Yuma, AZ to Williamson, AZ is 232.6 miles and takes about 5h 3m via San Luis–Yuma–Quartzsite Highway and others, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arizona, traversing the Desert Southwest region on mostly surface roads. Expect a straightforward drive with a single recommended stop, making it ideal for a single-day excursion. The route offers a consistent driving experience without significant changes in terrain or density.
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
116.3 miles from Yuma, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
San Luis–Yuma–Quartzsite Highway
66.4 mi
1h 21m
Quartzsite–Wickenburg Highway
39.7 mi
47m
Aguila-Congress Junction Highway
24.2 mi
29m
Iron Springs Road
17 mi
25m
Wickenburg-Prescott Highway
15.4 mi
19m
US 60
15.3 mi
18m
East 16th Street
10.9 mi
15m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
10.2 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
San Luis–Yuma–Quartzsite Highway
— 66.4 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yuma, AZ and Williamson, AZ.
Exit 31Toward US 60 East, I 10 East: Phoenix, Wickenburg, Prescott
16
Enter roundabout onto US 60
100 ft·1 sec·Quartzsite–Wickenburg Highway
17
Continue on US 60
10 mi·12 min·Quartzsite–Wickenburg Highway
18
Continue on US 60
0.5 mi·50 sec·Avenue A
19
Continue on US 60
29 mi·34 min·Quartzsite–Wickenburg Highway
20
Turn left onto AZ 71
24 mi·29 min·Aguila-Congress Junction Highway
Use the left lane.
21
Turn left onto AZ 89
4.3 mi·5 min·Wickenburg-Prescott Highway
22
Continue on AZ 89
3.2 mi·5 min·White Spar Highway
23
Continue on AZ 89
0.3 mi·35 sec·Wickenburg-Prescott Highway
24
Continue on AZ 89
0.5 mi·59 sec·White Spar Highway
25
Turn straight onto AZ 89
2.0 mi·3 min·Broadway
26
Continue on AZ 89
11 mi·13 min·Wickenburg-Prescott Highway
27
Turn left onto CR 15
4.2 mi·6 min·Kirkland Valley Road
28
Continue on CR 15
0.1 mi·13 sec·Kirkland Road
29
Turn right onto Skull Valley - Kirkland Road
6.2 mi·9 min·Skull Valley - Kirkland Road
30
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·17 sec·this road
31
Continue on Iron Springs Road
17 mi·25 min·Iron Springs Road
32
Turn left onto Williamson Valley Road
9.3 mi·15 min·Williamson Valley Road
33
Turn left onto West Old Stage Road
237 ft·10 sec·West Old Stage Road
34
Arrive at destination
West Old Stage Road
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, starting your drive in Yuma, AZ, in the morning is recommended to ensure you arrive in Williamson, AZ, with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to rest, but be mindful of the longest stretch of 66.4 miles, which might be a good point to consider a brief break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $46, and ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably, especially since most of the route is on surface roads. This is a manageable one-day drive, allowing for a relaxed pace.
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 116.3 miles from Yuma, AZ, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.4 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 51 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.3 miles or 2h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Williamson, 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 232.6 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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 San Luis–Yuma–Quartzsite Highway for about 66.4 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 150.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
2.7 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward US 95: 16th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 95: 16th Street
5
2.9 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
94.7 mi into trip|~2h in|US 60
Take the exit onto US 60 toward US 60 East, I 10 East: Phoenix, Wickenburg, Prescott
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 31
Toward US 60 East, I 10 East: Phoenix, Wickenbu...
6
150.2 mi into trip|~3h 7m in|AZ 71 / Aguila-Congress Junction Highway
Turn left onto AZ 71 / Aguila-Congress Junction Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.50 one way
$95.00 round trip
$5.19/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$50.53
$101.06
premium
$5.72
$52.37
$104.74
diesel
$5.35
$48.99
$97.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.8
0
$24.42
$11.16
Efficient EV
58.2
0
$20.35
$9.30
EV Truck/SUV
93
1
$32.56
$14.89
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Yuma, AZ
Afternoon
in Yuma on Wednesday
Local time
12:11 PM
MST
Current temp
70°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Williamson, AZ
Afternoon
in Williamson on Wednesday
Local time
12:11 PM
MST
Current temp
52°F
Clear
S 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
72°F
Citrus Park, AZ
116 mi in
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
18 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
5h 3m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Tuzigoot National Monument
National Monument
Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs that well up from the ancient sedimentary ro...
30 mi from route
~74 min detour
$10
near mile 224.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route primarily utilizes surface roads, with only a 7% highway share. You'll spend most of your time on the San Luis–Yuma–Quartzsite Highway, which accounts for the longest stretch at 66.4 miles. As you move away from the initial highway segments, expect more rural cruising. The drive is characterized by consistent surface road conditions for the majority of the trip.
Only 7% 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: 66.4 mi on San Luis–Yuma–Quartzsite Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 0.6 miles in near I 8 / Kumeyaay Highway.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 3m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (I 8 / Kumeyaay Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 2.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,440 ft141 ft
Total Climb
6,598 ft
Total Descent
1,688 ft
Highest Point
5,440 ft
~216 mi in
Elevation Range
5,299 ft
Notable High Points
4,857 ft at ~182.7 miles+916 ft prominence
5,440 ft at ~216 miles+390 ft prominence
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 Williamson, AZ, road signs point toward Wickenburg and Prescott.
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
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.4 miles on San Luis–Yuma–Quartzsite Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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.
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 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (I 8 / Kumeyaay Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 2.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Tuzigoot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Williamson, AZ before the return drive.
