 ft
·
4 sec
·
Harold C Giss Parkway
9
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Harold C Giss Parkway
10
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
120 ft
·
2 sec
·
Harold C Giss Parkway
11
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Harold C Giss Parkway
12
Turn right onto I 8 BUS; US 80 Hist
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
South 4th Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
I 8 BUS
Trip Plan
Since the entire trip is only 21 minutes long, you have total flexibility in your departure time. You won't need to plan for any stops, as the distance is short enough to drive in one go without needing a break. Keep in mind that because this is a turn-heavy route, it is best to familiarize yourself with the transition points between the Blue Star Memorial Highway and the local parkways before you start your engine. Given the low fuel cost of $3, you can easily top off your tank before you leave without worrying about your travel budget. Use the brevity of this drive to your advantage by planning your arrival to coincide exactly with your scheduled commitments in Yuma.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 8 miles from Fortuna Foothills, AZ, or about 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.9 miles.
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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8 miles or 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yuma, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fortuna Foothills, 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 Fortuna Foothills, AZ
This is one driving day of about 16 miles and 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fortuna Foothills, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Blue Star Memorial Highway for about 12.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8 mi from Fortuna Foothills, AZ · 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8 miles from Fortuna Foothills, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Yuma, AZ
The final approach into Yuma, 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 Yuma, 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
$3.18 one way
$6.37 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $3.36 | $6.73 |
| premium | $5.59 | $3.52 | $7.04 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.55 | $7.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
| Efficient EV | 4 | 0 | $1.40 | $0.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.24 | $1.02 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Yuma, AZ
Evening in Yuma on Sunday
Local time
6:02 PM
MST
Current temp
59°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
1 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
21m 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.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Fortuna Foothills, AZ to Yuma, AZ covers 16 miles and takes about 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Blue Star Memorial Highway, South Foothills Boulevard, Harold C Giss Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8 miles from Fortuna Foothills, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.18 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 16 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 40th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South Foothills Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Fortuna Foothills, AZ to Yuma, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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