Spanning 224.7 miles across the Desert Southwest, this journey from Buckeye to Bullhead City typically takes about 4 hours and 28 minutes of drive time. Because it is a manageable distance, you can easily complete the trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $45 on fuel to cover the distance, though it is smart to budget a bit extra for current fluctuations. You will spend about 23 percent of your time on highways, with the remainder of the route consisting of local roads. Given the turn-heavy nature of the final stretches, this drive is best suited for those who prefer active steering over cruise control. It is a straightforward, functional route that connects two distinct parts of the Arizona desert.
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
112.4 miles from Buckeye, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
92 mi
1h 31m
Route 95
47.5 mi
55m
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
30.9 mi
35m
Mohave Valley Highway
20.5 mi
32m
Aqueduct Road
16.5 mi
24m
South Oglesby Road
3.7 mi
5m
North Central Boulevard
3.1 mi
3m
MC 85
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 92 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buckeye, AZ and Bullhead City, AZ.
1
Start on US 80 Hist
0.4 mi·57 sec·East Monroe Avenue
2
Continue on US 80 Hist
2.0 mi·3 min·MC 85
3
Turn right onto AZ 85
3.7 mi·5 min·South Oglesby Road
4
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 West: Los AngelesUse the slight left lane.
5
Merge onto I 10
92 mi·1 hr 31 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto I 10 Business
0.4 mi·41 sec·I 10 Business
Toward US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma
7
Turn right onto I 10 Bus
0.1 mi·16 sec·Riggles Road
8
Turn left onto I 10 Bus
1.0 mi·2 min·East Main Street
9
Turn right onto AZ 95
3.1 mi·3 min·North Central Boulevard
10
Continue on AZ 95
20 mi·22 min·Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto AZ 95
11 mi·13 min·Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
12
Continue on AZ 95
1.7 mi·3 min·California Avenue
13
Continue on CA 62
0.4 mi·53 sec·CA 62
14
At end of road, turn left onto CA 62
16 mi·24 min·Aqueduct Road
15
Turn sharp right onto US 95
48 mi·55 min·Route 95
16
Take the exit onto US 95
0.3 mi·19 sec·US 95
17
Merge onto I 40; US 95
0.8 mi·51 sec·Needles Freeway
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·19 sec
Toward J Street
19
Turn right onto J Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·J Street
20
At end of road, turn left onto Front Street
465 ft·14 sec·Front Street
21
Turn right onto North K Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North K Street
22
Continue on AZ 95
1.2 mi·2 min·Harbor Avenue
23
Continue on AZ 95
21 mi·32 min·Mohave Valley Highway
24
Turn right onto 4th Street
20 ft·0 sec·4th Street
25
Arrive at destination
4th Street
Trip Plan
Since the trip takes nearly four and a half hours, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh your focus. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy to avoid the peak heat of the Desert Southwest and ensure you reach Bullhead City before dark. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge when traveling the longer stretches, as service stations can be spaced out along the more rural segments of the Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway. Because this is a turn-heavy route, ensure your vehicle’s tire pressure is properly checked before departure to handle the frequent adjustments in road conditions. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, allowing you to pace the drive comfortably without the pressure of a multi-day itinerary.
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 112.4 miles from Buckeye, AZ, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92 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 49 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.4 miles or 1h 59m 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 30m
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 Buckeye, 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 Buckeye, AZ
This is one driving day of about 224.7 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Buckeye, 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 Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 92 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.1 and 202.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
6.1 mi into trip|~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
5
7.1 mi into trip|~11m in|I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
99.1 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|I 10 Business
Take the exit onto I 10 Business toward US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma
5
153.1 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|US 95 / Route 95
Turn sharp right onto US 95 / Route 95
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
202.2 mi into trip|~3h 51m in|Front Street
At end of road, turn left onto Front Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.76 one way
$89.53 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$47.37
$94.75
premium
$5.59
$49.46
$98.92
diesel
$5.61
$49.61
$99.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.4
0
$23.59
$10.79
Efficient EV
56.2
0
$19.66
$8.99
EV Truck/SUV
89.9
1
$31.46
$14.38
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Buckeye, AZ
Night
in Buckeye on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bullhead City, AZ
Night
in Bullhead City on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Parker, AZ
112 mi in
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
1 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 28m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied experience behind the wheel, starting with a 92-mile stretch on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway that serves as your longest uninterrupted segment. Once you transition away from the interstate, the personality of the route shifts toward a turn-heavy local drive. You will navigate a combination of Route 95 and the Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway, which demand more attention than standard highway cruising. While the initial portion offers a faster pace, the local road segments define the latter half of your journey. Be prepared to shift your driving style as the road narrows and curves, moving away from the highway-dominant start toward a more technical, winding finish.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 92 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.1 miles in.
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 224.7 miles you will encounter 16 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 6.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 99.1 miles (I 10 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Buckeye, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Yuma along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 28m. Total distance: 224.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 92 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Bullhead City, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 99.1 miles (I 10 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Bullhead City, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
