Spanning 159.5 miles across the Desert Southwest, this journey from Yuma to Maricopa typically takes about 2 hours and 33 minutes. You will primarily navigate via Winterhaven Drive, the Kumeyaay Highway, and the Blue Star Memorial Highway. Given the manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Budget roughly $32 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. It is a straightforward trek that keeps you within the heart of Arizona, making it an efficient way to transit between these two desert locations.
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
85.9 miles from Yuma, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
151.4 mi
2h 36m
South John Wayne Parkway
13.1 mi
15m
Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
5.7 mi
6m
North John Wayne Parkway
0.5 mi
<1m
North 4th Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Kumeyaay Highway
0.2 mi
<1m
Winterhaven Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 151.4 mi, about 2h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yuma, AZ and Maricopa, 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
151 mi·2 hr 36 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward AZ 84 East: Maricopa
7
Turn left onto AZ 84
5.7 mi·6 min·Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
8
Turn left onto AZ 347
13 mi·15 min·South John Wayne Parkway
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on AZ 347
0.5 mi·43 sec·North John Wayne Parkway
Use the left lane.
10
Arrive at destination
AZ 347
Trip Plan
Planning for this trip is straightforward, but it helps to keep in mind that you only need to account for one planned stop along the way. Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best, though keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise given the $32 estimated cost. Make sure to pace your single stop to break up the turn-heavy nature of the drive, which can be more tiring than a straight highway haul. A pro tip for this specific route is to double-check your navigation before leaving, as the reliance on local roads like Winterhaven Drive and the Kumeyaay Highway means you will encounter more turns than usual.
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 85.9 miles from Yuma, AZ, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.4 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 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.9 miles or 1h 29m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maricopa, 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 171.8 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 151.4 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 171.3 — 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
4
152.2 mi into trip|~2h 37m in
Take the exit toward AZ 84 East: Maricopa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward AZ 84 East: Maricopa
5
158.2 mi into trip|~2h 44m in|AZ 347 / South John Wayne Parkway
Turn left onto AZ 347 / South John Wayne Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
171.3 mi into trip|~3h in|AZ 347 / North John Wayne Parkway
Continue onto AZ 347 / North John Wayne Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.22 one way
$68.45 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$36.22
$72.44
premium
$5.59
$37.82
$75.63
diesel
$5.61
$37.93
$75.86
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: 60.1 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
51.5
0
$18.04
$8.25
Efficient EV
43
0
$15.03
$6.87
EV Truck/SUV
68.7
0
$24.05
$11.00
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 15, 2026
Origin
Yuma, AZ
Evening
in Yuma on Saturday
Local time
7:46 PM
MST
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Maricopa, AZ
Evening
in Maricopa on Saturday
Local time
7:46 PM
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
30 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 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 rather than a mindless interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway share. Because you are navigating local roads, the pace remains steady but requires more active attention behind the wheel than a typical high-speed freeway trek. The character of the road shifts as you traverse the desert landscape, keeping the experience varied. Since there are no long, uninterrupted interstate stretches, you should prepare for a drive that demands consistent engagement with the road's curves and local intersections throughout the entire 159.5-mile journey.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 151.4 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 Maricopa, AZ is easy. At 3h with 8% 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 152.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 171.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 151.4 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 0.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (I 8 / Kumeyaay Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 152.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Maricopa, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
