Yuma, AZ to Tempe, AZ is 201.5 miles and takes about 3h 41m via Blue Star Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Desert Southwest, offering a straightforward drive across Arizona. With only one recommended stop and a mostly surface road profile, it’s a practical route for getting from one major desert city to another without much fuss. Plan for a simple, direct transit between these two points.
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
100.8 miles from Yuma, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
151.4 mi
2h 36m
South John Wayne Parkway
14.8 mi
18m
Maricopa Road
11.8 mi
13m
Maricopa Freeway
5.9 mi
6m
Gila Bend–Casa Grande Highway
5.7 mi
6m
Superstition Freeway
2.4 mi
2m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
2.3 mi
2m
South McClintock Drive
2 mi
4m
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 Tempe, 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
15 mi·18 min·South John Wayne Parkway
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on AZ 347
12 mi·13 min·Maricopa Road
10
Continue on AZ 347
1.9 mi·2 min·West Queen Creek Road
11
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 West: PhoenixUse the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 10
2.3 mi·2 min·Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
13
Continue on I 10
5.9 mi·6 min·Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 154Toward US 60 East: Mesa-GlobeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 154Toward US 60 East: Mesa Globe
16
Merge onto US 60
2.4 mi·2 min·Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 175Toward McClintock DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto South McClintock Drive
2.0 mi·4 min·South McClintock Drive
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto US 80 Hist
137 ft·10 sec·East Apache Boulevard
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
US 80 Hist
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 41m estimated duration, this is easily a single-day trip, allowing for a flexible departure time. Consider leaving Yuma in the morning to arrive in Tempe with plenty of daylight for settling in. With only one stop recommended, you can choose to make it a quick pit stop or a more leisurely break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the longer stretches on surface roads, and note that the $40 fuel cost is an estimate for this 201.5-mile drive.
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 100.8 miles from Yuma, AZ, or about 1h 44m 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 44 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.8 miles or 1h 44m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tempe, 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 201.5 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 158.2 and 199.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
6
186.7 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Turn left toward I 10 West: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 West: Phoenix
7
195.4 mi into trip|~3h 30m in
Take the exit toward US 60 East: Mesa-Globe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa-Globe
6
196 mi into trip|~3h 31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 60 East: Mesa Globe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 154
Toward US 60 East: Mesa Globe
7
199.1 mi into trip|~3h 36m in
Take the exit toward McClintock Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 175
Toward McClintock Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.71 one way
$71.41 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$38.24
$76.47
premium
$5.04
$40.00
$80.00
diesel
$4.80
$38.05
$76.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.5
0
$21.16
$9.67
Efficient EV
50.4
0
$17.63
$8.06
EV Truck/SUV
80.6
1
$28.21
$12.90
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Yuma, AZ
Night
in Yuma on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
MST
Current temp
84°F
Partly Cloudy
S 0 to 10 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 7:53PM MST until July 18 at 10:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 7:49PM MST until July 18 at 10:45PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Destination
Tempe, AZ
Night
in Tempe on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
MST
Current temp
80°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NNE 0 to 5 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 7:53PM MST until July 18 at 10:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 7:49PM MST until July 18 at 10:45PM 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
4 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 41m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
30 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 173.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route has a 12% highway share, meaning most of your 201.5 miles will be on surface roads, primarily the Blue Star Memorial Highway. You'll experience a longest stretch of 151.4 miles on the Blue Star Memorial Highway before transitioning to other surface roads like South John Wayne Parkway and Maricopa Road. Expect a consistent driving experience with fewer high-speed sections and more opportunities to observe the surrounding desert landscape.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 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?
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 158.2 miles in near AZ 347 / South John Wayne Parkway.
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 13 significant decision points across 201.5 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 158.2 miles (AZ 347 / South John Wayne Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 186.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 195.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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
Tempe is a city of 180,587 (2020) in the Greater Phoenix area of Arizona, best known as the home of Arizona State University (ASU). Its younger, student-heavy population allows it to offer a vibrant nightlife that is relatively rare in Arizona.
Top landmarks
•Tempe Butte — mountain in United States of America
•Arizona State University Art Museum — art museum in Tempe, Arizona
•Gammage Memorial Auditorium — performing arts center in Tempe, Arizona
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 41m. Total distance: 201.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Yes — we found about 13 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 Tempe, 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 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 158.2 miles (AZ 347 / South John Wayne Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 186.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 195.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Tempe, AZ, but most travelers stay overnight.
