Origin
Gilbert, AZ
Evening in Gilbert on Friday
Local time
7:15 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gilbert, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 3m
Distance
244.9 mi
394 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 50m
★
6 AM
5h 3m
8 AM
5h 30m
10 AM
5h 13m
12 PM
5h 10m
3 PM
5h 14m
5 PM
5h 29m
8 PM
4h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gilbert, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Bullhead City, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Gilbert, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ covers 244.9 miles and takes about 5h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Elm Street, East Vaughn Avenue, North Gilbert Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.79 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
122.4 miles from Gilbert, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 31m into the drive .
About the Cities
Starting in Gilbert, AZ
Full guide →Gilbert is in the southeast valley of the Greater Phoenix region of Arizona. With a population of 270,000 (2021 est.) it is the largest town in the US. people. Once a railway town and the "Hay Capital of the World", Gilbert is now a diverse suburban center, retaining its agricultural and railroad history and celebrating its "small town" feel.
Arriving in Bullhead City, AZ
Full guide →Bullhead City is in Northern Arizona.
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 3m. Total distance: 244.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 3m 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 3m drive with frequent turns across 244.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 51 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Elm Street 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 3m 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 Gilbert, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Elm Street | — | — |
| East Vaughn Avenue | — | — |
| North Gilbert Road | — | — |
| US 60 West | — | — |
| Superstition Freeway | — | — |
| I 10 North | — | — |
| Maricopa Freeway | — | — |
| Papago Freeway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Elm Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gilbert, AZ and Bullhead City, AZ.
1
Start on the route
203 ft
·
20 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto North Elm Street
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Elm Street
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto East Vaughn Avenue
440 ft
·
24 sec
·
East Vaughn Avenue
4
Turn right onto North Gilbert Road
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
North Gilbert Road
5
Turn left onto US 60 West: Phoenix
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
US 60 West: Phoenix
6
Merge slight left onto Superstition Freeway
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Superstition Freeway
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 10 North
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 10 North
8
Merge slight left onto Maricopa Freeway
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
9
Keep slight left to continue on Papago Freeway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Papago Freeway
10
Keep slight left to continue on Papago Freeway
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Papago Freeway
11
Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
12
Continue on Papago Freeway
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Papago Freeway
13
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 101 Loop North
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
AZ 101 Loop North
14
Continue on Agua Fria Freeway
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Agua Fria Freeway
15
Take the exit slight right toward US 60
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 60
16
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
20 mi
·
28 min
·
Grand Avenue
17
Keep slight right to continue on Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
161 ft
·
3 sec
·
Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
18
Continue on Grand Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Avenue
19
Continue on Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
20
Continue on Wickenburg–Phoenix Highway
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
Wickenburg–Phoenix Highway
21
Continue on Grand Avenue
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Grand Avenue
22
Continue on Phoenix-Wickenburg Highway
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
Phoenix-Wickenburg Highway
23
Continue on Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
24
Continue on East Wickenburg Way
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East Wickenburg Way
25
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
3 ft
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
26
Exit the rotary onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
27
Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
28
Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
29
Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
30
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
98 ft
·
4 sec
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
31
Exit the roundabout onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
32
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
154 ft
·
7 sec
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
33
Exit the roundabout onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
34
Turn left onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
112 ft
·
4 sec
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
35
Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
101 mi
·
1 hr 58 min
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
36
Continue on Wickenburg-Kingman Highway
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Wickenburg-Kingman Highway
37
Take the exit straight toward I 40 West
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 40 West
38
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
22 mi
·
21 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
39
Take the exit slight right toward US 93: Beale Street, Las Vegas
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
US 93: Beale Street, Las Vegas
40
Turn slight right onto US 93: Beale Street, Las Vegas
223 ft
·
7 sec
·
US 93: Beale Street, Las Vegas
41
Merge slight left onto West Beale Street
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Beale Street
42
Continue on Hoover Dam–Kingman Highway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Hoover Dam–Kingman Highway
43
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 68 West: Bullhead City, Laughlin
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
AZ 68 West: Bullhead City, Laughlin
44
Continue on Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
45
Continue on Bullhead City-Kingman Highway
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Bullhead City-Kingman Highway
46
Continue on Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
47
Continue on Bullhead City-Kingman Highway
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Bullhead City-Kingman Highway
48
Continue on Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
49
Continue on Mohave Valley Highway
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Mohave Valley Highway
50
Turn left onto 4th Street
20 ft
·
1 sec
·
4th Street
51
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 122.4 miles from Gilbert, AZ, or about 2h 31m 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 54 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.4 miles or 2h 31m 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 8m
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 Gilbert, 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 Gilbert, AZ
This is one driving day of about 244.9 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Gilbert, 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 122.4 mi from Gilbert, AZ · 2h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
122 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 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 122.4 miles from Gilbert, 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
$48.79 one way
$97.57 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
86 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $51.63 | $103.26 |
| premium | $5.59 | $53.91 | $107.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $54.07 | $108.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73.5 | 0 | $25.71 | $11.76 |
| Efficient EV | 61.2 | 0 | $21.43 | $9.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 98 | 1 | $34.29 | $15.67 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Bullhead City, AZ
Evening in Bullhead City on Friday
Local time
7:15 PM
MST
Current temp
90°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
3 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 3m 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 Gilbert, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ covers 244.9 miles and takes about 5h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Elm Street, East Vaughn Avenue, North Gilbert Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 122.4 miles from Gilbert, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.79 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 3m 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 Gilbert, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Gilbert, AZ to Bullhead City, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Bullhead City, AZ
More trips to Bullhead City, AZ
Explore more options from Gilbert, AZ or browse trips ending in Bullhead City, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.