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Create accountDrive Time
5h 32m
Distance
321 mi
517 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$64
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Willcox, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Yuma, AZ
cottonbro studio
The drive from Willcox, AZ to Yuma, AZ covers 321 miles and takes about 5h 32m 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 $63.88 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
160.5 miles from Willcox, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 32m drive with frequent turns across 321 miles of local and secondary roads.
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
Total Climb
377 ft
Total Descent
3,140 ft
Highest Point
4,546 ft
~13.4 mi in
Elevation Range
3,140 ft
Notable High Points
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in near I 10 BUS.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 321 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 3.7 miles (I 10 BUS): Lane positioning matters here; at 90.5 miles (I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp onto I 10 BUS
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
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
| 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 | 42.9 mi | 44m |
| Benson-Steins Pass Highway | 33.6 mi | 33m |
| South Freeway | 6 mi | 6m |
| North Haskell Avenue | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Harold C Giss Parkway | 1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Willcox, AZ and Yuma, AZ.
Start on AZ 186; I 10 BUS
Take the ramp onto I 10 BUS
Merge onto I 10; US 191
Continue on 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 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.5 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yuma, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Willcox, 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 Willcox, AZ
This is one driving day of about 321 miles and 5h 32m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 160.5 mi from Willcox, AZ · 2h 47m 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 160.5 miles from Willcox, 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.
The final approach into Yuma, 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 Yuma, 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.
Regular Gas
$63.88 one way
$127.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $67.46 | $134.92 |
| premium | $5.59 | $70.61 | $141.21 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $71.32 | $142.63 |
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, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 96.3 | 1 | $33.71 | $15.41 |
| Efficient EV | 80.3 | 0 | $28.09 | $12.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 128.4 | 1 | $44.94 | $20.54 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Willcox on Sunday
Local time
4:05 PM
MST
Current temp
43°F
Clear
Destination
Afternoon in Yuma on Sunday
Local time
4:05 PM
MST
Current temp
59°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.
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