How far is Cottonwood, AZ from Lake Havasu City, AZ?
The driving distance from Cottonwood, AZ to Lake Havasu City, AZ is about 372.4 miles (599.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 22m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 272.9 miles (439.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 44m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 06h 22m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Human settlement in Louisiana, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Cottonwood and Lake Havasu City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cottonwood and Lake Havasu City.
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1
Start on the route
962 ft · 42 sec
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2
Continue straight
152 m · 27 sec
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3
Turn left onto Navajo Route 4
6.4 mi · 15 min · Navajo Route 4
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4
Continue on Indian Route 4
1.8 mi · 4 min · Indian Route 4
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5
Continue on Navajo Route 4
4 mi · 10 min · Navajo Route 4
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6
Turn left onto Navajo Route 65
1.9 mi · 5 min · Navajo Route 65
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7
Continue on Indian Route 65
2.8 mi · 7 min · Indian Route 65
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8
Continue on Navajo Route 65
1.3 mi · 3 min · Navajo Route 65
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9
Continue on Hopi Route 65
8.4 mi · 20 min · Hopi Route 65
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10
Continue on Indian Route 60
6.6 mi · 16 min · Indian Route 60
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11
Turn right onto Arizona State Highway 264
11.7 mi · 14 min · Arizona State Highway 264
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12
Turn left onto Winslow–Kayenta Highway
16.7 mi · 19 min · Winslow–Kayenta Highway
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13
Continue on AZ 87
4.1 mi · 5 min · AZ 87
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14
Continue on Winslow–Kayenta Highway
38.8 mi · 45 min · Winslow–Kayenta Highway
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15
Take the ramp right
2575 ft · 1 min
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16
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
246.6 mi · 4 hr 8 min · Purple Heart Trail
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17
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 95 South: Lake Havasu City, Parker
1420 ft · 43 sec
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18
Turn left onto Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
17.7 mi · 22 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
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19
Turn left onto Acoma Boulevard West
2.1 mi · 4 min · Acoma Boulevard West
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20
Turn left onto Smoketree Avenue North
930 ft · 27 sec · Smoketree Avenue North
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21
Turn right onto Mescal Loop
16 m · 2 sec · Mescal Loop
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22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Mescal Loop
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Cottonwood and Lake Havasu City.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Purple Heart Trail
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
247 mi · 04h 08m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving Cottonwood and Sunny near Lake Havasu City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Cottonwood to Lake Havasu City?
The road trip is about 372.4 miles (599.4 km) and usually takes 06h 22m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Parks is a useful midpoint, sitting about 186 miles from Cottonwood and 186.4 miles from Lake Havasu City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 272.9 miles (439.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 99.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $65.06 one way or $130.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 116.8 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Cottonwood and Lake Havasu City, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Cottonwood and Sunny near Lake Havasu City.
Stop Ideas Near Parks
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Parks.
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Flagstaff Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Cottonwood and Lake Havasu City. Straight-line distance: 272.9 mi (439.19 km).
#1 Cottonwood
City in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
| Population | 12,762 |
| Coordinates | 36.0730600, -109.8923400 |
| Altitude | 1850 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Lake Havasu City
A city in Mohave County, Arizona.
| Population | 55,865 |
| Coordinates | 34.4839000, -114.3224500 |
| Altitude | 225 |
| Country | United States |
End: Mescal Loop (-114.322535, 34.483857)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 599 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 24m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 18m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 26m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 12m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 19m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 38m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.95 | $65.06 | $130.11 |
| Mid-grade | $5.34 | $70.14 | $140.28 |
| Premium | $5.57 | $73.14 | $146.27 |
| Diesel | $6.37 | $83.65 | $167.30 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Arizona · Apr 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.