This 200.2-mile drive from Coolidge, AZ to Yuma, AZ is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 35 minutes. You'll navigate a mix of local roads and bypasses, including stretches of the Blue Star Memorial Highway and South Arizona Boulevard. With a fuel cost estimated around $40, this trip offers a straightforward journey through the Desert Southwest. The route's turn-heavy nature suggests you'll be actively engaged with the road. This is a practical option for those looking to connect two points within Arizona without a demanding travel 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
100.1 miles from Coolidge, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
118.9 mi
2h 2m
Phoenix Bypass Route
58.1 mi
58m
South Arizona Boulevard
6.9 mi
11m
Casa Grande la Palma Highway
6 mi
8m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
3.5 mi
3m
AZ 287
3 mi
4m
Harold C Giss Parkway
1 mi
1m
East Florence Boulevard
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 118.9 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Coolidge, AZ and Yuma, AZ.
1
Start on West Central Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·West Central Avenue
2
Turn left onto AZ 87; AZ 287
6.9 mi·11 min·South Arizona Boulevard
3
Turn right onto AZ 287
3.0 mi·4 min·AZ 287
4
Continue on AZ 287
6.0 mi·8 min·Casa Grande la Palma Highway
5
Continue on AZ 287
1.0 mi·1 min·East Florence Boulevard
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 10 East: TucsonUse the straight / left / right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 10
3.5 mi·3 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 199Toward I 8 West: San DiegoUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 8
58 mi·58 min·Phoenix Bypass Route
10
Continue on I 8
119 mi·2 hr 2 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Giss Parkway
12
Keep slight left at fork
189 ft·4 sec
13
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
251 ft·4 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
14
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
0.6 mi·1 min·Harold C Giss Parkway
15
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
120 ft·2 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
16
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
0.3 mi·36 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
17
Turn right onto I 8 BUS; US 80 Hist
0.3 mi·35 sec·South 4th Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
I 8 BUS
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 35-minute duration and 200.2-mile distance, this route is a comfortable one-day trip. To make the most of it, consider an early morning departure to avoid any potential midday heat or traffic, especially if you're traveling during warmer months. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a turn is over 118 miles. The fuel cost is estimated at $40, so factor that into your budget. A good tip for this turn-heavy route is to ensure your navigation system is up-to-date before you leave Coolidge.
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 100.1 miles from Coolidge, AZ, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.9 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 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.1 miles or 1h 51m 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 57m
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 Coolidge, 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 Coolidge, AZ
This is one driving day of about 200.2 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Coolidge, 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 118.9 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.3 and 198.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
17.3 mi into trip|~26m in
Turn left toward I 10 East: Tucson
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
5
17.6 mi into trip|~27m in|I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
21.1 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the exit toward I 8 West: San Diego
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 199
Toward I 8 West: San Diego
5
198.9 mi into trip|~3h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
198.9 mi into trip|~3h 33m in|Harold C Giss Parkway
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.88 one way
$79.76 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$42.21
$84.42
premium
$5.59
$44.07
$88.14
diesel
$5.61
$44.20
$88.40
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 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.1
0
$21.02
$9.61
Efficient EV
50.1
0
$17.52
$8.01
EV Truck/SUV
80.1
1
$28.03
$12.81
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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 20, 2026
Origin
Coolidge, AZ
Late night
in Coolidge on Tuesday
Local time
1:46 AM
MST
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yuma, AZ
Late night
in Yuma on Tuesday
Local time
1:46 AM
MST
Current temp
59°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
24 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 35m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the majority of this 200.2-mile route. While you'll encounter some highway segments, including the Phoenix Bypass Route, the overall character is more about navigating local roads and state highways like the Blue Star Memorial Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 118.9 miles on the Blue Star Memorial Highway, offering a solid period of consistent travel before more turns appear. This isn't a high-speed interstate experience; rather, it's a drive where you'll be more hands-on with steering and navigation.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.9 mi on Blue Star Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
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 17.3 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 200.2 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 17.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 17.6 miles (I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 35m. Total distance: 200.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (2%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 118.9 miles on Blue Star 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 17.6 miles (I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Yuma, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
