Origin
Paradise Valley, AZ
Late night in Paradise Valley on Tuesday
Local time
1:59 AM
MST
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Paradise Valley, AZ to Gilbert, AZ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
33m
Distance
21.6 mi
35 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paradise Valley, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Gilbert, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning just 21.7 miles, this quick trip between Paradise Valley and Gilbert is a straightforward journey through the heart of the Desert Southwest. You can comfortably complete the drive in about 33 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $4 for fuel is sufficient for this short distance, as you won't be navigating any complex highway systems. Since the entire route is comprised of local roads, you should expect a steady, predictable pace rather than a long-haul interstate trek. It is a practical, efficient connection that serves as a simple transition between these two Arizona communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pima Freeway | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| Superstition Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Price Freeway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| East McDonald Drive | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| South Gilbert Road | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| East Lincoln Drive | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Scottsdale Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Elm Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pima Freeway
— 5.9 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paradise Valley, AZ and Gilbert, AZ.
1
Start on East Lincoln Drive
151 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Lincoln Drive
2
Continue on East Lincoln Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Lincoln Drive
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto North Scottsdale Road
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
North Scottsdale Road
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto East McDonald Drive
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
East McDonald Drive
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
6
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 55A; 55B
Toward US 60 East, US 60 West: Globe, Phoenix
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 55A
Toward US 60 East: Globe
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 60
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Superstition Freeway
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 182
Toward Gilbert Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto South Gilbert Road
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
South Gilbert Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto East Vaughn Avenue
440 ft
·
21 sec
·
East Vaughn Avenue
14
Turn right onto North Elm Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Elm Street
15
Turn right
203 ft
·
14 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 18.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
North Scottsdale Road
Turn right onto North Scottsdale Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
3.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward AZ 101 Loop South
Navigation decision point
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
8
12.7 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward US 60 East, US 60 West: Globe, Phoenix
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 55A; 55B
Toward US 60 East, US 60 West: Globe, Phoenix
8
12.9 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 60 East: Globe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 55A
Toward US 60 East: Globe
7
18.8 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward Gilbert Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 182
Toward Gilbert Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.30 one way
$8.61 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $4.55 | $9.11 |
| premium | $5.59 | $4.75 | $9.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.77 | $9.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Gilbert, AZ
Late night in Gilbert on Tuesday
Local time
1:59 AM
MST
Current temp
84°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
22 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
33m 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 rather than a high-speed highway experience, as 0% of this route takes place on major interstates. You will primarily navigate via East Lincoln Drive, North Scottsdale Road, and East McDonald Drive to reach your destination. Because there are no highway stretches, the route maintains a consistent, low-speed flow that demands your full attention at intersections. Without a long, uninterrupted stretch, the character of the road remains urban and localized throughout the entire 21.7-mile duration. It is a functional, stop-and-go experience that keeps you engaged with the local street grid.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.9 mi on Pima Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pima Freeway and Superstition Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near North Scottsdale Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 21.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 33m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (North Scottsdale Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,343 ft
1,166 ft
Total Climb
104 ft
Total Descent
210 ft
Highest Point
1,343 ft
Elevation Range
177 ft
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 Paradise Valley, AZ to Gilbert, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Phoenix along the way.
Phoenix
12.7 mi in
|
~18m
About the Cities
Arriving 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 33m. Total distance: 21.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.9 miles on Pima 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 Gilbert, 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 1 miles (North Scottsdale Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Gilbert, 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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