Trip from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Gilbert, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 53m

Distance

113.8 mi

183 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

1h 45m ★

6 AM

1h 54m

8 AM

2h 10m

10 AM

1h 59m

12 PM

1h 58m

3 PM

2h 0m

5 PM

2h 9m

8 PM

1h 49m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Gilbert, AZ covers 113.8 miles and takes about 1h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East River Road, West Orange Grove Road, North Casa Grande Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.67 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.

Midpoint

56.9 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 113.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 53m drive with frequent turns across 113.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

East River Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Gilbert, AZ is easy. At 1h 53m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Gilbert, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
East River Road	—	—
West Orange Grove Road	—	—
North Casa Grande Highway	—	—
I 10 West	—	—
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway	—	—
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway	—	—
AZ 587 North	—	—
South Arizona Avenue	—	—

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: East River Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Catalina Foothills, AZ and Gilbert, AZ.

1

Start on North Hacienda del Sol Road

1.3 mi · 3 min · North Hacienda del Sol Road

2

Turn right onto East River Road

7.7 mi · 13 min · East River Road

3

Turn left onto West Orange Grove Road

0.3 mi · 39 sec · West Orange Grove Road

4

Turn right onto North Casa Grande Highway

0.1 mi · 13 sec · North Casa Grande Highway

5

Take the ramp slight left toward I 10 West

0.3 mi · 41 sec · I 10 West

6

Merge slight left onto Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

50 mi · 50 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

7

Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

24 mi · 24 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

8

Take the exit slight right toward AZ 587 North: Chandler, Gilbert

0.3 mi · 54 sec · AZ 587 North: Chandler, Gilbert

9

Turn left

5.8 mi · 8 min

10

Continue on South Arizona Avenue

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Arizona Avenue

11

Turn right onto East Riggs Road

3.0 mi · 5 min · East Riggs Road

12

Turn left onto South Gilbert Road

9.3 mi · 15 min · South Gilbert Road

13

Turn right onto East Cullumber Avenue

436 ft · 21 sec · East Cullumber Avenue

14

Turn right onto North Elm Street

243 ft · 10 sec · North Elm Street

15

Turn right

203 ft · 15 sec

16

Arrive at your 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 56.9 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ, or about 56m into the drive.

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 25 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 56.9 miles or 56m 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 33m

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 Catalina Foothills, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Catalina Foothills, AZ

This is one driving day of about 113.8 miles and 1h 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 56.9 mi from Catalina Foothills, AZ · 56m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Eloy, AZ

57 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

Casas Adobes, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Eloy, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 56.9 miles from Catalina Foothills, 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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.67 one way

$45.34 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.36	$23.99	$47.98
premium	$5.59	$25.05	$50.10
diesel	$5.61	$25.13	$50.25

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 39.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	34.1	$11.95	$5.46
Efficient EV	28.5	$9.96	$4.55
EV Truck/SUV	45.5	$15.93	$7.28

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (68% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Catalina Foothills, AZ

Afternoon in Catalina Foothills on Thursday

Local time

12:07 PM

MST

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gilbert, AZ

Afternoon in Gilbert on Thursday

Local time

12:07 PM

MST

Current temp

93°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

38 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

1h 53m 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 Catalina Foothills, AZ to Gilbert, AZ covers 113.8 miles and takes about 1h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are East River Road, West Orange Grove Road, North Casa Grande Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 56.9 miles from Catalina Foothills, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.67 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 Catalina Foothills, AZ to Gilbert, AZ is easy. At 1h 53m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Gilbert, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Gilbert, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Gilbert, AZ to Catalina Foothills, AZ

Plan the drive back the other way.

103.1 mi 2h 4m

Explore more options from Catalina Foothills, AZ or browse trips ending in Gilbert, AZ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.

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