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Trip from Coolidge, 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

55m

Distance

36.1 mi

58 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 51m ★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Arizona, United States

Coolidge, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Gilbert, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 36.1-mile drive from Coolidge, AZ to Gilbert, AZ, is easily manageable as a day trip, taking approximately 55 minutes to complete. The route primarily utilizes Junction I-10-Mesa Highway and South Gilbert Road, with a 58% highway share. With an estimated fuel cost of $7, this journey through the Desert Southwest is a practical and efficient option for getting between these two Arizona locations. No overnight stops are needed, making it a convenient option for a quick transition.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway 21 mi 29m
South Gilbert Road 12.8 mi 21m
North Arizona Boulevard 1.7 mi 3m
West Central Avenue 0.4 mi 1m
East Cullumber Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
North Elm Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Junction I-10-Mesa Highway — 21 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Coolidge, AZ and Gilbert, AZ.

1

Start on West Central Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · West Central Avenue
2

Turn right onto AZ 87; AZ 287

1.7 mi · 3 min · North Arizona Boulevard
3

Turn left onto AZ 87

21 mi · 29 min · Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
4

Turn right onto BIA 28

13 mi · 21 min · South Gilbert Road
Use the left lane.
5

Turn right onto East Cullumber Avenue

436 ft · 21 sec · East Cullumber Avenue
6

Turn right onto North Elm Street

244 ft · 10 sec · North Elm Street
7

Turn right

203 ft · 14 sec
8

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Sun Lakes, AZ, AZ

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sun Lakes, AZ

18 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

San Carlos, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sacaton, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18 miles from Coolidge, 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 6

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 36 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | AZ 87; AZ 287 / North Arizona Boulevard

Turn right onto AZ 87; AZ 287 / North Arizona Boulevard

Navigation decision point

4
2.1 mi into trip | ~4m in | AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway

Turn left onto AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway

Navigation decision point

6
23.1 mi into trip | ~33m in | BIA 28 / South Gilbert Road

Turn right onto BIA 28 / South Gilbert Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
4
35.9 mi into trip | ~54m in | East Cullumber Avenue

Turn right onto East Cullumber Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
36 mi into trip | ~55m in | North Elm Street

Turn right onto North Elm Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.19 one way

$14.38 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $7.61 $15.22
premium $5.59 $7.95 $15.89
diesel $5.61 $7.97 $15.94

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10.8 0 $3.79 $1.73
Efficient EV 9 0 $3.16 $1.44
EV Truck/SUV 14.4 0 $5.05 $2.31

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Coolidge, AZ

Night in Coolidge on Saturday

Local time

10:57 PM

MST

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

33 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

55m 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 drive on this route, with a substantial 58% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 21 miles along Junction I-10-Mesa Highway, offering a steady pace. The drive transitions from highway to local roads as you approach Gilbert, with South Gilbert Road and North Arizona Boulevard becoming more prominent. This blend means you'll encounter both faster sections and more controlled urban driving.

58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21 mi on Junction I-10-Mesa Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near AZ 87; AZ 287 / North Arizona Boulevard.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Coolidge, AZ to Gilbert, AZ is easy. At 55m with 58% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (AZ 87; AZ 287 / North Arizona Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway): Navigation decision point; at 23.1 miles (BIA 28 / South Gilbert Road): 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 55m. Total distance: 36.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (58%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 21 miles on Junction I-10-Mesa Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 0.4 miles (AZ 87; AZ 287 / North Arizona Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway): Navigation decision point; at 23.1 miles (BIA 28 / South Gilbert Road): Lane positioning matters here.

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.

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