Origin
Lake Havasu City, AZ
Evening in Lake Havasu City on Wednesday
Local time
8:37 PM
MST
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Havasu City, AZ to Drexel Heights, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 52m
Distance
321.1 mi
517 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$64
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 40m
★
6 AM
5h 53m
8 AM
6h 19m
10 AM
6h 2m
12 PM
5h 59m
3 PM
6h 3m
5 PM
6h 18m
8 PM
5h 45m
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
Drexel Heights, AZ
Quang Vuong
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake Havasu City, AZ to Drexel Heights, AZ covers 321.1 miles and takes about 5h 52m 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, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 104.7 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $63.97 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
160.6 miles from Lake Havasu City, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 58m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 52m drive with frequent turns across 321.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 104.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near AZ 95 / Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 321.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles (AZ 95 / Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 203.2 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 314.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
AZ 95 / Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Turn left onto AZ 95 / Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
203.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 45m in
|
I 10 / Papago Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
314.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 41m in
Take the exit toward I 19 South: Nogales
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 260
Toward I 19 South: Nogales
7
315.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 42m in
Take the exit toward AZ 86 West: Ajo Way
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 99
Toward AZ 86 West: Ajo Way
8
316.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Ajo, Desert Museum, Old Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Ajo, Desert Museum, Old Tucson
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 104.7 mi | 1h 45m |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.6 mi | 55m |
| Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway | 54.6 mi | 1h 3m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 37.8 mi | 38m |
| Papago Freeway | 24.2 mi | 27m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| Riverside Drive | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| North Freeway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 104.7 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Havasu City, AZ and Drexel Heights, AZ.
1
Start on Mescal Loop
51 ft
·
7 sec
·
Mescal Loop
2
Turn left onto Smoketree Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Smoketree Avenue North
3
Turn left onto North Acoma Boulevard
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North Acoma Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto AZ 95
17 mi
·
20 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on AZ 95
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Riverside Drive
6
Turn straight onto AZ 95
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
7
Continue on AZ 95
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Rio Vista Highway
8
Turn left onto AZ 95
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
California Avenue
9
Continue on AZ 95
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
10
Continue on AZ 95
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
11
Continue on AZ 95
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Central Boulevard
12
Turn left onto I 10 BUS
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
13
Turn right onto I 10 Bus
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Riggles Road
14
Take the ramp onto I 10 Business
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10 Business
15
Merge onto I 10
105 mi
·
1 hr 45 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 10
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
18
Continue on I 10
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 10; US 60
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 10
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 10
55 mi
·
55 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 10
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 260
Toward I 19 South: Nogales
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 19
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Nogales–Tucson Highway
26
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 99
Toward AZ 86 West: Ajo Way
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork
290 ft
·
7 sec
Toward Ajo, Desert Museum, Old Tucson
Use the right lane.
28
Turn straight onto AZ 86
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ajo Way
29
Continue on AZ 86
467 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Ajo Highway
30
Turn left onto South Mission Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Mission Road
31
Turn right onto West Irvington Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Irvington Road
32
Turn left onto Cardinal Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Cardinal Avenue
33
Turn left onto West Bilby Road
71 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Bilby Road
34
Arrive at destination
West Bilby Road
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 160.6 miles from Lake Havasu City, AZ, or about 2h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.7 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 71 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.6 miles or 2h 58m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Drexel Heights, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 321.1 miles and 5h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Lake Havasu 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.
The longest stretch is on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 104.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 160.6 mi from Lake Havasu City, AZ · 2h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
161 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 71 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 160.6 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 104.7 miles.
Arriving in Drexel Heights, AZ
The final approach into Drexel Heights, 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 Drexel Heights, AZ.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.97 one way
$127.93 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
112 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $67.70 | $135.39 |
| premium | $5.59 | $70.68 | $141.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $70.89 | $141.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$64
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$89–$114
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 96.3 | 1 | $33.72 | $15.41 |
| Efficient EV | 80.3 | 0 | $28.10 | $12.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 128.4 | 1 | $44.95 | $20.55 |
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Drexel Heights, AZ
Evening in Drexel Heights on Wednesday
Local time
8:37 PM
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
30 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 52m 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 Lake Havasu City, AZ to Drexel Heights, AZ covers 321.1 miles and takes about 5h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 160.6 miles from Lake Havasu City, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $63.97 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 demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 321.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles (AZ 95 / Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 203.2 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 314.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lake Havasu City, AZ to Drexel Heights, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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