This 170.2-mile drive from Litchfield Park, AZ to Yuma, AZ will take you about 2 hours and 35 minutes. It's a straightforward, one-day trip with a modest fuel cost of around $34. You'll primarily navigate local roads like West Wigwam Boulevard and North 144th Avenue, so expect a turn-heavy experience rather than an open highway cruise. Since both your origin and destination are within the Desert Southwest region, you won't encounter dramatic landscape shifts, but rather a consistent arid environment. This route is best suited for a single day of travel.
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
85.3 miles from Litchfield Park, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m 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
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
11.9 mi
12m
South Oglesby Road
3.6 mi
5m
East Pima Street
2.4 mi
5m
Papago Freeway
2 mi
2m
Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
1.6 mi
2m
North 144th Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 113.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Litchfield Park, AZ and Yuma, AZ.
1
Start on this road
98 ft·2 sec·this road
2
Continue on West Wigwam Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·West Wigwam Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto North 144th Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·North 144th Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on West Encanto Boulevard
0.3 mi·37 sec·West Encanto Boulevard
5
Turn left onto North Bullard Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·North Bullard Avenue
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 10 West: Los AngelesUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 10
2.0 mi·2 min·Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 10
12 mi·12 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 112Toward AZ 85: Yuma, San DiegoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on AZ 85
3.6 mi·5 min·South Oglesby Road
11
Continue on AZ 85; US 80 Hist
1.0 mi·1 min·Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
12
Continue on AZ 85
28 mi·33 min·Arizona State Highway 85
13
Take the exit onto AZ 85
0.6 mi·1 min·Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
Toward AZ-85 South: Gila Bend
14
Continue on AZ 85
0.3 mi·43 sec·Arizona State Highway 85
15
Continue on AZ 85
2.4 mi·5 min·East Pima Street
16
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
17
Merge onto I 8
114 mi·1 hr 57 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Giss Parkway
19
Keep slight left at fork
189 ft·4 sec
20
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
251 ft·4 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
21
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
0.6 mi·1 min·Harold C Giss Parkway
22
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
120 ft·2 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
23
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
0.3 mi·36 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
24
Turn right onto I 8 BUS; US 80 Hist
0.3 mi·35 sec·South 4th Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
I 8 BUS
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 35 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to make the most of your daylight hours and the cooler temperatures of the Desert Southwest. With one stop suggested, you'll have ample flexibility to pull over when needed. The fuel cost is estimated at $34, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before leaving Litchfield Park, as this is a turn-heavy local drive where fuel stations might be spaced out between towns.
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 85.3 miles from Litchfield Park, AZ, or about 1h 44m 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 38 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.3 miles or 1h 44m 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 40m
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 Litchfield Park, 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 Litchfield Park, AZ
This is one driving day of about 170.6 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Litchfield Park, 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 169.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|North 144th Avenue
Turn left onto North 144th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
3.2 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
5
3.6 mi into trip|~7m 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
17.5 mi into trip|~22m 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
5
169.3 mi into trip|~3h 10m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.99 one way
$67.97 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$35.97
$71.93
premium
$5.59
$37.55
$75.10
diesel
$5.61
$37.67
$75.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.2
0
$17.91
$8.19
Efficient EV
42.7
0
$14.93
$6.82
EV Truck/SUV
68.2
0
$23.88
$10.92
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Litchfield Park, AZ
Morning
in Litchfield Park on Tuesday
Local time
6:51 AM
MST
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yuma, AZ
Morning
in Yuma on Tuesday
Local time
6:51 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
27 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 13m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Don't expect wide-open highway stretches on this journey; the 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile accurately describes the experience. With a 0% highway share, you'll be making frequent turns and navigating through local thoroughfares, including West Encanto Boulevard. There isn't a 'longest stretch' of uninterrupted driving noted, meaning you'll be actively engaged with the road and your surroundings throughout the 170.2 miles. The character of the drive remains consistently local and requires your attention to navigation.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 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?
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 0.6 miles in near North 144th Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 170.6 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 0.6 miles (North 144th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Litchfield Park, 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 13m. Total distance: 170.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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.
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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (North 144th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Yuma, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
