How far is Lake Havasu City, AZ from Tempe, AZ?

The driving distance from Lake Havasu City, AZ to Tempe, AZ is about 227.7 miles (366.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 156.8 miles (252.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 52m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MST.
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
227.66 mi
03h 56m
Flight
156.79 mi
252.33 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake Havasu City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
156.79 mi
Kilometers
252.33 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
227.66 mi
Kilometers
366.38 km
Drive Time
03h 56m

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 03h 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Tempe
Wed, Apr 15, 7:53 PM MST
Return by in Lake Havasu City
Wed, Apr 15, 11:50 PM MST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Havasu City
2026-04-15T15:57
Arrive Tempe
Wed, Apr 15, 7:53 PM MST
Route Timing
03h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MST
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:56 AM to 11:56 AM MST

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:08 AM MST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lake Havasu City
9:00 PM MST
Early departure recommended

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
Salome
AZ

Census-designated place in La Paz County, Arizona, United States

From Lake Havasu City
105.8 mi
01h 58m
To Tempe
121.9 mi
01h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Overnight

Clear

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 5:00 AM MST
Wind
1 mph SSE
Destination
57°F
Overnight

Clear

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 5:00 AM MST
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lake Havasu City and Tempe.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Havasu City and Tempe.

  1. 1

    Start on Mescal Loop

    16 m · 7 sec · Mescal Loop

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Smoketree Avenue North

    930 ft · 29 sec · Smoketree Avenue North

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North Acoma Boulevard

    3.1 mi · 6 min · North Acoma Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

    17.1 mi · 20 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Riverside Drive

    7.1 mi · 8 min · Riverside Drive

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

    6.6 mi · 8 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Rio Vista Highway

    4.4 mi · 6 min · Rio Vista Highway

  8. 8

    Turn left onto California Avenue

    1.4 km · 2 min · California Avenue

  9. 9

    Continue on Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

    11.4 mi · 13 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

    19.6 mi · 22 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on North Central Boulevard

    3.1 mi · 4 min · North Central Boulevard

  12. 12

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    1 mi · 2 min · East Main Street

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Riggles Road

    965 ft · 23 sec · Riggles Road

  14. 14

    Take the ramp left

    2715 ft · 1 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

    104.7 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on Papago Freeway

    19.8 mi · 23 min · Papago Freeway

  17. 17

    Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

    2704 ft · 35 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

  18. 18

    Continue on Papago Freeway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Papago Freeway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward AZ 51 North, AZ 202 Loop East

    564 ft · 7 sec · Red Mountain Freeway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Red Mountain Freeway

    1827 ft · 41 sec · Red Mountain Freeway

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on Red Mountain Freeway

    7.9 mi · 9 min · Red Mountain Freeway

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward McClintock Drive

    2346 ft · 50 sec

  23. 23

    Turn right onto South McClintock Drive

    1.5 mi · 3 min · South McClintock Drive

  24. 24

    Turn right onto East Apache Boulevard

    18 m · 1 sec · East Apache Boulevard

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Apache Boulevard

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lake Havasu City and Tempe.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
25 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
105 mi · 46%
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
54.6 mi · 24%
Papago Freeway
21.2 mi · 9%
Red Mountain Freeway
8.28 mi · 4%
Riverside Drive
7.14 mi · 3%
Rio Vista Highway
4.38 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

105 mi · 01h 46m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 56m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+70.9 mi
156.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Salome
01h 58m from Lake Havasu City
Leave By
9:08 AM MST
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Clear leaving Lake Havasu City and Clear near Tempe.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lake Havasu City to Tempe?

The road trip is about 227.7 miles (366.4 km) and usually takes 03h 56m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Salome is a useful midpoint, sitting about 105.8 miles from Lake Havasu City and 121.9 miles from Tempe.

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

The direct path is about 156.8 miles (252.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 70.9 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 8:00 AM MST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:08 AM MST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.76 one way or $79.51 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 71.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Clear around Lake Havasu City and Clear near Tempe.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Havasu City and Tempe. Straight-line distance: 156.79 mi (252.33 km).

Lake Havasu City

#1 Lake Havasu City

A city in Mohave County, Arizona.

Population55,865
Coordinates34.4839000, -114.3224500
Altitude225
CountryUnited States
Tempe

#2 Tempe

The third most populous city in Arizona.

Population200,402
Coordinates33.4147700, -111.9093100
Altitude360
CountryUnited States
Start: Mescal Loop (-114.322535, 34.483857)
End: East Apache Boulevard (-111.909309, 33.414838)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 366 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.03 gal
30.41 L · about $39.76
Round trip
$79.51
16.06 gal · 60.82 L
Estimated CO2
71.4 kg one way
Round trip: 142.7 kg / 315 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $39.76 $79.51
Mid-grade $5.34 $42.86 $85.73
Premium $5.57 $44.69 $89.39
Diesel $6.37 $51.12 $102.24

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Lake Havasu City and Tempe. The current time is 15:57:28.

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.