Origin
Blackwater, AZ
Late night in Blackwater on Wednesday
Local time
5:07 AM
MST
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blackwater, AZ to Gilbert, AZ
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
48m
Distance
29.9 mi
48 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blackwater, AZ
Yanming Guo
Gilbert, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Blackwater, AZ to Gilbert, AZ covers 29.9 miles and takes about 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Junction I-10-Mesa Highway, South Gilbert Road, Blackwater School Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 13.2 miles on Junction I-10-Mesa Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.96 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
15 miles from Blackwater, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Blackwater, AZ to Gilbert, AZ covers 29.9 miles and takes about 48m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 7 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 13.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in near AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Blackwater, AZ to Gilbert, AZ is easy. At 48m with 44% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles (AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway): Navigation decision point; at 17 miles (BIA 28 / South Gilbert Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 29.7 miles (East Cullumber Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
3.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
Navigation decision point
6
17 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
BIA 28 / South Gilbert Road
Turn right onto BIA 28 / South Gilbert Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
29.7 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
East Cullumber Avenue
Turn right onto East Cullumber Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
29.8 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
North Elm Street
Turn right onto North Elm Street
Navigation decision point
4
29.9 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Junction I-10-Mesa Highway | 13.2 mi | 19m |
| South Gilbert Road | 12.8 mi | 21m |
| Blackwater School Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| East Cullumber Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Elm Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
— 13.2 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blackwater, AZ and Gilbert, AZ.
1
Start on Blackwater School Road
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Blackwater School Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 87
13 mi
·
19 min
·
Junction I-10-Mesa Highway
3
Turn right onto BIA 28
13 mi
·
21 min
·
South Gilbert Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto East Cullumber Avenue
436 ft
·
21 sec
·
East Cullumber Avenue
5
Turn right onto North Elm Street
244 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Elm Street
6
Turn right
203 ft
·
14 sec
7
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 15 miles from Blackwater, AZ, or about 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.2 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 29.9 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15 miles or 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 40m
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 Blackwater, 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 Blackwater, AZ
This is one driving day of about 29.9 miles and 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Blackwater, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Junction I-10-Mesa Highway for about 13.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15 mi from Blackwater, AZ · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 29.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15 miles from Blackwater, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Gilbert, AZ
The final approach into Gilbert, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Gilbert, AZ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.96 one way
$11.91 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $6.30 | $12.61 |
| premium | $5.59 | $6.58 | $13.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.60 | $13.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9 | 0 | $3.14 | $1.44 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.62 | $1.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12 | 0 | $4.19 | $1.91 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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 Wednesday
Local time
5:07 AM
MST
Current temp
92°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
48m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Blackwater, AZ to Gilbert, AZ covers 29.9 miles and takes about 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Junction I-10-Mesa Highway, South Gilbert Road, Blackwater School Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15 miles from Blackwater, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.96 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Blackwater, AZ to Gilbert, AZ is easy. At 48m with 44% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles (AZ 87 / Junction I-10-Mesa Highway): Navigation decision point; at 17 miles (BIA 28 / South Gilbert Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 29.7 miles (East Cullumber Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Blackwater, AZ to Gilbert, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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