How far is Payson, AZ from Lake Havasu City, AZ?
The driving distance from Payson, AZ to Lake Havasu City, AZ is about 281.2 miles (452.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 50m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 171.9 miles (276.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MST.
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 04h 50m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Town in Maricopa County, Arizona
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Clear
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Payson and Lake Havasu City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Payson and Lake Havasu City.
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1
Start on South Beeline Highway
72.4 mi · 1 hr 25 min · South Beeline Highway
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2
Continue on North Country Club Drive
2377 ft · 48 sec · North Country Club Drive
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3
Take the exit right toward AZ 202 Loop West
1930 ft · 49 sec
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4
Merge slight left onto Red Mountain Freeway
12 mi · 14 min · Red Mountain Freeway
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5
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 West
1 mi · 1 min
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6
Merge slight right onto Papago Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Papago Freeway
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7
Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
2756 ft · 36 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
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8
Continue on Papago Freeway
19.6 mi · 23 min · Papago Freeway
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9
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
105 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma
1851 ft · 42 sec
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11
Turn right onto Riggles Road
561 ft · 17 sec · Riggles Road
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12
Turn left onto East Main Street
1 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
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13
Turn right onto North Central Boulevard
3.1 mi · 3 min · North Central Boulevard
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14
Continue on Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
19.6 mi · 22 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
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15
Turn left onto Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
11.4 mi · 13 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
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16
Continue on California Avenue
1.4 km · 2 min · California Avenue
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17
Turn right onto Rio Vista Highway
4.4 mi · 6 min · Rio Vista Highway
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18
Continue on Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
6.6 mi · 7 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
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19
Continue on Riverside Drive
7.1 mi · 8 min · Riverside Drive
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20
Continue on Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
17.1 mi · 20 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
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21
Turn right onto South Acoma Boulevard
3.1 mi · 6 min · South Acoma Boulevard
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22
Turn right onto Smoketree Avenue North
930 ft · 27 sec · Smoketree Avenue North
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23
Turn right onto Mescal Loop
16 m · 2 sec · Mescal Loop
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Mescal Loop
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Payson and Lake Havasu City.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
105 mi · 01h 46m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Payson and Clear near Lake Havasu City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Payson to Lake Havasu City?
The road trip is about 281.2 miles (452.5 km) and usually takes 04h 50m 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?
Buckeye is a useful midpoint, sitting about 143.7 miles from Payson and 137.5 miles from Lake Havasu City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 171.9 miles (276.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 109.3 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 7:18 AM MST.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $49.11 one way or $98.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Payson and Clear near Lake Havasu City.
Stop Ideas Near Buckeye
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 Buckeye.
Phoenix (Metro Center Transit Station), Arizona
Phoenix (Greyhound), Arizona
Phoenix (Airport), Arizona
Maricopa
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Payson and Lake Havasu City. Straight-line distance: 171.85 mi (276.56 km).
#1 Payson
Town in Gila County, Arizona, United States
| Population | 15,947 |
| Coordinates | 34.2308700, -111.3251400 |
| Altitude | 1500 |
| 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: 453 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 22m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 01m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 37m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 41m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 01m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 30m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.95 | $49.11 | $98.23 |
| Mid-grade | $5.34 | $52.95 | $105.91 |
| Premium | $5.57 | $55.21 | $110.43 |
| Diesel | $6.37 | $63.15 | $126.30 |
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 · Jun 02, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.