Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 28m
Distance
311.4 mi
501 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
16 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sierra Vista, AZ
Leslie del Moral
Yuma, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Sierra Vista, AZ to Yuma, AZ covers 311.4 miles and takes about 5h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Blue Star Memorial Highway, Phoenix Bypass Route, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 118.9 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $62.03 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
155.7 miles from Sierra Vista, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 118.9 mi | 2h 2m |
| Phoenix Bypass Route | 58.9 mi | 58m |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.5 mi | 55m |
| Tucson-Benson Highway | 41.4 mi | 43m |
| State Route 90 | 15 mi | 17m |
| Huachuca Boulevard | 9 mi | 10m |
| South Freeway | 6 mi | 6m |
| South Huachuca Boulevard | 2.2 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Sierra Vista, AZ and Yuma, AZ.
Start on this road
Turn right onto West Fry Boulevard
Turn right onto Buffalo Soldier Trail
Continue on AZ 90
Continue on AZ 90
Continue on AZ 90
Continue on AZ 90
Continue on AZ 90
Turn left
Merge onto I 10
Continue on I 10
Continue on I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Take the exit
Continue on I 8
Continue on I 8
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
Turn right onto I 8 BUS; 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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.7 miles or 2h 47m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yuma, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Sierra Vista, 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 Sierra Vista, AZ
This is one driving day of about 311.4 miles and 5h 28m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
156 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 155.7 miles from Sierra Vista, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Blue Star Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 118.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 131.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto West Fry Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Turn left toward I 10, Tuscon, South Tuscon
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 10 / Tucson-Benson Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 8 West: San Diego
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Regular Gas
$62.03 one way
$124.07 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $65.65 | $131.30 |
| premium | $5.59 | $68.54 | $137.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $68.75 | $137.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
16 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Shell Gas Station and Convenience Store - Tesla Supercharger
Tucson, AZ
10 DCFC
Walmart 3807 (Benson, AZ)
Benson, AZ
4 DCFC
Environmental and General Services
Tucson, AZ
4 DCFC
Sports Complex
Sierra Vista, AZ
2 DCFC
Porsche - Tucson
Tucson, AZ
2 DCFC
5151 E Broadway
Tucson, AZ
2 DCFC
FasCharge 4614 Fast Market Valero Tucson Drexel Rd
Tucson, AZ
2 DCFC
COCHISE COUNTY SIERRA VISTA L3
Sierra Vista, AZ
1 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 93.4 | 1 | $32.70 | $14.95 |
| Efficient EV | 77.9 | 0 | $27.25 | $12.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 124.6 | 1 | $43.60 | $19.93 |
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Sierra Vista on Saturday
Local time
12:03 PM
MST
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Afternoon in Yuma on Saturday
Local time
12:03 PM
MST
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
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.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Park
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National Memorial
It was a journey of conquest filled with exploration, wonder - and cruelty. Inspired by tales of vast cities of gold, 339 European soldiers and over a thousand Aztec allies embarked on an epic journey...
National Monument
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a 5h 28m drive with frequent turns across 311.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Fry Boulevard.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 311.4 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Fry Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 29.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.7 miles (I 10 / Tucson-Benson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
Total Climb
127 ft
Total Descent
4,624 ft
Highest Point
4,638 ft
Elevation Range
4,497 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Sierra Vista, AZ to Yuma, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Tuscon along the way.
Tuscon
Sierra Vista (Spanish: Mountain View) is a city in Southeast Arizona and the commercial hub of the region, making it a convenient base from which to explore the area. It is perhaps best known for historic Fort Huachuca, established in 1877 during the Apache Wars. Although still an active U.S. Army military base, its two military museums and historic cemetery are open to the general public. The landscape around the city is typical for the Southwestern United States, and the nearby mountains and canyons can be explored on foot, by bike, or on horseback. Because it is a major stopover point on avian migration routes, the area is popular with avid birdwatchers and naturalists, and is known as the "Hummingbird Capital of America".
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 28m. Total distance: 311.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (7%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NREL for EV charging. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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