The drive from Maricopa, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ covers 257.5 miles and takes about 5h 17m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway, Grand Avenue, Purple Heart Trail for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 106.7 miles on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $51.30 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
128.8 miles from Maricopa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 17m. Total distance: 257.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 17m drive with frequent turns across 257.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 50 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 106.7 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 15.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 257.5 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 15.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
15.9 mi into trip|~21m in
Turn left toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
6
30.7 mi into trip|~38m 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 slight left lane.
7
46.2 mi into trip|~56m in
Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 133B
Toward AZ 101 Loop North
7
55.9 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward US 60
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward US 60
8
227.6 mi into trip|~4h 39m in
Take the exit toward AZ 68 West: Bullhead City, Laughlin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 67
Toward AZ 68 West: Bullhead City, Laughlin
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Maricopa, AZ and Bullhead City, AZ, road signs point toward Las Vegas and Laughlin.
Las Vegas
224 mi in|~4h 33m|via US 93
Laughlin
227.6 mi in|~4h 39m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
106.7 mi
2h 9m
Grand Avenue
27.4 mi
37m
Purple Heart Trail
21.5 mi
21m
Bullhead City-Kingman Highway
18.3 mi
21m
Papago Freeway
15 mi
17m
Maricopa Freeway
12 mi
13m
Maricopa Road
11.8 mi
13m
Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
9 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
— 106.7 mi, about 2h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maricopa, AZ and Bullhead City, AZ.
1
Start on AZ 347
124 ft·3 sec·North John Wayne Parkway
2
Continue on AZ 347
2.2 mi·4 min·North John Wayne Parkway
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on AZ 347
12 mi·13 min·Maricopa Road
4
Continue on AZ 347
1.9 mi·2 min·West Queen Creek Road
5
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 West: PhoenixUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 10
2.3 mi·2 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
7
Continue on I 10
12 mi·13 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi·2 min·Papago Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
2.7 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
11
Continue on I 10
10 mi·12 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 133BToward AZ 101 Loop NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
8.8 mi·10 min·Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 11Toward US 60Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto US 60
20 mi·28 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
159 ft·3 sec·Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
17
Continue on US 60
0.9 mi·1 min·Grand Avenue
18
Continue on US 60
0.2 mi·15 sec·Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
19
Continue on US 60
0.1 mi·8 sec·Wickenburg–Phoenix Highway
20
Continue on US 60
6.3 mi·7 min·Grand Avenue
21
Continue on US 60
0.5 mi·31 sec·Phoenix-Wickenburg Highway
22
Continue on US 60
8.7 mi·10 min·Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
23
Continue on US 60
1.5 mi·2 min·East Wickenburg Way
24
Enter roundabout onto US 93
2 ft·0 sec·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
25
Continue on US 93
1.2 mi·2 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
26
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
0.5 mi·1 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
27
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
0.9 mi·1 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
28
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
0.9 mi·1 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
29
Enter roundabout onto US 93
100 ft·4 sec·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
30
Continue on US 93
1.2 mi·2 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
31
Enter roundabout onto US 93
155 ft·6 sec·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
32
Continue on US 93
0.6 mi·1 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
33
Turn left onto US 93
112 ft·4 sec·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
34
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93
101 mi·1 hr 58 min·Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
35
Continue on US 93
0.3 mi·23 sec·Wickenburg-Kingman Highway
36
Take the exit onto US 93
0.7 mi·1 min·US 93
Toward I 40 West
37
Merge onto I 40; US 93
22 mi·21 min·Purple Heart Trail
38
Take the exit onto US 93
0.3 mi·42 sec·US 93
Exit 48Toward US 93: Beale Street, Las Vegas
39
Turn slight right onto US 93
222 ft·7 sec·US 93
Exit 48Toward US 93: Beale Street, Las VegasUse the right lane.
40
Merge onto US 93
1.8 mi·2 min·West Beale Street
Use the right lane.
41
Continue on US 93
1.4 mi·1 min·Hoover Dam–Kingman Highway
42
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 67Toward AZ 68 West: Bullhead City, LaughlinUse the right lane.
43
Continue on AZ 68
6.5 mi·8 min·Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
44
Continue on AZ 68
1.9 mi·2 min·Bullhead City-Kingman Highway
45
Continue on AZ 68
1.5 mi·1 min·Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
46
Continue on AZ 68
16 mi·19 min·Bullhead City-Kingman Highway
47
Continue on AZ 68
0.8 mi·1 min·Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
48
Continue on AZ 95
1.7 mi·2 min·Mohave Valley Highway
49
Turn left onto 4th Street
20 ft·0 sec·4th Street
50
Arrive at destination
4th Street
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 128.8 miles from Maricopa, AZ, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.7 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 57 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.8 miles or 2h 45m 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 21m
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 Maricopa, 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 Maricopa, AZ
This is one driving day of about 257.5 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Maricopa, 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 Wickenburg–Kingman Highway for about 106.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 128.8 mi from Maricopa, AZ
· 2h 45m into the drive
The midpoint is around 128.8 miles from Maricopa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Wickenburg–Kingman Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 106.7 miles.
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.
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
30 mi from route
~75 min detour
Free
near mile 8.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.30 one way
$102.59 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$54.29
$108.58
premium
$5.59
$56.68
$113.36
diesel
$5.61
$56.85
$113.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.3
0
$27.04
$12.36
Efficient EV
64.4
0
$22.53
$10.30
EV Truck/SUV
103
1
$36.05
$16.48
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Maricopa, AZ
Morning
in Maricopa on Thursday
Local time
11:03 AM
MST
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bullhead City, AZ
Morning
in Bullhead City on Thursday
Local time
11:03 AM
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
33 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
5h 17m 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 Maricopa, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ covers 257.5 miles and takes about 5h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Wickenburg–Kingman Highway, Grand Avenue, Purple Heart Trail. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 128.8 miles from Maricopa, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $51.30 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 23 significant decision points across 257.5 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 15.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Maricopa, AZ and Bullhead City, AZ, road signs point toward Las Vegas and Laughlin.
