US Trip Planner

Trip from Gilbert, AZ to El Mirage, AZ

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 2m

Distance

47.9 mi

77 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min

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 12m

8 PM

1h 0m

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

Best Time

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Gilbert, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

El Mirage, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Gilbert, AZ to El Mirage, AZ covers 47.9 miles and takes about 1h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Papago Freeway, Superstition Freeway, Agua Fria Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 15 miles on Papago Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.28 one way before food or hotel costs.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Papago Freeway	15 mi	17m
Superstition Freeway	9.8 mi	11m
Agua Fria Freeway	8.8 mi	10m
Maricopa Freeway	4.9 mi	5m
Grand Avenue	3.4 mi	6m
North Gilbert Road	2.1 mi	4m
West Thunderbird Road	0.7 mi	1m
US 60	0.6 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Papago Freeway — 15 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

203 ft · 20 sec · this road

2

Turn left onto North Elm Street

0.2 mi · 44 sec · North Elm Street

3

At end of road, turn left onto East Vaughn Avenue

440 ft · 23 sec · East Vaughn Avenue

4

Turn right onto North Gilbert Road

2.1 mi · 4 min · North Gilbert Road

5

Turn left

0.3 mi · 45 sec

Toward US 60 West: Phoenix Use the left lane.

6

Merge onto US 60

9.8 mi · 11 min · Superstition Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

7

Keep slight left at fork onto US 60

0.6 mi · 38 sec · US 60

Toward I 10 North

8

Merge onto I 10; US 60

4.9 mi · 5 min · Maricopa Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

2.0 mi · 2 min · Papago Freeway

Use the slight left lane.

10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

2.7 mi · 3 min · Papago Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

11

Continue on I 10

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

12

Continue on I 10

10 mi · 12 min · Papago Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

13

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min

Exit 133B Toward AZ 101 Loop North Use the straight / slight right lanes.

14

Continue on AZ 101 Loop

8.8 mi · 10 min · Agua Fria Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

15

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Exit 11 Toward US 60 Use the slight right lane.

16

Turn left onto US 60

3.4 mi · 6 min · Grand Avenue

Use the left / right lanes.

17

Turn left onto West Thunderbird Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Thunderbird Road

18

Turn right onto North El Mirage Road

0.3 mi · 50 sec · North El Mirage Road

19

Arrive at destination

North El Mirage Road

Where to Stop

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

seat of Maricopa County, largest city in, and capital of, the State of Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

24 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

Tempe Junction, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23.9 miles from Gilbert, 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 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 43.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6

0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | East Vaughn Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto East Vaughn Avenue

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

7

2.5 mi into trip | ~5m in

Turn left toward US 60 West: Phoenix

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward US 60 West: Phoenix

6

18 mi into trip | ~24m in | I 10 / Papago Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.

7

33.6 mi into trip | ~42m in

Take the exit toward AZ 101 Loop North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 133B Toward AZ 101 Loop North

7

43.2 mi into trip | ~53m in

Take the exit toward US 60

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 11 Toward US 60

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.28 one way

$18.57 round trip

$4.92/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.20	$9.81	$19.62
premium	$5.44	$10.25	$20.51
diesel	$5.60	$10.56	$21.12

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	14.4	0	$5.03	$2.30
Efficient EV	12	0	$4.19	$1.92
EV Truck/SUV	19.2	0	$6.71	$3.07

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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 Aug 29, 2026

Origin

Gilbert, AZ

Afternoon in Gilbert on Friday

Local time

1:28 PM

MST

Current temp

88°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSE 0 to 5 mph 20% chance Live forecast

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued August 28 at 2:00PM MST until August 29 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued August 28 at 2:00PM MST until August 29 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ

Destination

El Mirage, AZ

Afternoon in El Mirage on Friday

Local time

1:28 PM

MST

Current temp

90°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

WNW 5 to 10 mph 15% chance Live forecast

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued August 28 at 2:00PM MST until August 29 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued August 28 at 2:00PM MST until August 29 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ

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

2 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

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

47.9 mi in 1h 2m, mostly highway — 15 mi of that is on Papago Freeway.

82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 15 mi on Papago Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Papago Freeway and Superstition Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near East Vaughn Avenue.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.9 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.3 miles (East Vaughn Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,236 ft 1,039 ft

Total Climb

105 ft

Total Descent

200 ft

Highest Point

1,236 ft

Elevation Range

197 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Gilbert, AZ

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.

Arriving in El Mirage, AZ

Founded 1951

El Mirage is a city in the Greater Phoenix region of Arizona.

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: 47.9 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 (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 15 miles on Papago 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 El Mirage, 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 0.3 miles (East Vaughn Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Casa Grande Ruins 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 El Mirage, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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