Sentinel Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Carefree, AZ to Yuma, AZ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 9m
Distance
213.7 mi
344 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 56m
★
6 AM
4h 9m
8 AM
4h 35m
10 AM
4h 18m
12 PM
4h 16m
3 PM
4h 20m
5 PM
4h 34m
8 PM
4h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carefree, AZ
Serg Alesenko
Yuma, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Carefree, AZ to Yuma, AZ is 213.7 miles and takes about 4h 9m via Blue Star Memorial Highway and Arizona State Highway 85, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arizona, traversing the Desert Southwest region. You'll experience a mix of highway driving and surface roads as you make your way west. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single day's travel.
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
106.9 miles from Carefree, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 17m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 113.8 mi | 1h 57m |
| Arizona State Highway 85 | 28.5 mi | 33m |
| Agua Fria Freeway | 21.5 mi | 24m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 11.9 mi | 12m |
| North Cave Creek Road | 9.7 mi | 16m |
| Papago Freeway | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| Pima Freeway | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| South Oglesby Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 113.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carefree, AZ and Yuma, AZ.
1
Start on North Tranquil Trail
10 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Tranquil Trail
2
Continue on North Bloody Basin Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Bloody Basin Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto North Tom Darlington Drive
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North Tom Darlington Drive
4
Turn right onto East Carefree Highway
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
East Carefree Highway
5
Turn left onto North Cave Creek Road
9.7 mi
·
16 min
·
North Cave Creek Road
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
394 ft
·
7 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop West
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
this road
Toward AZ 101 Loop West
8
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
22 mi
·
24 min
·
Agua Fria Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1A
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 10
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 10
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 112
Toward AZ 85: Yuma, San Diego
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on AZ 85
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
South Oglesby Road
15
Continue on AZ 85; US 80 Hist
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
16
Continue on AZ 85
28 mi
·
33 min
·
Arizona State Highway 85
17
Take the exit onto AZ 85
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
Toward AZ-85 South: Gila Bend
18
Continue on AZ 85
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Arizona State Highway 85
19
Continue on AZ 85
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
East Pima Street
20
Take the exit onto I 8 Bus; US 80 Hist
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 8 Bus; US 80 Hist
Toward I 8 West: San Diego
21
Merge onto I 8
114 mi
·
1 hr 57 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Giss Parkway
23
Keep slight left at fork
189 ft
·
4 sec
24
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
251 ft
·
4 sec
·
Harold C Giss Parkway
25
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Harold C Giss Parkway
26
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
120 ft
·
2 sec
·
Harold C Giss Parkway
27
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Harold C Giss Parkway
28
Turn right onto I 8 BUS; US 80 Hist
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
South 4th Avenue
29
Arrive at destination
I 8 BUS
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time, departing Carefree in the morning allows ample time to reach Yuma before evening. The route has only one recommended stop, so you have flexibility in pacing your trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially after leaving the main highway segments, as services may be more spread out. Planning to refuel before you hit the longest stretch on the Blue Star Memorial Highway is a smart move to ensure a smooth drive.
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 106.9 miles from Carefree, AZ, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.8 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 47 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.9 miles or 2h 17m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yuma, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carefree, 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 Carefree, AZ
This is one driving day of about 213.7 miles and 4h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Carefree, 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 113.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
107 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 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 106.9 miles from Carefree, 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 113.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Mohawk Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Mohawk Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Sentinel Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Maverik
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Rest Area
1.7 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1.7 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
1.9 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 13.6 and 60.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
13.6 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the ramp toward AZ 101 Loop West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward AZ 101 Loop West
5
14.1 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
39.9 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
5
40.5 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
I 10 / Papago Freeway
Merge onto I 10 / Papago Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
60.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward AZ 85: Yuma, San Diego
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 112
Toward AZ 85: Yuma, San Diego
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.87 one way
$75.74 round trip
$4.50/gal
25.4 MPG avg
75 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.82 | $40.55 | $81.11 |
| premium | $5.04 | $42.42 | $84.84 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $40.35 | $80.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.1 | 0 | $22.44 | $10.26 |
| Efficient EV | 53.4 | 0 | $18.70 | $8.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 85.5 | 1 | $29.92 | $13.68 |
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Origin
Carefree, AZ
Late night in Carefree on Sunday
Local time
3:58 AM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 5 mph
23% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:46PM MST until July 18 at 5:15PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 2:42PM MST until July 18 at 5:45PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Destination
Yuma, AZ
Late night in Yuma on Sunday
Local time
3:58 AM
MST
Current temp
106°F
Sunny
SSE 5 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:46PM MST until July 18 at 5:15PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 2:42PM MST until July 18 at 5:45PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
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
17 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 9m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
About 30% of this 213.7-mile drive is on highways, with the remaining 70% on surface roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 113.8 miles on the Blue Star Memorial Highway. Expect to transition from freeway conditions to more rural cruising as you proceed west. The initial stretch involves freeway merging before giving way to open road.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113.8 mi on Blue Star Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 213.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 13.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.1 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,391 ft
141 ft
Total Climb
129 ft
Total Descent
2,380 ft
Highest Point
2,391 ft
Elevation Range
2,251 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Carefree, AZ to Yuma, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward San Diego along the way.
San Diego
60.6 mi in
|
~1h 18m
About the Cities
Starting in Carefree, AZ
Full guide →Founded 1958
Top landmarks
- • Verde River Sheep Bridge — bridge in Arizona, United States of America
Arriving in Yuma, AZ
Full guide →Founded 1888
Yuma is the largest city and county seat of Yuma County, Arizona. It is in the southwest corner of the state, across the Colorado River from California and near two Mexican states of Baja California and Sonora.
Top landmarks
- • Brown House — historic house in Yuma, Arizona, USA
- • Masonic Temple — in Yuma, Arizona
- • Gandolfo Theatre — former movie theater in Yuma, Arizona, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 9m. Total distance: 213.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 113.8 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Yuma, 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. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.1 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Yuma, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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