Origin
Gilbert, AZ
Evening in Gilbert on Saturday
Local time
7:45 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gilbert, AZ to Saint David, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 59m
Distance
156.7 mi
252 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 48m
★
6 AM
2h 59m
8 AM
3h 22m
10 AM
3h 7m
12 PM
3h 5m
3 PM
3h 8m
5 PM
3h 21m
8 PM
2h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gilbert, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Saint David, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 156.7-mile drive from Gilbert, AZ, to Saint David, AZ, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 59 minutes. You'll navigate a mix of local roads and highways, with about 14% of the journey on the highway. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $31. Given the relatively short duration and turn-heavy nature, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Desert Southwest region of Arizona. It's a manageable drive that allows for flexibility in your schedule.
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
78.4 miles from Gilbert, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.6 mi | 55m |
| Tucson-Benson Highway | 42.9 mi | 44m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 23.5 mi | 23m |
| North Gilbert Road | 9.3 mi | 15m |
| AZ 80 | 7.4 mi | 11m |
| AZ 587 | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| North Freeway | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| East Riggs Road | 3 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
— 54.6 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gilbert, AZ and Saint David, AZ.
1
Start on this road
203 ft
·
20 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto North Elm Street
244 ft
·
13 sec
·
North Elm Street
3
Turn left onto East Cullumber Avenue
436 ft
·
24 sec
·
East Cullumber Avenue
4
Turn left onto North Gilbert Road
9.3 mi
·
15 min
·
North Gilbert Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto East Riggs Road
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
East Riggs Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left onto AZ 87
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Arizona Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on AZ 587
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
AZ 587
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
9
Merge onto I 10
24 mi
·
23 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
55 mi
·
55 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 10
43 mi
·
44 min
·
Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto I 10 Business
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
I 10 Business
Exit 303
Toward I 10 Business: Tombstone, Douglas
14
Continue on I 10 Bus; US 80 Hist
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
I 10 Bus; US 80 Hist
Toward I 10 BUS, AZ 80: Benson, Douglas
15
Turn slight right onto AZ 80; US 80 Hist
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
AZ 80; US 80 Hist
16
Keep slight right at fork onto AZ 80; US 80 Hist
7.3 mi
·
11 min
·
AZ 80; US 80 Hist
17
Arrive at destination
AZ 80; US 80 Hist
Trip Plan
With a duration of under three hours, this 156.7-mile drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, offering plenty of flexibility. Consider an early morning departure to make the most of your day and avoid potential afternoon heat in the Desert Southwest. You'll encounter one longest stretch of 54.6 miles on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before you embark, as services might be more spaced out during this segment. The $31 fuel cost is a reasonable estimate for this relatively short trip.
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 78.4 miles from Gilbert, AZ, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 34 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.4 miles or 1h 32m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint David, 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 156.7 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 Casa Grande-Tucson Highway for about 54.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
78 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 78.4 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 147 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Cullumber Avenue
Turn left onto East Cullumber Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Gilbert Road
Turn left onto North Gilbert Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
9.4 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
East Riggs Road
Turn right onto East Riggs Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
19.8 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
147 mi into trip
|
~2h 43m in
|
I 10 Business
Take the exit onto I 10 Business toward I 10 Business: Tombstone, Douglas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 303
Toward I 10 Business: Tombstone, Douglas
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.22 one way
$62.43 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $33.04 | $66.07 |
| premium | $5.59 | $34.49 | $68.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.60 | $69.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47 | 0 | $16.45 | $7.52 |
| Efficient EV | 39.2 | 0 | $13.71 | $6.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.7 | 0 | $21.94 | $10.03 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Saint David, AZ
Evening in Saint David on Saturday
Local time
7:45 PM
MST
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
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
49 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 59m 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 turn-heavy local drive for most of this 156.7-mile trip. While only 14% of the route is on highways, you'll experience stretches like the 54.6-mile segment on the Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. The journey involves navigating the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway and the Tucson-Benson Highway, suggesting a route that winds through various local communities and road types. This isn't a high-speed interstate cruise, but rather a more connected, ground-level experience through Arizona.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.6 mi on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Cullumber Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 156.7 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.1 miles (East Cullumber Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (North Gilbert Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (East Riggs Road): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Gilbert, AZ to Saint David, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Douglas along the way.
Douglas
147 mi in
|
~2h 43m
|
via I 10 Business
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 2h 59m. Total distance: 156.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (14%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.6 miles on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Cullumber Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (North Gilbert Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (East Riggs Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Saint David, 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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