Drive Time
4h 56m
Distance
239.4 mi
385 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
The drive from Mesa, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ covers 239.4 miles and takes about 4h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Alma School Road, AZ 202, Red Mountain Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.66 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
119.7 miles from Mesa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 56m drive with frequent turns across 239.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Alma School Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| AZ 202 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Red Mountain Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 10 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Papago Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| AZ 101 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Agua Fria Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and Bullhead City, AZ.
Start on East University Drive
Turn right onto North Alma School Road
Turn left onto AZ 202 Loop West
Merge slight left onto Red Mountain Freeway
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 West
Merge slight right onto Papago Freeway
Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
Continue on Papago Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 101 Loop North
Continue on Agua Fria Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward US 60
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
Keep slight right to continue on Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
Continue on Grand Avenue
Continue on Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
Continue on Wickenburg–Phoenix Highway
Continue on Grand Avenue
Continue on Phoenix-Wickenburg Highway
Continue on Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
Continue on East Wickenburg Way
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
Exit the rotary onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
Exit the roundabout onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
Exit the roundabout onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
Turn left onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
Continue on Wickenburg-Kingman Highway
Take the exit straight toward I 40 West
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
Take the exit slight right toward US 93: Beale Street, Las Vegas
Turn slight right onto US 93: Beale Street, Las Vegas
Merge slight left onto West Beale Street
Continue on Hoover Dam–Kingman Highway
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 68 West: Bullhead City, Laughlin
Continue on Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
Continue on Bullhead City-Kingman Highway
Continue on Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
Continue on Bullhead City-Kingman Highway
Continue on Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
Continue on Mohave Valley Highway
Turn left onto 4th Street
Arrive at your 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 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.7 miles or 2h 28m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bullhead City, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Mesa, 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 Mesa, AZ
This is one driving day of about 239.4 miles and 4h 56m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 119.7 mi from Mesa, AZ · 2h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
120 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 119.7 miles from Mesa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$46.66 one way
$93.33 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $50.31 | $100.62 |
| premium | $5.57 | $52.46 | $104.92 |
| diesel | $6.37 | $60.00 | $120.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.8 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 71.8 | 0 | $25.14 | $11.49 |
| Efficient EV | 59.9 | 0 | $20.95 | $9.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 95.8 | 1 | $33.52 | $15.32 |
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Mesa on Saturday
Local time
6:42 AM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Bullhead City on Saturday
Local time
6:42 AM
MST
Current temp
60°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
56°F
Surprise, AZ
120 mi in
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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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