Skip to main content

Trip from Lake Havasu City, AZ to New River, AZ

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 12m

Distance

225.7 mi

363 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 59m ★
6 AM
4h 12m
8 AM
4h 38m
10 AM
4h 21m
12 PM
4h 19m
3 PM
4h 23m
5 PM
4h 37m
8 PM
4h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Mohave County, Arizona, United States

Lake Havasu City, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

census-designated place in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

New River, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Lake Havasu City, AZ to New River, AZ is 225.7 miles and takes about 4h 12m via Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway and Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arizona's Desert Southwest region, offering a straightforward drive primarily on surface roads. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, it's a manageable route for a single day. Plan for a direct transit through desert terrain.

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

112.8 miles from Lake Havasu City, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway 103.4 mi 1h 43m
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway 54.6 mi 1h 3m
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway 34.2 mi 39m
Black Canyon Freeway 8.9 mi 9m
Riverside Drive 7.1 mi 8m
Rio Vista Highway 4.4 mi 5m
North Acoma Boulevard 3.1 mi 5m
North Central Boulevard 3.1 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway — 103.4 mi, about 1h 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Havasu City, AZ and New River, AZ.

1

Start on Mescal Loop

51 ft · 7 sec · Mescal Loop
2

Turn left onto Smoketree Avenue North

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Smoketree Avenue North
3

Turn left onto North Acoma Boulevard

3.1 mi · 5 min · North Acoma Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Turn left onto AZ 95

17 mi · 20 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Use the left lane.
5

Continue on AZ 95

7.1 mi · 8 min · Riverside Drive
6

Turn straight onto AZ 95

6.6 mi · 7 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
7

Continue on AZ 95

4.4 mi · 5 min · Rio Vista Highway
8

Turn left onto AZ 95

0.9 mi · 1 min · California Avenue
9

Continue on AZ 95

11 mi · 13 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
10

Continue on AZ 95

20 mi · 22 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
11

Continue on AZ 95

3.1 mi · 3 min · North Central Boulevard
12

Turn left onto I 10 BUS

1.0 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
13

Turn right onto I 10 Bus

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Riggles Road
14

Take the ramp onto I 10 Business

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 10 Business
15

Merge onto I 10

103 mi · 1 hr 43 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

1.7 mi · 2 min
Exit 124A Toward AZ 303 Loop North Use the slight right lane.
17

Merge onto AZ 303 Loop

34 mi · 39 min · Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff Use the straight lane.
19

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 16 sec
Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
20

Merge onto I 17

8.9 mi · 9 min · Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Exit 232 Toward New River Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Turn right onto North New River Road

0.2 mi · 37 sec · North New River Road
Use the right lane.
23

At end of road, turn left onto I-17 Frontage Road

0.3 mi · 28 sec · I-17 Frontage Road
24

Turn right onto West New River Road

0.3 mi · 37 sec · West New River Road
25

Turn right onto North Kelley Road

0.2 mi · 36 sec · North Kelley Road
26

Arrive at destination

North Kelley Road

Trip Plan

Leaving early in the morning from Lake Havasu City is a good idea to maximize daylight for the 4h 12m drive. With only one stop suggested, you can choose to make it a brief fuel and stretch break or a more extended lunch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 103.4-mile stretch on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, as fuel stops might be less frequent. The $45 fuel estimate is a helpful budget guide for this 225.7-mile trip.

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 112.8 miles from Lake Havasu City, AZ, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.4 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 50 miles or 1h 1m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 112.8 miles or 2h 10m 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 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New River, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Lake Havasu City, 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 Lake Havasu City, AZ

This is one driving day of about 225.7 miles and 4h 12m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Lake Havasu City, 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 103.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in La Paz County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Quartzsite, AZ

113 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

Parker, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Salome, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 112.8 miles from Lake Havasu City, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.4 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Bouse Wash Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Bouse Wash Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Burnt Well Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Burnt Well Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.2 mi from route

Pride Travel Center

0.3 mi from route

TA

0.4 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

1.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

1.5 mi from route

Jack Hardie Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+19284538686

Visit website

Lake Havasu Museum of History & Havasu Rocks

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+19288544938

Visit website

Pioneer Living History Museum

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 209.6

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+16234651052

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 224.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
3.3 mi into trip | ~6m in | AZ 95 / Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

Turn left onto AZ 95 / Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
178.4 mi into trip | ~3h 16m in

Take the exit toward AZ 303 Loop North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 124A Toward AZ 303 Loop North
6
214.4 mi into trip | ~3h 58m in

Take the exit toward I 17 North: Flagstaff

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Toward I 17 North: Flagstaff
7
224.4 mi into trip | ~4h 9m in

Take the exit toward New River

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 232 Toward New River
6
224.6 mi into trip | ~4h 9m in | North New River Road

Turn right onto North New River Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.96 one way

$89.92 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 79 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $47.58 $95.17
premium $5.59 $49.68 $99.36
diesel $5.61 $49.83 $99.66

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: 79 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 67.7 0 $23.70 $10.83
Efficient EV 56.4 0 $19.75 $9.03
EV Truck/SUV 90.3 1 $31.60 $14.44

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

Lake Havasu City, AZ

Night in Lake Havasu City on Saturday

Local time

9:46 PM

MST

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New River, AZ

Night in New River on Saturday

Local time

9:46 PM

MST

Current temp

86°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

2 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 12m 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?

You'll spend about 19% of this 225.7-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, covers 103.4 miles. After that, you'll transition to predominantly surface roads. Expect a rural cruising feel for much of the route, punctuated by more developed areas around towns.

Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.4 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near AZ 95 / Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 225.7 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 3.3 miles (AZ 95 / Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 178.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 214.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Lake Havasu City, AZ

Full guide →

Lake Havasu City is a city in Mohave County in western Arizona. It is known best for being the home of the 1831 London Bridge, which Robert McCulloch, the founder of the city, bought from the British government in 1967.

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 12m. Total distance: 225.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 103.4 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 13 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 New River, 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 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles (AZ 95 / Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 178.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 214.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at New River, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Lake Havasu City, AZ or browse trips ending in New River, AZ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.