Origin
Queen Creek, AZ
Morning in Queen Creek on Tuesday
Local time
7:30 AM
MST
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Queen Creek, 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
28m
Distance
15.2 mi
24 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Queen Creek, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Gilbert, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling the 16.1 miles between Queen Creek and Gilbert is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 30 minutes. Since the entire trip stays within the Desert Southwest, you won't experience major environmental shifts, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay, as the distance is short enough to navigate in one quick go. Budgeting roughly $3 for fuel should be plenty to cover the transit. It is a practical, local-focused trip that prioritizes convenience over long-distance touring, ideal for commuters or those running errands between these neighboring Arizona communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Elliot Road | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| South Rittenhouse Road | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| South Power Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| South Higley Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Santan Freeway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| South Ellsworth Loop Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Ocotillo Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| North Palm Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East Elliot Road
— 3.6 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Queen Creek, AZ and Gilbert, AZ.
1
Start on East Ocotillo Road
380 ft
·
35 sec
·
East Ocotillo Road
2
Turn uturn onto East Ocotillo Road
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Ocotillo Road
3
Turn right onto South Ellsworth Loop Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Ellsworth Loop Road
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto South Rittenhouse Road
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
South Rittenhouse Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto South Power Road
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
South Power Road
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Santan Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 38
Toward Higley Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto South Higley Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Higley Road
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto East Elliot Road
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
East Elliot Road
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto North Cottonwood Drive
261 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Cottonwood Drive
12
Turn left onto East Washington Avenue
231 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Washington Avenue
13
Continue on North Palm Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Palm Street
14
Turn left onto East Bruce Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Bruce Avenue
15
Turn left
203 ft
·
14 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 9.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Ocotillo Road
Turn uturn onto East Ocotillo Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South Ellsworth Loop Road
Turn right onto South Ellsworth Loop Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
4.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
South Power Road
Turn right onto South Power Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
7.7 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Turn left toward AZ 202 Loop West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
7
9.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward Higley Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 38
Toward Higley Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.03 one way
$6.06 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $3.20 | $6.41 |
| premium | $5.59 | $3.35 | $6.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.36 | $6.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.60 | $0.73 |
| Efficient EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.33 | $0.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.13 | $0.97 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Morning in Gilbert on Tuesday
Local time
7:30 AM
MST
Current temp
65°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 20 at 10:32AM PDT until April 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
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
19 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
28m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. Your path primarily utilizes East Ocotillo Road, South Ellsworth Loop Road, and South Rittenhouse Road to connect the two towns. Because the longest stretch is zero miles on East Ocotillo Road, you will find yourself navigating frequent turns and local intersections throughout the 30-minute duration. The road’s personality is functional and suburban, requiring your full attention as you transition between residential and commercial areas. It is a steady, slow-paced experience that reflects the layout of the local street network.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 3.6 mi on East Elliot 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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Ocotillo Road.
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 15.2 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: at 0.1 miles (East Ocotillo Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.3 miles (South Ellsworth Loop Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (South Power Road): Lane positioning matters here.
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 28m. Total distance: 15.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m 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 3.6 miles on East Elliot 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 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 0.1 miles (East Ocotillo Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.3 miles (South Ellsworth Loop Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (South Power Road): 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 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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