Spanning 151.1 miles across the Desert Southwest, the drive from Yuma to Buckeye is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this is an ideal one-day trip that does not require an overnight stop. You should budget approximately $30 for fuel to complete the trek. Navigating via Winterhaven Drive, Kumeyaay Highway, and Blue Star Memorial Highway, you will stay entirely within Arizona. It is a practical route for those looking to traverse this corner of the state efficiently without the need for complex multi-day planning.
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
75.5 miles from Yuma, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
114.2 mi
1h 59m
Arizona State Highway 85
28.1 mi
32m
East Pima Street
3.3 mi
6m
Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
2 mi
3m
MC 85
2 mi
3m
East Monroe Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
North 4th Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
I 8 Business
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 114.2 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yuma, AZ and Buckeye, AZ.
1
Start on I 8 BUS
0.3 mi·22 sec·North 4th Avenue
2
Continue on I 8 BUS
0.1 mi·16 sec·Winterhaven Drive
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
4
Merge onto I 8
0.2 mi·12 sec·Kumeyaay Highway
5
Continue on I 8
114 mi·1 hr 59 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit onto I 8 Business
0.2 mi·29 sec·I 8 Business
Toward 85: Phoenix, Ajo
7
Continue on I 8 Bus; US 80 Hist
3.3 mi·6 min·East Pima Street
Toward AZ-85: Phoenix, Gilda Bend
8
Continue on AZ 85
0.7 mi·1 min·Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
9
Turn left onto AZ 85
0.3 mi·44 sec·Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on AZ 85
28 mi·32 min·Arizona State Highway 85
11
Continue on AZ 85; US 80 Hist
1.0 mi·1 min·Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
12
Turn right onto US 80 Hist
2.0 mi·3 min·MC 85
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on US 80 Hist
0.4 mi·55 sec·East Monroe Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
US 80 Hist
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 2 hour and 15 minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time. Given the turn-heavy nature of these local roads, plan to tackle the distance during daylight hours to ensure better visibility for navigating the turns. While the $30 fuel budget is sufficient for the trip, it is wise to fuel up before leaving Yuma to avoid any uncertainty on local stretches. Because there are no scheduled stops in the route data, keep your own pace and pull over whenever you need a breather to maintain focus. Staying alert is key when navigating non-highway routes, so keep your eyes sharp for changing road conditions along the way.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.5 miles from Yuma, AZ, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 114.2 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 33 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.5 miles or 1h 19m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buckeye, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Yuma, 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 Yuma, AZ
This is one driving day of about 151.1 miles and 2h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Yuma, 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 114.2 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 148.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|I 8 / Kumeyaay Highway
Merge onto I 8 / Kumeyaay Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
115.1 mi into trip|~2h in|I 8 Business
Take the exit onto I 8 Business toward 85: Phoenix, Ajo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward 85: Phoenix, Ajo
5
119.3 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|AZ 85 / Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
Turn left onto AZ 85 / Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
148.7 mi into trip|~2h 43m in|US 80 Hist / MC 85
Turn right onto US 80 Hist / MC 85
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.10 one way
$60.20 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$31.86
$63.71
premium
$5.59
$33.26
$66.52
diesel
$5.61
$33.36
$66.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.3
0
$15.87
$7.25
Efficient EV
37.8
0
$13.22
$6.04
EV Truck/SUV
60.4
0
$21.15
$9.67
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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
Yuma, AZ
Late night
in Yuma on Tuesday
Local time
2:10 AM
MST
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Buckeye, AZ
Late night
in Buckeye on Tuesday
Local time
2:10 AM
MST
Current temp
57°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
2 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
2h 48m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will be navigating local roads for the duration of the 151.1-mile trip. The road’s personality is defined by its technical nature rather than high-speed cruising. Because there are no designated long, uninterrupted stretches, you will find the driving experience requires constant engagement. Prepare for a steady, hands-on pace as you transition from Yuma toward the Buckeye area.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 114.2 mi on Blue Star Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Yuma, AZ to Buckeye, AZ is easy. At 2h 48m with 20% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (I 8 / Kumeyaay Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 115.1 miles (I 8 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Yuma, AZ and Buckeye, AZ, road signs point toward 85: Phoenix, Ajo and Gilda Bend.
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.
The longest stretch is about 114.2 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (I 8 / Kumeyaay Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 115.1 miles (I 8 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Buckeye, AZ before heading back.
