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Create accountDrive Time
3h 15m
Distance
173.7 mi
280 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Havasu City, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Buckeye, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
The drive from Lake Havasu City, AZ to Buckeye, AZ covers 173.7 miles and takes about 3h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway, Riverside Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 91.9 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.57 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
86.8 miles from Lake Havasu City, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 15m drive with frequent turns across 173.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Acoma Boulevard.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 15m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (North Acoma Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (AZ 95 / Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 75 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto North Acoma Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto AZ 95 / Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward AZ 85: Gila Bend
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 80 Hist / MC 85
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 91.9 mi | 1h 31m |
| Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway | 54.6 mi | 1h 3m |
| Riverside Drive | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Rio Vista Highway | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| South Oglesby Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| North Acoma Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| North Central Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| MC 85 | 2.1 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Havasu City, AZ and Buckeye, AZ.
Start on Mescal Loop
Turn left onto Smoketree Avenue North
Turn left onto North Acoma Boulevard
Turn left onto AZ 95
Continue on AZ 95
Turn straight onto AZ 95
Continue on AZ 95
Turn left onto AZ 95
Continue on AZ 95
Continue on AZ 95
Continue on AZ 95
Turn left onto I 10 BUS
Turn right onto I 10 Bus
Take the ramp onto I 10 Business
Merge onto I 10
Take the exit
Continue on AZ 85
Turn left onto US 80 Hist
Continue on US 80 Hist
Arrive at destination
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.
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 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.8 miles or 1h 44m 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 Buckeye, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lake Havasu 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 Lake Havasu City, AZ
This is one driving day of about 173.7 miles and 3h 15m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.8 mi from Lake Havasu City, AZ · 1h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 86.8 miles from Lake Havasu City, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 91.9 miles.
The final approach into Buckeye, 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 Buckeye, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$34.57 one way
$69.14 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $36.50 | $73.01 |
| premium | $5.59 | $38.21 | $76.41 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $38.59 | $77.18 |
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: 60.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.1 | 0 | $18.24 | $8.34 |
| Efficient EV | 43.4 | 0 | $15.20 | $6.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.5 | 0 | $24.32 | $11.12 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Lake Havasu City on Monday
Local time
1:32 PM
MST
Current temp
76°F
Sunny
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 7:45PM MST until April 13 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Destination
Afternoon in Buckeye on Monday
Local time
1:32 PM
MST
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 7:45PM MST until April 13 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff 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.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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