Origin
Cave Creek, AZ
Night in Cave Creek on Saturday
Local time
9:21 PM
MST
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cave Creek, 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
1h 2m
Distance
42.5 mi
68 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cave Creek, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Gilbert, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 42.5 miles across the Desert Southwest, this trip from Cave Creek to Gilbert is a straightforward journey typically taking about one hour and two minutes. Because of the manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to spend approximately $8 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. The drive transitions through the suburban landscape of the region, utilizing a blend of major freeways and local arterial roads. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a visit, the lack of mandatory stops allows you to maintain a steady pace from start to finish.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pima Freeway | 16.8 mi | 19m |
| North Scottsdale Road | 9.8 mi | 15m |
| Superstition Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Price Freeway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| South Gilbert Road | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| North Tom Darlington Drive | 2 mi | 4m |
| East Cave Creek Road | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| North Elm Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pima Freeway
— 16.8 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cave Creek, AZ and Gilbert, AZ.
1
Start on East Cave Creek Road
206 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Cave Creek Road
2
Continue on East Cave Creek Road
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Cave Creek Road
3
Turn slight right
171 ft
·
7 sec
Toward North Tom Darlington Drive
4
Turn straight onto North Tom Darlington Drive
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Tom Darlington Drive
5
Turn straight onto North Tom Darlington Drive
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Tom Darlington Drive
6
Continue on North Scottsdale Road
9.8 mi
·
15 min
·
North Scottsdale Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop East
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 55A; 55B
Toward US 60 East, US 60 West: Globe, Phoenix
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 55A
Toward US 60 East: Globe
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto US 60
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Superstition Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 182
Toward Gilbert Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto South Gilbert Road
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
South Gilbert Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto East Vaughn Avenue
440 ft
·
21 sec
·
East Vaughn Avenue
16
Turn right onto North Elm Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Elm Street
17
Turn right
203 ft
·
14 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 42.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.2 miles from Cave Creek, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 13.6 and 39.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
13.6 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Turn left toward AZ 101 Loop East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward AZ 101 Loop East
5
14 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
33.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward US 60 East, US 60 West: Globe, Phoenix
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 55A; 55B
Toward US 60 East, US 60 West: Globe, Phoenix
8
33.7 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 60 East: Globe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 55A
Toward US 60 East: Globe
7
39.6 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward Gilbert Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 182
Toward Gilbert Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.47 one way
$16.93 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $8.96 | $17.92 |
| premium | $5.59 | $9.36 | $18.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.38 | $18.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.46 | $2.04 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.72 | $1.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17 | 0 | $5.95 | $2.72 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
9:21 PM
MST
Current temp
93°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
8 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
1h 2m 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?
Expect a mixed driving experience that balances high-speed highway travel with local road navigation. You will spend about 57% of your time on the highway, with the most significant portion being a 16.8-mile stretch on the Pima Freeway. After navigating North Scottsdale Road, you will transition onto the Superstition Freeway to complete your journey. The route begins with the character of a desert commute and shifts into a more heavily trafficked metropolitan flow as you approach Gilbert. This variation keeps you engaged behind the wheel, as you move between the open feel of the freeway and the more structured pace of local surface streets.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.8 mi on Pima Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.5 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 13.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Cave Creek, AZ to Gilbert, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Phoenix along the way.
Phoenix
33.5 mi in
|
~48m
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 1h 2m. Total distance: 42.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.8 miles on Pima 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 13.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles (AZ 101 Loop / Pima Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Gilbert, AZ
More trips to Gilbert, AZ
Explore more options from Cave Creek, AZ or browse trips ending in Gilbert, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.