Sunset Point Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Gilbert, AZ to Kachina Village, AZ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 52m
Distance
158.5 mi
255 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 41m
★
6 AM
2h 52m
8 AM
3h 14m
10 AM
3h 0m
12 PM
2h 58m
3 PM
3h 1m
5 PM
3h 13m
8 PM
2h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gilbert, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Kachina Village, AZ
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
Gilbert, AZ to Kachina Village, AZ is 158.5 miles and takes about 2h 52m via Arizona Veterans Highway, Black Canyon Freeway, and Superstition Freeway, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip travels within the Desert Southwest region, offering a mixed drive experience. You'll spend about 38% of your time on highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day excursion. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward journey without extensive planning, allowing for a relaxed pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.2 miles from Gilbert, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Veterans Highway | 85 mi | 1h 25m |
| Black Canyon Freeway | 41.3 mi | 45m |
| Superstition Freeway | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| Maricopa Freeway | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway | 8.9 mi | 9m |
| North Gilbert Road | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Kachina Trail | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| US 60 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Arizona Veterans Highway
— 85 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gilbert, AZ and Kachina Village, 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 right at fork onto US 60
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 17; US 60
41 mi
·
45 min
·
Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 17
8.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 17
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 17
72 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
Arizona Veterans Highway
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Toward Kachina Boulevard
15
Turn left onto Kachina Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Kachina Boulevard
16
Turn right onto Kachina Trail
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Kachina Trail
17
Continue on Kachina Trail
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Kachina Trail
18
Arrive at destination
Kachina Trail
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just under 3 hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Leaving Gilbert, AZ in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Kachina Village with time to spare. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to break your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without significant services is 85 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway, so ensure you're topped up before embarking on that segment.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79.2 miles from Gilbert, AZ, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 35 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.2 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kachina Village, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gilbert, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gilbert, AZ
This is one driving day of about 158.5 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Gilbert, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Arizona Veterans Highway for about 85 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.2 miles from Gilbert, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Arizona Veterans Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 85 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
McGuireville Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
McGuireville Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.9 mi from route
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona
4.3
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
First break
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
Tempe, Arizona
Hours: 11 am–5 pm
+14805657081
Visit websiteOut of Africa Wildlife Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
2.9 mi from route
~7 min detour
Camp Verde, Arizona
Hours: 9:30 am–5 pm
+19285672840
Visit websiteFort Tuthill County Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Flagstaff, Arizona
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+19286798000
Visit websiteArizona Science Center
3.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
First break
2.7 mi from route
~7 min detour
Phoenix, Arizona
Hours: 10:30 am–4 pm
+16027162000
Visit websiteTempe Festival of the Arts
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Tempe, Arizona
+14803556060
Visit websiteTempe Town Lake
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
3.3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Tempe, Arizona
Flagstaff Snow Park
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Flagstaff, Arizona
+19282245938
Visit websiteEnchanted Island Amusement Park
4.3
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
First break
3.2 mi from route
~8 min detour
Phoenix, Arizona
Hours: 11 am–4 pm
+16022541200
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 18 — 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
5
2.8 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.
5
12.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
US 60
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60 toward I 10 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 10 North
8
18 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
US 60 / Maricopa Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60 / Maricopa Freeway toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I-17 North, US-60 West: Flagstaff
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.37 one way
$64.74 round trip
$5.19/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.52 | $34.43 | $68.87 |
| premium | $5.72 | $35.69 | $71.37 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $33.38 | $66.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.6 | 0 | $16.64 | $7.61 |
| Efficient EV | 39.6 | 0 | $13.87 | $6.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.4 | 0 | $22.19 | $10.14 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Origin
Gilbert, AZ
Afternoon in Gilbert on Wednesday
Local time
1:05 PM
MST
Current temp
104°F
Sunny
W 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Kachina Village, AZ
Afternoon in Kachina Village on Wednesday
Local time
1:05 PM
MST
Current temp
81°F
Sunny
SW 14 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
23 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 52m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
National Monument
Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
$10
near mile 114.8
Caution: High Levels of Visitation
Walnut Canyon National Monument
National Monument
Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived and traveled throughout Walnut Canyon’s dynamic landscape. Vibrant communities built their homes in the cliffs and farmed along the canyon’s rim. T...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
$25
near mile 158.5
View on nps.gov
Tuzigoot National Monument
National Monument
Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs that well up from the ancient sedimentary ro...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
$10
near mile 114.8
View on nps.gov
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
National Monument
The lava flow lies on the land like a dream, a wonderland of rock. A thousand years ago the ground was torn open and lava erupted into the sky, forever changing the landscape and the lives of the peop...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
$25
near mile 158.5
View on nps.gov
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This journey presents a mixed drive, with 38% of the route on highways. You'll experience stretches of the Superstition Freeway and Black Canyon Freeway, offering a faster pace for significant portions of the trip. The longest uninterrupted drive will be approximately 85 miles along the Arizona Veterans Highway. Expect the road conditions to vary, transitioning between more urban highway segments and potentially more open desert stretches as you progress toward Kachina Village.
38% 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: 85 mi on Arizona Veterans Highway.
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 0.3 miles in near East Vaughn Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 158.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 2.8 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,779 ft
1,055 ft
Total Climb
6,976 ft
Total Descent
1,433 ft
Highest Point
6,779 ft
~158.5 mi in
Elevation Range
5,725 ft
Notable High Points
4,451 ft at ~101.9 miles
+651 ft prominence
About the Cities
Starting 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.
Arriving in Kachina Village, AZ
Full guide →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 2h 52m. Total distance: 158.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Kachina Village, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 2.8 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Montezuma Castle National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument and Tuzigoot National Monument (5 total within detour distance). 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 Kachina Village, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Explore more options from Gilbert, AZ or browse trips ending in Kachina Village, AZ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.