Saint Johns, AZ to Yuma, AZ is 396.6 miles and takes about 7h 55m via Blue Star Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $83 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you across the Desert Southwest region of Arizona, moving from one point in the arid landscape to another. Given the duration and mileage, it's a feasible same-day trip, though you'll want to be mindful of daylight hours for navigation. The profile suggests a significant portion of the drive will be on surface roads, so expect a more varied pace than pure highway driving.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
198.3 miles from Saint Johns, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
118.9 mi
2h 2m
Globe-Show Low Highway
83.5 mi
1h 35m
Phoenix Bypass Route
58.1 mi
58m
West Cleveland Street
33.4 mi
49m
Phoenix–Globe Highway
29.7 mi
38m
Oracle Junction-Florence Highway
15.6 mi
19m
Show Low-Springerville-East Highway
9.2 mi
11m
North Signal Peak Road
8.7 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 118.9 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Johns, AZ and Yuma, AZ.
1
Start on US 180; US 191
73 ft·6 sec·White Mountain Drive
2
Turn left onto US 180; AZ 61
0.2 mi·42 sec·Commercial Street
3
Continue on US 180; AZ 61
33 mi·49 min·West Cleveland Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 60
9.2 mi·11 min·Show Low-Springerville-East Highway
5
Continue on US 60
4.7 mi·9 min·East Deuce of Clubs
6
Continue on US 60; AZ 77
83 mi·1 hr 35 min·Globe-Show Low Highway
7
Turn right onto US 60
1.1 mi·2 min·East Ash Street
8
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·South Hill Street
9
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·11 sec·East Oak Street
10
Turn right onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·North Broad Street
11
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
12
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
13
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·West Live Oak Street
14
Continue on US 60
30 mi·38 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson
16
Turn left onto AZ 79
0.3 mi·45 sec·Oracle Junction–Florence Highway
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist
16 mi·19 min·Oracle Junction-Florence Highway
18
Turn right onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
0.5 mi·1 min·East Butte Avenue
19
Turn left onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
Use the left lane.
20
Enter roundabout onto AZ 287
107 ft·1 sec·Florence-Coolidge Highway
21
Continue on AZ 287
8.1 mi·11 min·Florence-Coolidge Highway
22
Continue on AZ 87
5.2 mi·6 min·Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
23
Turn left onto North Signal Peak Road
8.7 mi·15 min·North Signal Peak Road
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto AZ 287
3.0 mi·4 min·Casa Grande la Palma Highway
25
Continue on AZ 287
1.0 mi·1 min·East Florence Boulevard
Use the left lane.
26
Turn left
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 10 East: TucsonUse the straight / left / right lanes.
27
Merge onto I 10
3.5 mi·3 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 199Toward I 8 West: San DiegoUse the slight right lane.
29
Merge onto I 8
58 mi·58 min·Phoenix Bypass Route
30
Continue on I 8
119 mi·2 hr 2 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
For this 7h 55m drive, departing Saint Johns in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight, especially since you'll be on surface roads for a good portion. With 2 planned stops and a total distance of 396.6 miles, you can comfortably break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $83, and refueling opportunities might be more spread out on the non-highway sections. The longest stretch without a significant break is 118.9 miles, so plan your first stop accordingly, perhaps before or after this segment.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 198.3 miles from Saint Johns, AZ, or about 4h 22m 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 87 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 198.3 miles or 4h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 52m
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 Saint Johns, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Johns, AZ
This is one driving day of about 396.6 miles and 7h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Saint Johns, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 33.7 and 217.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
33.7 mi into trip|~50m in|US 60 / Show Low-Springerville-East Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 60 / Show Low-Springerville-East Highway
Navigation decision point
5
170.1 mi into trip|~3h 42m in
Take the exit toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson
6
201.1 mi into trip|~4h 25m in|North Signal Peak Road
Turn left onto North Signal Peak Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
213.7 mi into trip|~4h 46m in
Turn left toward I 10 East: Tucson
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
7
217.5 mi into trip|~4h 51m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$70.28 one way
$140.56 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg139 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$75.26
$150.52
premium
$5.04
$78.73
$157.45
diesel
$4.80
$74.89
$149.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 138.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
119
1
$41.64
$19.04
Efficient EV
99.2
1
$34.70
$15.86
EV Truck/SUV
158.6
1
$55.52
$25.38
Gas CO2
139 kg
EV CO2
46 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 17, 2026
Origin
Saint Johns, AZ
Evening
in Saint Johns on Saturday
Local time
6:26 PM
MST
Current temp
62°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 0 to 6 mph39% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:04PM MST until July 17 at 12:00AM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:45PM MST until July 16 at 10:45PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ
Destination
Yuma, AZ
Evening
in Yuma on Saturday
Local time
6:26 PM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 5 to 10 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:04PM MST until July 17 at 12:00AM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:45PM MST until July 16 at 10:45PM MST by NWS Tucson 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
23 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
7h 55m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 191.5
Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...
23 mi from route
~56 min detour
$10
near mile 150.4
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 one-third of this 396.6-mile drive on highways, with the remaining two-thirds on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 118.9 miles along the Blue Star Memorial Highway. After this significant highway segment, you'll transition to more varied road conditions, likely encountering more local traffic and changing speed limits as you approach and pass through towns. This shift means you'll be adjusting your driving more frequently than on a route with a higher highway percentage.
Only 3% 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: 118.9 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 33.7 miles in near US 60 / Show Low-Springerville-East Highway.
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 22 significant decision points across 396.6 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 33.7 miles (US 60 / Show Low-Springerville-East Highway): Navigation decision point; at 170.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 201.1 miles (North Signal Peak Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,572 ft141 ft
Total Climb
1,318 ft
Total Descent
6,858 ft
Highest Point
6,572 ft
~28.3 mi in
Elevation Range
6,431 ft
Notable High Points
6,572 ft at ~28.3 miles+629 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 Saint Johns, AZ to Yuma, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Tucson 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 7h 55m. Total distance: 396.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 55m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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.
Yes — we found about 21 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 33.7 miles (US 60 / Show Low-Springerville-East Highway): Navigation decision point; at 170.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 201.1 miles (North Signal Peak Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Tonto National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.9 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.
