Show Low, AZ to Yuma, AZ is 351.4 miles and takes about 6h 50m via Blue Star Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $70 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you across the Desert Southwest, entirely within Arizona. The profile suggests you'll be on surface roads for most of this trip, so don't expect a high-speed interstate cruise. It's a straightforward one-day trip if you're looking for a direct way to get from the White Mountains to the Colorado River.
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
175.7 miles from Show Low, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 49m 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
Phoenix–Globe Highway
29.7 mi
38m
Oracle Junction-Florence Highway
15.6 mi
19m
North Signal Peak Road
8.7 mi
15m
Florence-Coolidge Highway
8.1 mi
11m
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
5.2 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 118.9 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Show Low, AZ and Yuma, AZ.
1
Start on US 60; AZ 77; AZ 260
2.3 mi·4 min·East Deuce of Clubs
2
Continue on US 60; AZ 77
83 mi·1 hr 35 min·Globe-Show Low Highway
3
Turn right onto US 60
1.1 mi·2 min·East Ash Street
4
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·South Hill Street
5
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft·11 sec·East Oak Street
6
Turn right onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·North Broad Street
7
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
8
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi·7 min·US 60
9
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi·3 min·West Live Oak Street
10
Continue on US 60
30 mi·38 min·Phoenix–Globe Highway
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward AZ 79 South: Florence, Tucson
12
Turn left onto AZ 79
0.3 mi·45 sec·Oracle Junction–Florence Highway
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on AZ 79; US 80 Hist
16 mi·19 min·Oracle Junction-Florence Highway
14
Turn right onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
0.5 mi·1 min·East Butte Avenue
15
Turn left onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
Use the left lane.
16
Enter roundabout onto AZ 287
107 ft·1 sec·Florence-Coolidge Highway
17
Continue on AZ 287
8.1 mi·11 min·Florence-Coolidge Highway
18
Continue on AZ 87
5.2 mi·6 min·Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
19
Turn left onto North Signal Peak Road
8.7 mi·15 min·North Signal Peak Road
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto AZ 287
3.0 mi·4 min·Casa Grande la Palma Highway
21
Continue on AZ 287
1.0 mi·1 min·East Florence Boulevard
Use the left lane.
22
Turn left
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 10 East: TucsonUse the straight / left / right lanes.
23
Merge onto I 10
3.5 mi·3 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 199Toward I 8 West: San DiegoUse the slight right lane.
25
Merge onto I 8
58 mi·58 min·Phoenix Bypass Route
26
Continue on I 8
119 mi·2 hr 2 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Giss Parkway
28
Keep slight left at fork
189 ft·4 sec
29
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
251 ft·4 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
30
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
0.6 mi·1 min·Harold C Giss Parkway
31
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
120 ft·2 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
32
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
0.3 mi·36 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
33
Turn right onto I 8 BUS; US 80 Hist
0.3 mi·35 sec·South 4th Avenue
34
Arrive at destination
I 8 BUS
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour 50-minute estimated drive time, leaving Show Low in the morning should allow you to reach Yuma with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches on surface roads where services might be less frequent than on major interstates. Planning your fuel stops around the 118.9-mile segment on the Blue Star Memorial Highway could be a smart move to ensure you don't have to backtrack for gas.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 175.7 miles from Show Low, AZ, or about 3h 49m 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 77 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 175.7 miles or 3h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 47m
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 Show Low, 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 Show Low, AZ
This is one driving day of about 351.4 miles and 6h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 miles from Show Low, 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 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 124.9 and 172.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
124.9 mi into trip|~2h 37m 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
5
141.7 mi into trip|~3h in|AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist / South Main Street
Turn left onto AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
155.8 mi into trip|~3h 20m in|North Signal Peak Road
Turn left onto North Signal Peak Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
168.5 mi into trip|~3h 41m in
Turn left toward I 10 East: Tucson
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
7
172.3 mi into trip|~3h 45m 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
$62.27 one way
$124.54 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg123 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$66.68
$133.37
premium
$5.04
$69.75
$139.51
diesel
$4.80
$66.35
$132.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.4
1
$36.90
$16.87
Efficient EV
87.9
1
$30.75
$14.06
EV Truck/SUV
140.6
1
$49.20
$22.49
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 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
Show Low, AZ
Evening
in Show Low on Saturday
Local time
6:06 PM
MST
Current temp
58°F
Chance Rain Showers
S 6 mph29% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 3:29AM MST until July 17 at 6:30AM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:52AM MST until July 17 at 5:00AM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Destination
Yuma, AZ
Evening
in Yuma on Saturday
Local time
6:06 PM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Partly Cloudy
ESE 5 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 3:29AM MST until July 17 at 6:30AM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:52AM MST until July 17 at 5:00AM 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
27 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
6h 50m 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 157.5
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
$10
near mile 96.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend a good portion of this 351.4-mile drive on surface roads, as only 33% of this route is on highways. The longest continuous stretch without a major road change is 118.9 miles on the Blue Star Memorial Highway. You'll notice the transition from highway to surface roads, with more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you navigate through towns and less developed areas. The Globe-Show Low Highway and Phoenix Bypass Route will also feature.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
34 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 124.9 miles in.
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 20 significant decision points across 351.4 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 124.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 141.7 miles (AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 155.8 miles (North Signal Peak Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,332 ft141 ft
Total Climb
1,089 ft
Total Descent
7,280 ft
Highest Point
6,332 ft
Elevation Range
6,191 ft
Notable High Points
4,731 ft at ~75.3 miles+388 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 Show Low, AZ to Yuma, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Tucson along the way.
Tucson
124.9 mi in|~2h 37m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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 6h 50m. Total distance: 351.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 50m 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 20 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 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 124.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 141.7 miles (AZ 79 Bus; US 80 Hist / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 155.8 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 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.7 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.
