This 201.1-mile drive from Yuma, AZ, to Coolidge, AZ, is estimated to take about 3 hours and 37 minutes, making it a feasible day trip. You'll primarily travel on local roads, including stretches of Blue Star Memorial Highway and Casa Grande la Palma Highway, with no highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $40. Given the relatively short duration and the local road nature, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Desert Southwest region without requiring an overnight stay. You can expect a single stop along the way.
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
100.6 miles from Yuma, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 201.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entire 201.1 miles, as this route has a 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 177.9 miles along the Blue Star Memorial Highway. This suggests a journey that involves navigating through communities and varied road conditions rather than maintaining high speeds on interstates. The character of the drive will likely be one of consistent engagement with the local landscape and infrastructure.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 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 177.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 37m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (I 8 / Kumeyaay Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 178.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|I 8 / Kumeyaay Highway
Merge onto I 8 / Kumeyaay Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
178.7 mi into trip|~3h 4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 178B
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
7
183.6 mi into trip|~3h 10m in
Take the exit toward AZ 287: Florence Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 194
Toward AZ 287: Florence Boulevard
5
183.9 mi into trip|~3h 11m in|AZ 287 / East Florence Boulevard
Turn right onto AZ 287 / East Florence Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
177.9 mi
3h 2m
J Street
6.9 mi
11m
Casa Grande la Palma Highway
6 mi
8m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
4 mi
3m
Casa Grande-La Palma Highway
3 mi
4m
East Florence Boulevard
0.9 mi
1m
West Central Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
North 4th Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 177.9 mi, about 3h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yuma, AZ and Coolidge, 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
178 mi·3 hr 2 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
6
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 178BToward I 10 West: Phoenix
7
Merge onto I 10
4.0 mi·3 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 194Toward AZ 287: Florence BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto AZ 287
0.9 mi·1 min·East Florence Boulevard
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
10
Continue on AZ 287
6.0 mi·8 min·Casa Grande la Palma Highway
11
Continue on AZ 287
3.0 mi·4 min·Casa Grande-La Palma Highway
12
Turn left onto AZ 87; AZ 287
6.9 mi·11 min·J Street
13
Turn right onto West Central Avenue
0.4 mi·55 sec·West Central Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
West Central Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 37-minute drive, consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and minimize potential delays. With only one stop recommended over 201.1 miles, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before departing Yuma, as services may be spaced out on local roads. The significant portion on Blue Star Memorial Highway means you'll be experiencing more of the immediate surroundings, so be mindful of speed limits and local traffic patterns throughout your 201.1-mile adventure.
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 100.6 miles from Yuma, AZ, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 177.9 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 44 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.6 miles or 1h 43m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Coolidge, 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 201.1 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 177.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 100.6 mi from Yuma, AZ
· 1h 43m into the drive
The midpoint is around 100.6 miles from Yuma, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Blue Star Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 177.9 miles.
Arriving in Coolidge, AZ
The final approach into Coolidge, 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 Coolidge, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 201.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.06 one way
$80.12 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$42.40
$84.79
premium
$5.59
$44.27
$88.53
diesel
$5.61
$44.40
$88.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.3
0
$21.12
$9.65
Efficient EV
50.3
0
$17.60
$8.04
EV Truck/SUV
80.4
1
$28.15
$12.87
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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
Morning
in Yuma on Saturday
Local time
9:58 AM
MST
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Coolidge, AZ
Morning
in Coolidge on Saturday
Local time
9:58 AM
MST
Current temp
56°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
31 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 37m 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 Coolidge, AZ covers 201.1 miles and takes about 3h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Blue Star Memorial Highway, J Street, Casa Grande la Palma Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 100.6 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 $40.06 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 is a straightforward 3h 37m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (I 8 / Kumeyaay Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 178.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Yuma, AZ to Coolidge, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
