Phoenix to Yuma drive: Best road trip stops, distance & time

The best road trip stops on the Phoenix to Yuma drive are the Skyline Regional Park, Dateland AZ and the Telegraph Pass Trail. The distance from Phoenix to Yuma by car is 184 miles, with a 2h50m driving time.

Planning a Phoenix to Yuma road trip itinerary

The Phoenix to Yuma drive takes you from the capital of Arizona to its southwestern corner.

A stay in Phoenix is at its best when you explore the surrounding Sonoran Desert. That might be in a hot air balloon flight, on an ATV tour or on a guided sunset hiking adventure. You can also do day tours along the Apache Trail.

For other Phoenix experiences, try a downtown food tour, a street art tour or a spooky nighttime ghost walk.

Attractions that you might wish to buy advance include cell phone-friendly tickets for include Phoenix Zoo, the Sea Life aquarium or a drunk Shakespeare performance.

For Phoenix accommodation options with a bit of character, try the art-splashed Foundre or the resort-like Raintree at Phoenix South Mountain Preserve.

Rubbing up against the borders of both California and Mexico, Yuma is a Colorado River city in the far southwest of Arizona. The top attraction here is the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, which houses the atmospheric ruins of a true Wild West Prison.

Also worth a look is the Colorado River State Historic Park, which preserves historic buildings and explains Yuma’s 19^th century history as a supply depot. Steamships came up the Colorado River to Yuma, from where supplies were sent to military bases across the West.

The Yuma accommodation options best rated by guests are the TownePlace Suites and the La Quinta.

Phoenix to Yuma distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Phoenix to Yuma is 184 miles. You can expect a driving time of around two hours and 50 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-10, AZ-85 and I-8.

The best stops to add to a Phoenix to Yuma road trip itinerary are the Skyline Regional Park, Dateland AZ and the Telegraph Pass Trail.

Phoenix to Yuma road trip attractions: Skyline Regional Park

The Skyline Regional Park covers 8,700 acres in the White Tank Mountains near Buckeye AZ. There are several trails within the park, which are open from sunrise to sunset. The three mile Turnbuckle Trail, a moderate hike with a 560ft elevation gain, is arguably the most enjoyable workout.

Best stops between Phoenix and Yuma: Dateland AZ

Dateland has a long history of being used for military training, but itgets its name form the date palms that grow there. Stop by at the Dateland Travel Centre, and you can buy packets of home-grown dates, or slurp down a date shake. More intrepid visitors can also head out to see the ruins of the former ranch house. There’s a fabulous desert backdrop for photographers.

Phoenix to Yuma drive: Telegraph Pass Trail

Near Wellton AZ, the Telegraph Pass Trail loops for 5.7 miles through the Fortuna Foothills. What starts off as a relatively easy walk soon gets steep, as the trail climbs steeply towards the top of the pass. The desert mountain scenery is starkly spectacular, and the views are worth the effort. Budget two-and-a-half to three hours for the walk.