Lake Montezuma to Yuma is 273.5 miles and takes about 5h 3m via Blue Star Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $54 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Arizona, traversing the Desert Southwest region from start to finish. Expect a trip dominated by surface roads, offering a more grounded perspective of the landscape. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is best suited for those looking for a straightforward transit between two points in the state.
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
136.7 miles from Lake Montezuma, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
113.8 mi
1h 57m
Arizona Veterans Highway
47.2 mi
47m
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
32.2 mi
37m
Arizona State Highway 85
28.5 mi
33m
Black Canyon Freeway
13.9 mi
14m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
10.5 mi
11m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
5.8 mi
5m
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 Lake Montezuma, AZ and Yuma, AZ.
1
Start on North Montezuma Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·North Montezuma Avenue
2
Keep slight left at fork onto North Montezuma Avenue
328 ft·9 sec·North Montezuma Avenue
3
Turn straight onto East Beaver Creek Road
1.9 mi·4 min·East Beaver Creek Road
4
Continue on CR 30
0.1 mi·17 sec·East Cornville Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
6
Merge onto I 17
47 mi·47 min·Arizona Veterans Highway
7
Continue on I 17
5.8 mi·5 min·Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 17
10 mi·10 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on I 17
3.2 mi·3 min·North Black Canyon Highway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 17
3.4 mi·3 min·Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·38 sec
Exit 221Toward AZ 303 Loop SouthUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto AZ 303 Loop
0.6 mi·1 min·AZ 303 Loop
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi·45 sec
14
Continue on this road
411 ft·7 sec·this road
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·21 sec
16
Merge onto AZ 303 Loop
0.2 mi·12 sec·Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
17
Take the exit
0.7 mi·47 sec
18
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·19 sec·this road
19
Merge onto AZ 303 Loop
32 mi·36 min·Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 104BToward I 10 West: Los AngelesUse the slight right lane.
21
Merge onto I 10
11 mi·11 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 112Toward AZ 85: Yuma, San DiegoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on AZ 85
3.6 mi·5 min·South Oglesby Road
24
Continue on AZ 85; US 80 Hist
1.0 mi·1 min·Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
25
Continue on AZ 85
28 mi·33 min·Arizona State Highway 85
26
Take the exit onto AZ 85
0.6 mi·1 min·Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
Toward AZ-85 South: Gila Bend
27
Continue on AZ 85
0.3 mi·43 sec·Arizona State Highway 85
28
Continue on AZ 85
2.4 mi·5 min·East Pima Street
29
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
30
Merge onto I 8
114 mi·1 hr 57 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
31
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Giss Parkway
32
Keep slight left at fork
189 ft·4 sec
33
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
251 ft·4 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
34
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
0.6 mi·1 min·Harold C Giss Parkway
35
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
120 ft·2 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
36
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
0.3 mi·36 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
37
Turn right onto I 8 BUS; US 80 Hist
0.3 mi·35 sec·South 4th Avenue
38
Arrive at destination
I 8 BUS
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 3m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to complete this trip in one day. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, especially since the longest stretch is over 100 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly as you transition from highway to surface roads, as gas stations might be less frequent in some stretches. The $54 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's wise to check current prices before you depart. Since this is a single-day drive, you have flexibility to depart a bit later if needed.
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 136.7 miles from Lake Montezuma, AZ, or about 2h 34m 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 60 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.7 miles or 2h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 11m
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 Lake Montezuma, 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 Montezuma, AZ
This is one driving day of about 273.5 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Lake Montezuma, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 73.6 and 120.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
73.6 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward AZ 303 Loop South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 221
Toward AZ 303 Loop South
6
74.1 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|AZ 303 Loop
Turn right onto AZ 303 Loop
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
75.4 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
108.9 mi into trip|~2h in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 104B
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
8
120.4 mi into trip|~2h 12m 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
$48.47 one way
$96.93 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$51.90
$103.80
premium
$5.04
$54.29
$108.58
diesel
$4.80
$51.64
$103.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.1
1
$28.72
$13.13
Efficient EV
68.4
0
$23.93
$10.94
EV Truck/SUV
109.4
1
$38.29
$17.50
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Lake Montezuma, AZ
Late night
in Lake Montezuma on Sunday
Local time
1:16 AM
MST
Current temp
67°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
E 3 mph44% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:14PM PDT until July 17 at 9:45PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:08PM MST until July 17 at 10:15PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Destination
Yuma, AZ
Late night
in Yuma on Sunday
Local time
1:16 AM
MST
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Clear
SE 0 to 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:14PM PDT until July 17 at 9:45PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:08PM MST until July 17 at 10:15PM 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
16 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
5h 3m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
National Monument
Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff...
Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs that well up from the ancient sedimentary ro...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 28% of this 273.5-mile drive on highways, with the remaining miles on surface roads. The longest stretch of continuous highway driving is 113.8 miles on the Blue Star Memorial Highway. After this, expect to transition to more local roads. The profile is mostly surface roads, so anticipate more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you approach towns and navigate through them.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
38 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?
10/10
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 73.6 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 273.5 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 73.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.1 miles (AZ 303 Loop): Lane positioning matters here; at 75.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,481 ft141 ft
Total Climb
1,482 ft
Total Descent
4,800 ft
Highest Point
4,481 ft
~19.5 mi in
Elevation Range
4,341 ft
Notable High Points
4,481 ft at ~19.5 miles+1,022 ft prominence
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 Lake Montezuma, AZ to Yuma, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward San Diego along the way.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 3m. Total distance: 273.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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 18 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 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 73.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.1 miles (AZ 303 Loop): Lane positioning matters here; at 75.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Montezuma Castle National Monument and Tuzigoot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Yuma, AZ before the return drive.
