Origin
Gilbert, AZ
Night in Gilbert on Saturday
Local time
11:01 PM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gilbert, AZ to Rio Verde, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
31.5 mi
51 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gilbert, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Rio Verde, AZ
Guillermo Berlin
Trip Overview
This 31.5-mile drive from Gilbert, AZ to Rio Verde, AZ is a straightforward, one-day trip, taking just under an hour to complete. Expect to spend around $6 on fuel for this journey. The route primarily utilizes local roads, with a "turn-heavy" profile, meaning you'll navigate through several intersections. Given its short distance and duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day, requiring no overnight stays. Both your origin and destination are situated within the Desert Southwest region, so you'll remain in a familiar arid landscape throughout your travels.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Gilbert Road | 10.3 mi | 17m |
| East McDowell Mountain Road | 8.1 mi | 19m |
| Beeline Highway | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| North Saguaro Boulevard | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| North Forest Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Shea Boulevard | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| North Fountain Hills Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Four Peaks Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
North Gilbert Road
— 10.3 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gilbert, AZ and Rio Verde, 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
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
North Gilbert Road
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on North Gilbert Road
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
North Gilbert Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto AZ 87
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Beeline Highway
7
Turn left onto East Shea Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
East Shea Boulevard
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto North Saguaro Boulevard
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
North Saguaro Boulevard
Use the right lane.
9
At end of road, turn right onto North Fountain Hills Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Fountain Hills Boulevard
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on East McDowell Mountain Road
8.1 mi
·
19 min
·
East McDowell Mountain Road
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on North Forest Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Forest Road
12
Turn left onto East Four Peaks Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Four Peaks Boulevard
13
Turn right onto North Medelice Lane
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
North Medelice Lane
14
Arrive at destination
North Medelice Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.8 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 21.8 — 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
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North Gilbert Road
Turn right onto North Gilbert Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
17.4 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
East Shea Boulevard
Turn left onto East Shea Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
18 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
North Saguaro Boulevard
Turn right onto North Saguaro Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
21.8 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
North Fountain Hills Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto North Fountain Hills Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.28 one way
$12.55 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $6.64 | $13.28 |
| premium | $5.59 | $6.93 | $13.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.95 | $13.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.31 | $1.51 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.76 | $1.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.41 | $2.02 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Rio Verde, AZ
Night in Rio Verde on Saturday
Local time
11:01 PM
MST
Current temp
87°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
2 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
58m 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?
This drive is characterized as a "turn-heavy local drive" with no highway mileage, suggesting a more engaged driving experience on surface streets. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.3 miles along North Gilbert Road. As you progress, the route will involve navigating through a series of turns and intersections rather than long, straight highway segments. This profile means you'll likely experience varying speed limits and need to remain attentive to local traffic conditions and road changes.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.3 mi on North Gilbert Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near East Vaughn Avenue.
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 31.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.3 miles (North Gilbert Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.4 miles (East Shea Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
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 58m. Total distance: 31.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.3 miles on North Gilbert Road. 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 Rio Verde, 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 0.3 miles (North Gilbert Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.4 miles (East Shea Boulevard): 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 Rio Verde, 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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