Bouse Wash Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Lake Havasu City, AZ to New River, AZ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 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
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
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.
Lake Havasu City, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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 checkTop 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
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 websiteLake 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 websitePioneer Living History Museum
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Home stretch
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Phoenix, Arizona
Hours: 9 am–4 pm
+16234651052
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 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
$46.09 one way
$92.18 round trip
$5.19/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.52 | $49.03 | $98.06 |
| premium | $5.72 | $50.82 | $101.64 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $47.54 | $95.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
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, 2026-06-01.
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.
Origin
Lake Havasu City, AZ
Afternoon in Lake Havasu City on Wednesday
Local time
12:11 PM
MST
Current temp
78°F
Clear
E 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
New River, AZ
Afternoon in New River on Wednesday
Local time
12:11 PM
MST
Current temp
71°F
Clear
N 5 mph
0% chance
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
7 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
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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,013 ft
562 ft
Total Climb
1,996 ft
Total Descent
721 ft
Highest Point
2,013 ft
~225.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,452 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Starbucks
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Born's Best Sandwiches
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
0.5 mi from route
~1 min detour
Lake Havasu City, AZ
Cuisine: sandwich
Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-17:00
Visit websitePizza Hut
Fast_food
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Halfway reset
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Sloane's
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
0.6 mi from route
~1 min detour
Cuisine: american
Hours: Th-Fr 11:00-22:00; Tu-We, Sa-Su 11:00-21...
Chico's Tacos
Restaurant
Near the start, short detour
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
Cuisine: mexican
Visit websiteAZ Rebel Republic
Restaurant
Near the start, short detour
1.5 mi from route
~4 min detour
Cuisine: american
Hours: Su-Th 11:00-20:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:30
Visit websiteCarl's Jr.
Fast_food
Near the start, short detour
1.5 mi from route
~4 min detour
Lake Havasu City, AZ
Cuisine: burger
Visit websiteBucksin Mountain State Park
Park
Near the start, short detour
First break
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
T Rocks
Attraction
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Quartzsite, AZ
Robert McCulloch Sr. & C.V. Wood Jr. Monument
Monument
Near the start, short detour
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Hi Jolly Monument
Memorial
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
2.7 mi from route
~7 min detour
Lake Havasu City Airport (historical)
Yes
Near the start, short detour
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Havasu Inn
Motel
Near the start, short detour
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
Island Suites
Motel
Near the start, short detour
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
Quality Inn & Suites
Hotel
Near the start, short detour
1.4 mi from route
~4 min detour
Saguaro Hot Mineral Wells Motel
Motel
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Tonopah, AZ
Queens Bay Resort Condos
Hotel
Near the start, short detour
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Lake Havasu State Park
Caravan_site
Near the start, short detour
2.2 mi from route
~5 min detour
AZ
Visit websitePoints of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
About the Cities
Starting in Lake Havasu City, AZ
Full guide →Founded 1978
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.
Arriving in New River, AZ
Full guide →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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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