How far is Cottonwood, AZ from Yuma, AZ?

The driving distance from Cottonwood, AZ to Yuma, AZ is about 485.4 miles (781.2 km), with a travel time of about 07h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 355.3 miles (571.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 40m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
485.43 mi
07h 50m
Flight
355.28 mi
571.76 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cottonwood.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
355.28 mi
Kilometers
571.76 km
Flight Time
00h 42m

Driving Distance

Road route
485.43 mi
Kilometers
781.23 km
Drive Time
07h 50m

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 07h 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Yuma
Sun, Apr 19, 5:25 AM MST
Return by in Cottonwood
Sun, Apr 19, 2:15 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cottonwood
2026-04-18T22:34
Arrive Yuma
Sun, Apr 19, 6:25 AM MDT
Route Timing
07h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:50 PM to 2:20 PM MST

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
8:20 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cottonwood
8:00 PM MDT
Overnight-style route

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.

Mid-route stop
Cordes Lakes
AZ

Census-designated place in Yavapai County, Arizona

From Cottonwood
241.8 mi
03h 55m
To Yuma
243.7 mi
03h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 7:00 AM MDT
Wind
10 mph NE
Destination
87°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MST
Wind
5 to 10 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cottonwood and Yuma.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cottonwood and Yuma.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    962 ft · 42 sec

  2. 2

    Continue straight

    152 m · 27 sec

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Navajo Route 4

    6.4 mi · 15 min · Navajo Route 4

  4. 4

    Continue on Indian Route 4

    1.8 mi · 4 min · Indian Route 4

  5. 5

    Continue on Navajo Route 4

    4 mi · 10 min · Navajo Route 4

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Navajo Route 65

    1.9 mi · 5 min · Navajo Route 65

  7. 7

    Continue on Indian Route 65

    2.8 mi · 7 min · Indian Route 65

  8. 8

    Continue on Navajo Route 65

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Navajo Route 65

  9. 9

    Continue on Hopi Route 65

    8.4 mi · 20 min · Hopi Route 65

  10. 10

    Continue on Indian Route 60

    6.6 mi · 16 min · Indian Route 60

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Arizona State Highway 264

    11.7 mi · 14 min · Arizona State Highway 264

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Winslow–Kayenta Highway

    16.7 mi · 19 min · Winslow–Kayenta Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on AZ 87

    4.1 mi · 5 min · AZ 87

  14. 14

    Continue on Winslow–Kayenta Highway

    38.8 mi · 45 min · Winslow–Kayenta Highway

  15. 15

    Take the ramp right

    2575 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

    61.2 mi · 1 hr 2 min · Purple Heart Trail

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 17 South, AZ 89A North: Phoenix, Flagstaff

    907 ft · 17 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on I 17, AZ 89A South: Sedona, Phoenix

    1 mi · 2 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Arizona Veterans Highway

    93 mi · 1 hr 33 min · Arizona Veterans Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway

    5.8 mi · 6 min · Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on Black Canyon Freeway

    10.5 mi · 10 min · Black Canyon Freeway

  22. 22

    Continue on North Black Canyon Highway

    3.2 mi · 3 min · North Black Canyon Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on Black Canyon Freeway

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Black Canyon Freeway

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward AZ 303 Loop South

    2524 ft · 38 sec

  25. 25

    Turn right

    3181 ft · 1 min

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right

    1 km · 46 sec

  27. 27

    Continue straight

    125 m · 7 sec

  28. 28

    Keep slight left

    1628 ft · 21 sec

  29. 29

    Merge slight left onto Bob Stump Memorial Parkway

    948 ft · 12 sec · Bob Stump Memorial Parkway

  30. 30

    Take the exit slight right

    1.1 km · 48 sec

  31. 31

    Continue straight

    1459 ft · 19 sec

  32. 32

    Merge slight left onto Bob Stump Memorial Parkway

    32 mi · 37 min · Bob Stump Memorial Parkway

  33. 33

    Take the exit slight right toward I 10 West: Los Angeles

    1 mi · 2 min

  34. 34

    Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

    10.5 mi · 11 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  35. 35

    Take the exit slight right toward AZ 85: Yuma, San Diego

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  36. 36

    Continue on South Oglesby Road

    3.6 mi · 5 min · South Oglesby Road

  37. 37

    Continue on Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway

    1.6 km · 2 min · Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway

  38. 38

    Continue on Arizona State Highway 85

    28.1 mi · 33 min · Arizona State Highway 85

  39. 39

    Take the exit slight right toward AZ-85 South: Gila Bend

    3011 ft · 1 min · Gila Bend-Buckeye Highway

  40. 40

    Continue on Arizona State Highway 85

    1775 ft · 43 sec · Arizona State Highway 85

  41. 41

    Continue on East Pima Street

    2.4 mi · 5 min · East Pima Street

  42. 42

    Take the exit slight right toward I 8 West: San Diego

    1.1 km · 2 min

  43. 43

    Merge slight left onto Blue Star Memorial Highway

    113.8 mi · 1 hr 57 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway

  44. 44

    Take the exit slight right toward Giss Parkway

    1126 ft · 27 sec

  45. 45

    Keep slight left

    58 m · 5 sec

  46. 46

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Harold C Giss Parkway

    76 m · 5 sec · Harold C Giss Parkway

  47. 47

    Exit the rotary onto Harold C Giss Parkway

    1 km · 1 min · Harold C Giss Parkway

  48. 48

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Harold C Giss Parkway

    37 m · 2 sec · Harold C Giss Parkway

  49. 49

    Exit the roundabout onto Harold C Giss Parkway

    1534 ft · 37 sec · Harold C Giss Parkway

  50. 50

    Turn right onto South 4th Avenue

    1384 ft · 35 sec · South 4th Avenue

  51. 51

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North 4th Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cottonwood and Yuma.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
51 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
20
6 merges, 14 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Blue Star Memorial Highway
114 mi · 23%
Arizona Veterans Highway
93 mi · 19%
Purple Heart Trail
61.2 mi · 13%
Winslow–Kayenta Highway
56 mi · 12%
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
33.2 mi · 7%
Arizona State Highway 85
28.5 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Blue Star Memorial Highway

Merge slight left onto Blue Star Memorial Highway

114 mi · 01h 57m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
07h 50m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
15h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+130.1 mi
355.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cordes Lakes
03h 55m from Cottonwood
Leave By
8:20 PM MDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Cottonwood and Sunny near Yuma.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cottonwood to Yuma?

The road trip is about 485.4 miles (781.2 km) and usually takes 07h 50m 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?

Cordes Lakes is a useful midpoint, sitting about 241.8 miles from Cottonwood and 243.7 miles from Yuma.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 355.3 miles (571.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 130.1 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 $84.81 one way or $169.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 152.2 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Cottonwood and Yuma, 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 Yuma.

Stop Ideas Near Cordes Lakes

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Cordes Lakes, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Cordes Lakes.

BUS

Camp Verde, Arizona

41 mi away
1613 Finnie Flats Rd
BUS

Sedona (Center Bus Stop), Arizona

70 mi away
300 North Highway 89A
BUS

Phoenix (Metro Center Transit Station), Arizona

84 mi away
9617 North Metro Parkway West
BUS

Phoenix (Airport), Arizona

97 mi away
3400 East Sky Harbor Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cottonwood and Yuma. Straight-line distance: 355.28 mi (571.76 km).

Cottonwood

#1 Cottonwood

City in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States

Population12,762
Coordinates36.0730600, -109.8923400
Altitude1850
CountryUnited States
Yuma

#2 Yuma

The most populous city in Yuma County, Arizona.

Population99,811
Coordinates32.7253200, -114.6244000
Altitude43
CountryUnited States
Start: (-109.892378, 36.073021)
End: North 4th Avenue (-114.624481, 32.725349)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 781 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
17.13 gal
64.84 L · about $84.81
Round trip
$169.62
34.26 gal · 129.68 L
Estimated CO2
152.2 kg one way
Round trip: 304.5 kg / 671 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $84.81 $169.62
Mid-grade $5.34 $91.44 $182.88
Premium $5.57 $95.35 $190.69
Diesel $6.37 $109.05 $218.10

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

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Cottonwood, AZ and Yuma, AZ. The current time in Cottonwood is 22:34:58, although it is 21:34:58 in Yuma.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.