Origin
Surprise, AZ
Morning in Surprise on Friday
Local time
10:03 AM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Surprise, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 2m
Distance
197.2 mi
317 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 49m
★
6 AM
4h 2m
8 AM
4h 28m
10 AM
4h 11m
12 PM
4h 9m
3 PM
4h 13m
5 PM
4h 27m
8 PM
3h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Surprise, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Bullhead City, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Surprise, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ covers 197.2 miles and takes about 4h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Santa Fe Drive, West Greenway Road, Grand Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.28 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
98.6 miles from Surprise, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 2m. Total distance: 197.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 2m drive with frequent turns across 197.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Santa Fe Drive is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 2m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Surprise, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Santa Fe Drive | — | — |
| West Greenway Road | — | — |
| Grand Avenue | — | — |
| Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway | — | — |
| Wickenburg–Phoenix Highway | — | — |
| Phoenix-Wickenburg Highway | — | — |
| East Wickenburg Way | — | — |
| Wickenburg–Kingman Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Santa Fe Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Surprise, AZ and Bullhead City, AZ.
1
Start on North Nash Street
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
North Nash Street
2
At the end of the road, turn left onto West Santa Fe Drive
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
West Santa Fe Drive
3
Turn right onto West Greenway Road
217 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Greenway Road
4
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Grand Avenue
5
Keep slight right to continue on Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
161 ft
·
3 sec
·
Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
6
Continue on Grand Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Avenue
7
Continue on Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
8
Continue on Wickenburg–Phoenix Highway
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
Wickenburg–Phoenix Highway
9
Continue on Grand Avenue
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Grand Avenue
10
Continue on Phoenix-Wickenburg Highway
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
Phoenix-Wickenburg Highway
11
Continue on Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway
12
Continue on East Wickenburg Way
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East Wickenburg Way
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
3 ft
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
14
Exit the rotary onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
15
Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
16
Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
17
Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
98 ft
·
4 sec
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
19
Exit the roundabout onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
20
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
154 ft
·
7 sec
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
21
Exit the roundabout onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
22
Turn left onto Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
112 ft
·
4 sec
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
23
Keep slight right to continue on Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
101 mi
·
1 hr 58 min
·
Wickenburg–Kingman Highway
24
Continue on Wickenburg-Kingman Highway
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Wickenburg-Kingman Highway
25
Take the exit straight toward I 40 West
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 40 West
26
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
22 mi
·
21 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
27
Take the exit slight right toward US 93: Beale Street, Las Vegas
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
US 93: Beale Street, Las Vegas
28
Turn slight right onto US 93: Beale Street, Las Vegas
223 ft
·
7 sec
·
US 93: Beale Street, Las Vegas
29
Merge slight left onto West Beale Street
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Beale Street
30
Continue on Hoover Dam–Kingman Highway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Hoover Dam–Kingman Highway
31
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 68 West: Bullhead City, Laughlin
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
AZ 68 West: Bullhead City, Laughlin
32
Continue on Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
33
Continue on Bullhead City-Kingman Highway
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Bullhead City-Kingman Highway
34
Continue on Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
35
Continue on Bullhead City-Kingman Highway
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Bullhead City-Kingman Highway
36
Continue on Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Bullhead City–Kingman Highway
37
Continue on Mohave Valley Highway
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Mohave Valley Highway
38
Turn left onto 4th Street
20 ft
·
1 sec
·
4th Street
39
Arrive at your destination
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 98.6 miles from Surprise, AZ, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
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 43 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.6 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 18m
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 Surprise, 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 Surprise, AZ
This is one driving day of about 197.2 miles and 4h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Surprise, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 98.6 mi from Surprise, AZ · 2h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
99 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 98.6 miles from Surprise, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.28 one way
$78.57 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
69 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $41.58 | $83.15 |
| premium | $5.59 | $43.41 | $86.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.54 | $87.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.2 | 0 | $20.71 | $9.47 |
| Efficient EV | 49.3 | 0 | $17.26 | $7.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 78.9 | 0 | $27.61 | $12.62 |
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Bullhead City, AZ
Morning in Bullhead City on Friday
Local time
10:03 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
2 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
4h 2m 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 Surprise, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ covers 197.2 miles and takes about 4h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Santa Fe Drive, West Greenway Road, Grand Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 98.6 miles from Surprise, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.28 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.
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 2m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Surprise, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Surprise, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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