Origin
Gilbert, AZ
Late night in Gilbert on Sunday
Local time
12:31 AM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gilbert, AZ to San Carlos, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 10m
Distance
94.5 mi
152 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 1m
★
6 AM
2h 10m
8 AM
2h 29m
10 AM
2h 17m
12 PM
2h 15m
3 PM
2h 18m
5 PM
2h 28m
8 PM
2h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gilbert, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
San Carlos, AZ
Andrea Hinojosa
Trip Overview
Gilbert, AZ to San Carlos, AZ is 94.5 miles and takes about 2h 10m via Phoenix–Globe Highway, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Desert Southwest, traversing Arizona for its entirety. Expect a more local feel to this trip, with a significant portion involving turns rather than consistent highway cruising. It's a manageable distance, making it a great option if you're looking for a straightforward, single-day excursion without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.3 miles from Gilbert, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix–Globe Highway | 43 mi | 55m |
| Globe-Lordsburg Highway | 17.9 mi | 22m |
| Superstition Freeway | 16.6 mi | 19m |
| US 60 | 4 mi | 7m |
| Indian Route 170 | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| East Ash Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| North Gilbert Road | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| North Broad Street | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Phoenix–Globe Highway
— 43 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gilbert, AZ and San Carlos, 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
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward US 60 East: Globe
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto US 60
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist
43 mi
·
55 min
·
Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Live Oak Street
9
Continue on US 60
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
US 60
10
Continue on US 60
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
11
Turn left onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broad Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto East Oak Street
366 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Oak Street
13
Turn right onto South Hill Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Hill Street
14
Turn left onto US 60
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Ash Street
15
Continue on US 70; AZ 77
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70; AZ 77
17 mi
·
20 min
·
Globe-Lordsburg Highway
17
Turn left onto BIA 170
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Indian Route 170
18
At end of road, turn left onto BIA 170
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Indian Route 170
19
Keep slight left at fork onto Aravaipa Road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Aravaipa Road
20
Arrive at destination
Aravaipa Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2h 10m, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Gilbert in the morning allows ample daylight for the 94.5-mile trip, and since there are no designated stops in the data, you can be spontaneous. The fuel cost is estimated at $19, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you depart. With only 25% of the route on highways, pay close attention to navigation, especially as you approach San Carlos, to manage the turn-heavy nature of the drive effectively.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.3 miles from Gilbert, AZ, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43 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 21 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.3 miles or 1h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Carlos, 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 94.5 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Gilbert, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Phoenix–Globe Highway for about 43 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 47.3 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 69.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Elm Street
Turn left onto North Elm Street
Navigation decision point
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
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward US 60 East: Globe
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 60 East: Globe
5
2.7 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
69.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
|
North Broad Street
Turn left onto North Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.83 one way
$37.65 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $19.92 | $39.85 |
| premium | $5.59 | $20.80 | $41.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.86 | $41.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.3 | 0 | $9.92 | $4.54 |
| Efficient EV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.27 | $3.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.8 | 0 | $13.23 | $6.05 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
San Carlos, AZ
Late night in San Carlos on Sunday
Local time
12:31 AM
MST
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
87°F
Superior, AZ
47 mi in
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
6 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 10m 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 route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with only 25% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a mix of driving conditions, including stretches on the Phoenix–Globe Highway and the Globe-Lordsburg Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 43 miles on the Phoenix–Globe Highway. Be prepared for frequent changes in direction and road type as you navigate from the Phoenix area toward San Carlos.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43 mi on Phoenix–Globe Highway.
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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Elm Street.
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 94.5 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: near the start (North Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East Vaughn Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.4 miles: 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 2h 10m. Total distance: 94.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43 miles on Phoenix–Globe Highway. 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 San Carlos, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East Vaughn Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at San Carlos, 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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