Spanning 248.8 miles across the Desert Southwest, this journey from Three Points to Yuma takes approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes of driving time. Because the route relies on local roads like South Sandario, North Sandario, and West Avra Valley rather than major interstates, it functions best as a focused, one-day trip. Budget about $50 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. While the transition from Three Points to Yuma keeps you within the same desert region, the shift in local geography makes for a distinct travel experience. Since you will be navigating local roads for the entire duration, this path is ideal for those who prefer steering clear of heavy interstate traffic.
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
124.4 miles from Three Points, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
118.9 mi
2h 2m
Phoenix Bypass Route
58.9 mi
58m
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
36.1 mi
36m
South Sandario Road
18.3 mi
29m
West Ajo Highway
6.3 mi
7m
North Sanders Road
4 mi
6m
North Sandario Road
1.9 mi
3m
West Avra Valley Road
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 118.9 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Three Points, AZ and Yuma, AZ.
1
Start on AZ 86
6.3 mi·7 min·West Ajo Highway
2
Turn left onto South Sandario Road
18 mi·29 min·South Sandario Road
3
Enter roundabout onto North Sandario Road
94 ft·4 sec·North Sandario Road
4
Continue on North Sandario Road
1.5 mi·2 min·North Sandario Road
5
Turn left onto West Avra Valley Road
1.0 mi·1 min·West Avra Valley Road
6
Turn right onto North Sanders Road
4.0 mi·6 min·North Sanders Road
7
At end of road, turn right onto West Marana Road
0.5 mi·53 sec·West Marana Road
8
Continue on Marana Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Marana Main Street
9
Enter roundabout onto North Sandario Road
189 ft·6 sec·North Sandario Road
10
Continue on North Sandario Road
0.3 mi·59 sec·North Sandario Road
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
12
Merge onto I 10
36 mi·36 min·Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·35 sec
Exit 199Toward I 8 West: San Diego
14
Continue on I 8
59 mi·58 min·Phoenix Bypass Route
15
Continue on I 8
119 mi·2 hr 2 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Giss Parkway
17
Keep slight left at fork
189 ft·4 sec
18
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
251 ft·4 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
19
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
0.6 mi·1 min·Harold C Giss Parkway
20
Enter roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway
120 ft·2 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
21
Continue on Harold C Giss Parkway
0.3 mi·36 sec·Harold C Giss Parkway
22
Turn right onto I 8 BUS; US 80 Hist
0.3 mi·35 sec·South 4th Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
I 8 BUS
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 45 minute duration, planning for at least one dedicated stop will help you stay fresh behind the wheel. Since this is a turn-heavy local route, try to depart during daylight hours to ensure you can clearly see the road transitions and signage. Keep that $50 fuel budget in mind as you map out your stops, ensuring you have enough range to reach Yuma without stress. Use the inherent flexibility of this local route to adjust your pace as needed throughout the day. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to double-check your GPS frequently, as the reliance on local roads like West Avra Valley Road requires more frequent navigation adjustments than a standard highway route.
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 124.4 miles from Three Points, AZ, or about 2h 23m 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 55 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.4 miles or 2h 23m 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 44m
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 Three Points, 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 Three Points, AZ
This is one driving day of about 248.8 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Three Points, 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 24.6 and 69.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
24.6 mi into trip|~36m in|North Sandario Road
Enter roundabout onto North Sandario Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
31.1 mi into trip|~47m in|West Marana Road
At end of road, turn right onto West Marana Road
Navigation decision point
5
32.5 mi into trip|~50m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Navigation decision point
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
5
32.9 mi into trip|~51m in|I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
69.1 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 8 West: San Diego
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 199
Toward I 8 West: San Diego
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.56 one way
$99.13 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$52.45
$104.91
premium
$5.59
$54.77
$109.53
diesel
$5.61
$54.93
$109.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.6
0
$26.12
$11.94
Efficient EV
62.2
0
$21.77
$9.95
EV Truck/SUV
99.5
1
$34.83
$15.92
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Three Points, AZ
Evening
in Three Points on Saturday
Local time
7:44 PM
MST
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yuma, AZ
Evening
in Yuma on Saturday
Local time
7:44 PM
MST
Current temp
87°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
3 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 32m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Because the route consists of 0% highway driving, you won't be dealing with the monotony of long, straight interstate stretches. Instead, you will navigate a series of local connectors that demand your full attention. The road's personality is defined by its constant shifts and reliance on smaller regional arteries. You should be prepared for a technical drive where the pace is set by local road conditions rather than high-speed cruising.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 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?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 24.6 miles in near North Sandario Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 32m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 24.6 miles (North Sandario Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 31.1 miles (West Marana Road): Navigation decision point; at 32.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 248.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
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.
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.6 miles (North Sandario Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 31.1 miles (West Marana Road): Navigation decision point; at 32.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Yuma, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
