This 170.4-mile journey from Yuma, AZ to Avondale, AZ will take you approximately 3 hours and 11 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day road trip. You'll be traveling through the Desert Southwest region, staying within Arizona for the entire drive. The main roads you'll navigate include the Blue Star Memorial Highway and Arizona State Highway 85, also known as the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. With an estimated fuel cost of $34, this route offers a straightforward and manageable drive. It’s designed for a single day of travel, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
85.2 miles from Yuma, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 11m. Total distance: 170.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a drive with a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll encounter more intersections and changes in direction than a typical interstate. While 18% of the route is on highways, much of it follows state routes and local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 114.2 miles, primarily on the Blue Star Memorial Highway. This suggests a driving experience that is more engaged, with varying road conditions and speeds as you transition between different segments.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Blue Star Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 114.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 around 115.1 miles in near I 8 Business.
Driving Effort6/10
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 170.4 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: at 115.1 miles (I 8 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.3 miles (AZ 85 / Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 152.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
115.1 mi into trip|~2h in|I 8 Business
Take the exit onto I 8 Business toward 85: Phoenix, Ajo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward 85: Phoenix, Ajo
5
119.3 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|AZ 85 / Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
Turn left onto AZ 85 / Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
152.4 mi into trip|~2h 49m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 East: Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 10 East: Phoenix
7
168 mi into trip|~3h 6m in
Take the exit toward Litchfield Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 128
Toward Litchfield Road
6
170.4 mi into trip|~3h 11m in|North Central Avenue
Turn left onto North Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Yuma, AZ and Avondale, AZ, road signs point toward 85: Phoenix, Ajo and Gilda Bend.
85: Phoenix
115.1 mi in|~2h|via I 8 Business
Ajo
115.1 mi in|~2h|via I 8 Business
Gilda Bend
115.3 mi in|~2h|via I 8 Bus; US 80 Hist
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
114.2 mi
1h 59m
Arizona State Highway 85
28.1 mi
32m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
11.7 mi
12m
South Oglesby Road
3.7 mi
5m
East Pima Street
3.3 mi
6m
Papago Freeway
3.2 mi
3m
Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
2 mi
3m
North Litchfield Road
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 114.2 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yuma, AZ and Avondale, AZ.
1
Start on I 8 BUS
0.3 mi·22 sec·North 4th Avenue
2
Continue on I 8 BUS
0.1 mi·16 sec·Winterhaven Drive
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
4
Merge onto I 8
0.2 mi·12 sec·Kumeyaay Highway
5
Continue on I 8
114 mi·1 hr 59 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit onto I 8 Business
0.2 mi·29 sec·I 8 Business
Toward 85: Phoenix, Ajo
7
Continue on I 8 Bus; US 80 Hist
3.3 mi·6 min·East Pima Street
Toward AZ-85: Phoenix, Gilda Bend
8
Continue on AZ 85
0.7 mi·1 min·Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
9
Turn left onto AZ 85
0.3 mi·44 sec·Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on AZ 85
28 mi·32 min·Arizona State Highway 85
11
Continue on AZ 85; US 80 Hist
1.0 mi·1 min·Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
12
Continue on AZ 85
3.7 mi·5 min·South Oglesby Road
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 East: PhoenixUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 10
12 mi·12 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 10
3.2 mi·3 min·Papago Freeway
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 128Toward Litchfield RoadUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto North Litchfield Road
1.5 mi·2 min·North Litchfield Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto East Western Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East Western Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto North Central Avenue
89 ft·5 sec·North Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right
27 ft·1 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, starting your drive in Yuma, AZ, in the morning is advisable to maximize your day in Avondale, AZ. While there's one recommended stop, the relatively short travel time means you have flexibility to stop as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $34, and plan your refueling before embarking on the longest stretch of 114.2 miles on the Blue Star Memorial Highway. This route's 'turn-heavy' nature means staying alert and paying attention to navigation is key.
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 85.2 miles from Yuma, AZ, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 114.2 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 37 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.2 miles or 1h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Avondale, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Yuma, 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 Yuma, AZ
This is one driving day of about 170.4 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Yuma, 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 Blue Star Memorial Highway for about 114.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 85.2 mi from Yuma, AZ
· 1h 29m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.95 one way
$67.89 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$35.92
$71.85
premium
$5.59
$37.51
$75.02
diesel
$5.61
$37.62
$75.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.1
0
$17.89
$8.18
Efficient EV
42.6
0
$14.91
$6.82
EV Truck/SUV
68.2
0
$23.86
$10.91
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Yuma, AZ
Evening
in Yuma on Thursday
Local time
6:26 PM
MST
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Avondale, AZ
Evening
in Avondale on Thursday
Local time
6:26 PM
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
3 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
3h 11m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Yuma, AZ to Avondale, AZ covers 170.4 miles and takes about 3h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Blue Star Memorial Highway, Arizona State Highway 85, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 85.2 miles from Yuma, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.95 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 170.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 115.1 miles (I 8 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.3 miles (AZ 85 / Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 152.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Yuma, AZ and Avondale, AZ, road signs point toward 85: Phoenix, Ajo and Gilda Bend.
