Origin
Window Rock, AZ
Night in Window Rock on Saturday
Local time
11:58 PM
MDT
Current temp
32°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Window Rock, AZ to Gilbert, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 39m
Distance
273.7 mi
440 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 26m
★
6 AM
5h 39m
8 AM
6h 6m
10 AM
5h 48m
12 PM
5h 46m
3 PM
5h 50m
5 PM
6h 4m
8 PM
5h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Window Rock, AZ
Mark Direen
Gilbert, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 273.7-mile journey from Window Rock, AZ to Gilbert, AZ takes approximately 5 hours and 39 minutes, making it a feasible day trip for most travelers. You'll navigate primarily along the Purple Heart Trail and South Beeline Highway, with a significant portion on local roads. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $55. This route offers a direct path through the Desert Southwest region, providing a straightforward transition between two points within Arizona. It's a practical option when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
136.8 miles from Window Rock, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 40m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 69.9 mi | 1h 9m |
| South Beeline Highway | 68.6 mi | 1h 21m |
| Heber Road | 30.9 mi | 36m |
| Payson-Show Low Highway | 24.2 mi | 30m |
| Navajo Route 12 | 24.2 mi | 34m |
| Hwy 260 | 15.9 mi | 22m |
| Payson-Heber Highway | 12.7 mi | 17m |
| North Gilbert Road | 6.2 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 69.9 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Window Rock, AZ and Gilbert, AZ.
1
Start on this road
126 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Tribal Hill Drive
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
·
Tribal Hill Drive
3
Turn left onto Morgan Boulevard
447 ft
·
25 sec
·
Morgan Boulevard
4
Turn sharp right onto N100
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Navajo Route 100
5
Continue on Window Rock Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Window Rock Boulevard
6
At end of road, turn left onto N12
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Navajo Route 12
7
Turn right onto AZ 264
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Arizona State Highway 264
8
Turn left onto N12
24 mi
·
33 min
·
Navajo Route 12
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
10
Merge onto I 40
70 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
11
Take the exit onto AZ 77
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
AZ 77
Toward I 40 Business, AZ 77 South, AZ 377 South, US 180 East: Show Low, Heber
12
Turn left onto I 40 Bus; AZ 77; US 66 Hist
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Navajo Boulevard
13
Continue on US 180; AZ 77
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Holbrook-Springerville Highway
14
Continue on AZ 77
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Show Low-Holbrook Highway
15
Turn right onto AZ 377
31 mi
·
36 min
·
Heber Road
16
Turn straight onto AZ 377
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Heber-Holbrook Highway
17
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 277
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
West 3rd Street North
18
Continue on AZ 277
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 277
19
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 260
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Highway 260
20
Continue on AZ 260
16 mi
·
22 min
·
Hwy 260
21
Continue on AZ 260
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Payson-Heber Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on AZ 260
24 mi
·
30 min
·
Payson-Show Low Highway
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn left onto AZ 87
69 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
South Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
24
Turn left onto North Gilbert Road
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
North Gilbert Road
Use the left lane.
25
Continue on South Gilbert Road
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
South Gilbert Road
Use the left lane.
26
Turn left onto East Vaughn Avenue
440 ft
·
21 sec
·
East Vaughn Avenue
27
Turn right onto North Elm Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Elm Street
28
Turn right
203 ft
·
14 sec
29
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5 hour and 39 minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Window Rock to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic as you near Gilbert. With one recommended stop, you can break up the 273.7 miles into manageable segments. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the longest stretch without services is 69.9 miles on the Purple Heart Trail. Budgeting around $55 for fuel should cover your needs for this trip across Arizona.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 136.8 miles from Window Rock, AZ, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.9 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 60 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.8 miles or 2h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gilbert, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Window Rock, 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 Window Rock, AZ
This is one driving day of about 273.7 miles and 5h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Window Rock, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 69.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 136.8 miles from Window Rock, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69.9 miles.
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 185 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 273.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Morgan Boulevard
Turn left onto Morgan Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
N100 / Navajo Route 100
Turn sharp right onto N100 / Navajo Route 100
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
97.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
|
AZ 77
Take the exit onto AZ 77 toward I 40 Business, AZ 77 South, AZ 377 South, US 180 East: Show Low, Heber
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 Business, AZ 77 South, AZ 377 South...
5
263 mi into trip
|
~5h 20m in
|
North Gilbert Road
Turn left onto North Gilbert Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
273.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 38m in
|
North Elm Street
Turn right onto North Elm Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.52 one way
$109.05 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $57.70 | $115.41 |
| premium | $5.59 | $60.25 | $120.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.43 | $120.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.1 | 1 | $28.74 | $13.14 |
| Efficient EV | 68.4 | 0 | $23.95 | $10.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.5 | 1 | $38.32 | $17.52 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Night in Gilbert on Saturday
Local time
10:58 PM
MST
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Payson, AZ
137 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
57 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
5h 39m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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' profile for this 273.7-mile route. With only 16% of the drive on highways, you'll spend most of your time on roads that require more active navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 69.9 miles along the Purple Heart Trail, giving you a period of steady driving before the local roads become more prominent. The character of the drive shifts from more open stretches to a more connected, local feel as you approach your destination in Gilbert.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.9 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Morgan Boulevard.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 39m drive. You will face about 18 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Morgan Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (N100 / Navajo Route 100): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 97.2 miles (AZ 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Window Rock, AZ to Gilbert, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Heber along the way.
Heber
97.2 mi in
|
~1h 50m
|
via AZ 77
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 5h 39m. Total distance: 273.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (16%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.9 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Morgan Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (N100 / Navajo Route 100): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 97.2 miles (AZ 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Gilbert, AZ before the return drive.
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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