Origin
Apache Junction, AZ
Night in Apache Junction on Saturday
Local time
10:57 PM
MST
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Apache Junction, AZ to Gilbert, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
26m
Distance
18.3 mi
29 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apache Junction, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Gilbert, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 18.3-mile drive from Apache Junction, AZ to Gilbert, AZ takes about 26 minutes and is perfect for a single-day trip. You'll primarily be on the Superstition Freeway and South Gilbert Road, with a brief segment on South Ironwood Drive. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $4, making it very budget-friendly. As both locations are within the Desert Southwest region of Arizona, you won't experience significant landscape changes, but rather a transition between two distinct desert communities. This is a straightforward, highway-focused route that's ideal for a quick commute or an easy excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Superstition Freeway | 12.2 mi | 14m |
| South Gilbert Road | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| South Ironwood Drive | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| West Apache Trail | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Elm Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Apache Trail | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Vaughn Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Superstition Freeway
— 12.2 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apache Junction, AZ and Gilbert, AZ.
1
Start on North Apache Trail
196 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Apache Trail
2
Continue on North Apache Trail
376 ft
·
23 sec
·
North Apache Trail
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 80 Hist
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Apache Trail
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto South Ironwood Drive
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South Ironwood Drive
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Toward US 60 West: Phoenix
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto US 60
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 182
Toward Gilbert Road
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto South Gilbert Road
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
South Gilbert Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
9
Turn left onto East Vaughn Avenue
440 ft
·
21 sec
·
East Vaughn Avenue
10
Turn right onto North Elm Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Elm Street
11
Turn right
203 ft
·
14 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 18.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
South Ironwood Drive
Turn left onto South Ironwood Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward US 60 West: Phoenix
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 60 West: Phoenix
5
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge onto US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
15.4 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward Gilbert Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 182
Toward Gilbert Road
5
18.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
North Elm Street
Turn right onto North Elm Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.65 one way
$7.29 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $3.86 | $7.72 |
| premium | $5.59 | $4.03 | $8.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.04 | $8.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.60 | $0.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.56 | $1.17 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Gilbert, AZ
Night in Gilbert on Saturday
Local time
10:57 PM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
29 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
26m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 67% of the route utilizing faster roads. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 12.2 miles on the Superstition Freeway, offering a smooth, consistent pace. While the majority is highway, the introduction of South Gilbert Road and South Ironwood Drive will bring you into more local driving conditions. Expect a driving experience that transitions from a freeway feel to more of a suburban road as you approach your destination.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.2 mi on Superstition Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Superstition Freeway and South Gilbert Road. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near South Ironwood Drive.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 18.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (South Ironwood Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Gilbert, AZ
Full guide →Gilbert is in the southeast valley of the Greater Phoenix region of Arizona. With a population of 270,000 (2021 est.) it is the largest town in the US. people. Once a railway town and the "Hay Capital of the World", Gilbert is now a diverse suburban center, retaining its agricultural and railroad history and celebrating its "small town" feel.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 18.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.2 miles on Superstition Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Gilbert, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (South Ironwood Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Tonto National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gilbert, AZ before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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