Gilbert, AZ Road Trips

Gilbert bills itself as is the largest incorporated town in the United States. It is the 5th most populated community in Arizona. From 1990 to 2003 it was also the fastest growing, outpacing even places like Las Vegas, largely due to its lower initial starting population. Gilbert is in the southeast valley, south of Mesa, northeast of Chandler, and northwest of Queen Creek and Chandler Heights. Gilbert owes its beginnings to William "Bobby" Gilbert who provided land to the Arizona Eastern Railway in 1902 to construct a rail line between Phoenix and Florence, Arizona. Ayer's Grocery Store, the first store in Gilbert, opened in 1910 and became the location of the first post office in 1912. The town post office moved several times before settling on the east side of Gilbert Road in downtown, where it still stands today. In 1912, many Mormons who had fled the Mormon colonies in Mexico due to the actions of the forces of Pancho Villa settled in Gilbert. By 1915, they began holding church meetings at the Gilbert Elementary School. In 1918, they were organized into the Gilbert Ward. Incorporated in July 1920, Gilbert was primarily a farming community fueled by the rail line and construction of the Roosevelt Dam and the Eastern and Consolidated Canals. It remained an agricultural town for many years and was known as the "Hay Capital of the World" from 1911 until the late 1920s. Downtown Gilbert (along Gilbert Road between Elliot and Guadalupe Roads, centered on the railroad crossing) has numerous historical buildings, some dating from the 1910s, even before Arizona statehood.

1 Cosmo Dog Park, 2502 E Ray Rd (NE corner of Ray Rd and Santan Loop 202), ☏ +1 480-503-6200. 5:30AM-10PM. Lake for the dogs to play in. Separate areas for active and timid dogs. Ramadas, tables and benches available. Lighted for use at night. Named for Cosmo, the first police dog in Gilbert. free. (updated Aug 2022) 2 Discovery District Park, 2214 E Pecos Road (NE corner of Santan Village Pkwy and Pecos Rd). An 88-acre park with amusement rides and mini-railroad, picnic tables and grills, skate park, basketball and tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, softball fields and lakes stocked for fishing. The park was named for the discovery of fossils of a Columbian Mammoth near the site during construction. (updated Aug 2022) – Contact Gilbert Recreation to reserve Ramada facilities; see Arizona Game and Fish Department for stocking schedules, bag limits and license regulations. 3 Gilbert Regional Park, 3005 E Queen Creek Rd (Higley Rd and Queen Creek Rd), ☏ +1 480-503-6200. park: 5:30AM-10PM; splash pad: 8:30AM-9:30PM. Attractions includeː 4,000-sq-ft splash pad; 17-foot-tall playground with climbing, slides and a zip-line; sports courts: basketball, pickleball, sand volleyball, tennis (all first-come first-serve). (updated Aug 2022) 4 Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, 2757 E Guadalupe Rd (east of Greenfield on Guadalupe, just east of Southeast Regional Library). sunrise-sunset. Walking paths through a series of ponds. Bring your camera, several hundred different types of birds come here every year.

1 Gilbert Farmers Market, 222 N. Ash St. (Downtown just west of the Water Tower). Saturdays: May-Sep 7AM-11AM, Oct-Apr 8AM-noon. Market offers a wide variety of locally grown produce from nearby farms and many local Arizona food producers. Over 60 vendors during summer, over 100 vendors in fall/spring. Free. (updated Oct 2024) 2 Gilbert Historical Museum, 10 S Gilbert Rd (SW corner of Gilbert Rd and Elliot Rd), ☏ +1 480-926-1577, [email protected]. Tu Th Sa 9AM-4PM; closed Su M W F holidays. Variety of exhibits about the founding and growth of the Town of Gilbert. $6 adults, $5 senior, $3 children, under 5 free. (updated Aug 2022) 3 Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W Page Ave (just west of NW corner of Gilbert Rd and Page Ave), ☏ +1 480-497-1181, [email protected]. box officeː M-Sa noon-5PM. Theatre-in-the-round. Does a season with plays, musicals and children's theatre. Prices vary. Special group rates are available. (updated Aug 2022)

1 Romeo's Euro Café, Heritage Court: 207 N Gilbert Rd, #105 (entrance is at rear of building), ☏ +1 480-962-4224, [email protected]. M-F 11AM-9PM, Sa 11AM-10PM, Su noon-9PM. International and eclectic foods. Excellent wine list. Offers food and wine pairing and wine makers dinners for $45 a person, reservations required in advance. Excellent dessert menu. Caters. moderate. (updated Aug 2022) 2 Farmhouse Restaurant, 228 N Gilbert Rd (Downtown Gilbert, SW corner of Gilbert Rd and Page Ave), ☏ +1 480-926-0676, [email protected]. W-F 6AM-1PM, Sa 6AM-1PM, Su 7AM-1PM. Fresh breakfasts served daily. Many travelers go out of their way to make a stop here. Seating first-come first-served; does not accept reservations. (updated Aug 2022) 3 Flancer's Incredible Sandwiches and Pizza, 610 N Gilbert Rd, ☏ +1 480-926-9077. Su-Th 10:30AM-8PM, F Sa 10:30AM-9PM. Great sandwiches. Take-out available. You can also buy their famous bread to take home and make your own sandwiches. moderate. (updated Aug 2022) 4 J K Chinese Gourmet, 2540 S Val Vista Dr, #106, ☏ +1 480-821-8484. Su 11AM-9PM, M-Sa 11AM-9:30PM. Great food, excellent service. Hidden in a smaller shopping center, but worth the visit. Takeout available. moderate. (updated Aug 2022) 5 Joe's Farm Grill, 3000 Ray Rd, Bldg 1, ☏ +1 480-563-4745. Daily 7:30AM-9PM. American food using vegetables grown on the farm. Featured on the Food Network. Built on an existing farm, they left the gigantic cottonwood trees which makes eating outdoors a real pleasure. Portions are large. moderate.

1 Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, 323 N Gilbert Rd (Downtown Gilbert, SE corner of Gilbert Rd and Vaughn Ave), ☏ +1 480-476-8595. Country bar with American cuisine and nightlife (updated Aug 2022) 2 Fox Cigar Bar, 1464 E Williams Field Rd (east of Val Vista Rd), ☏ +1 480-917-3117. Has a selection of beer, whiskey, and cigars. (updated Aug 2022) 3 The White Rabbit (password entry required; check web site), 207 N Gilbert Rd (Downtown Gilbert), ☏ +1 480-750-0099, [email protected]. Su-Th 5PM-11PM, F Sa 5PM-midnight. A speakeasy complete with password entry (check web site) (updated Aug 2022)

1 DoubleTree Hotel Phoenix-Gilbert (near San Tan Village; about 10 miles (16 km) to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway airport), 1800 S SanTan Village Pkwy, ☏ +1 480-809-4100. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Free Wi-Fi, free parking. On-site restaurant. Fitness Center, outdoor pool. Room service. Pet friendly. (updated Aug 2022) 2 Hampton Inn & Suites Phoenix/Gilbert (near San Tan Village; about 10 miles (16 km) to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway airport), 3265 S Market St, ☏ +1 480-543-1500. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, free parking. Fitness center, outdoor pool. Pet friendly. (updated Aug 2020) 3 Holiday Inn Express & Suites Phoenix East - Gilbert (2½ miles (4 km) to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway airport), 5530 S Power Rd, ☏ +1 480-507-3000. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, free parking. Fitness center, outdoor pool. Pet friendly. (updated Aug 2022) 4 Home2 Suites (near San Tan Village; about 10 miles (16 km) to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway airport), 3333 S Market St, ☏ +1 480-857-4778. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, free parking. Fitness center, outdoor pool. Pet friendly. (updated Aug 2022) 5 Hyatt Place Phoenix/Gilbert (near San Tan Village; about 10 miles (16 km) to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway airport), 3275 E Market St, ☏ +1 480-899-5900, fax: +1 480-899-5901. Free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, free parking. On-site restaurant, fitness center, outdoor pool. Pet friendly.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport PHX IATA — In east Phoenix, 3 mi (5 km) from downtown Phoenix. All major US carriers serve Phoenix Sky Harbor with lots of flights to major cities across the country. Southwest Airlines and American Airlines have hubs at Sky Harbor. It is approximately 30 minutes from Gilbert. Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport AZA IATA — East of Phoenix, in neighboring Mesa. It is served mainly by Allegiant Air and Sun Country Airlines. It is a small airport that is being redeveloped into a major regional airport. Gilbert is primarily served by one area freeway - the "Santan Freeway" portion of Loop 202. A small section of the US 60 (segment known as the "Superstition Freeway") also skirts the northern boundary of the town at the Higley Road interchange (Exit 186). Several regional major surface streets also serve the area, including Williams Field Road, Chandler Boulevard, Pecos Road, Gilbert Road and Greenfield Road.

Car is the easiest way to get around Gilbert. Valley Metro is a regional public transportation system for the metro Phoenix area.