Origin
Fort Defiance, AZ
Morning in Fort Defiance on Monday
Local time
11:48 AM
MDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Defiance, AZ to Gilbert, AZ
Drive Time
4h 47m
Distance
277.2 mi
446 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 34m
★
6 AM
4h 47m
8 AM
5h 14m
10 AM
4h 57m
12 PM
4h 54m
3 PM
4h 58m
5 PM
5h 13m
8 PM
4h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Defiance, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Gilbert, AZ
Zsolt Pujsz
Trip Overview
The drive from Fort Defiance, AZ to Gilbert, AZ covers 277.2 miles and takes about 4h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Kit Carson Drive, Route 12, Highway 264 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.17 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
138.6 miles from Fort Defiance, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 47m drive with frequent turns across 277.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Kit Carson Drive 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 47m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fort Defiance, AZ to Gilbert, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kit Carson Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Route 12 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 264 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Purple Heart Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Navajo Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Holbrook-Springerville Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Show Low-Holbrook Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Kit Carson Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Defiance, AZ and Gilbert, AZ.
1
Start on Old Red Lake Road
56 ft
·
8 sec
·
Old Red Lake Road
2
Turn left onto Kit Carson Drive
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Kit Carson Drive
3
Continue on Navajo Route 12
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Navajo Route 12
4
Turn right onto Arizona State Highway 264
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Arizona State Highway 264
5
Turn left onto Navajo Route 12
24 mi
·
33 min
·
Navajo Route 12
6
Take the ramp right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
7
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
70 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 40 Business, AZ 77 South, AZ 377 South, US 180 East: Show Low, Heber
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 40 Business, AZ 77 South, AZ 377 South, US 180 East: Show Low, Heber
9
Turn left onto Navajo Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Navajo Boulevard
10
Continue on Holbrook-Springerville Highway
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Holbrook-Springerville Highway
11
Continue on Show Low-Holbrook Highway
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Show Low-Holbrook Highway
12
Turn right onto Heber Road
31 mi
·
36 min
·
Heber Road
13
Turn straight onto Heber-Holbrook Highway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Heber-Holbrook Highway
14
At the end of the road, turn right onto West 3rd Street North
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
West 3rd Street North
15
Continue on Highway 277
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 277
16
At the end of the road, turn right onto Highway 260
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Highway 260
17
Continue on Hwy 260
16 mi
·
22 min
·
Hwy 260
18
Continue on Payson-Heber Highway
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Payson-Heber Highway
19
Continue on Payson-Show Low Highway
24 mi
·
30 min
·
Payson-Show Low Highway
20
Turn left onto South Beeline Highway
69 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
South Beeline Highway
21
Turn left onto North Gilbert Road
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
North Gilbert Road
22
Continue on South Gilbert Road
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
South Gilbert Road
23
Turn left onto East Vaughn Avenue
440 ft
·
22 sec
·
East Vaughn Avenue
24
Turn right onto North Elm Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Elm Street
25
Turn right
203 ft
·
15 sec
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 138.6 miles from Fort Defiance, AZ, or about 2h 23m 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 80 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.6 miles or 2h 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 3h 55m
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 Fort Defiance, 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 Fort Defiance, AZ
This is one driving day of about 277.2 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fort Defiance, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 138.6 mi from Fort Defiance, AZ · 2h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
139 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 138.6 miles from Fort Defiance, 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
$55.17 one way
$110.33 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
97 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $58.26 | $116.51 |
| premium | $5.59 | $60.97 | $121.95 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $61.58 | $123.17 |
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: 97 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.2 | 1 | $29.11 | $13.31 |
| Efficient EV | 69.3 | 0 | $24.26 | $11.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 110.9 | 1 | $38.81 | $17.74 |
Gas CO2
97 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
Morning in Gilbert on Monday
Local time
10:48 AM
MST
Current temp
58°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
24 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
4h 47m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Fort Defiance, AZ to Gilbert, AZ covers 277.2 miles and takes about 4h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kit Carson Drive, Route 12, Highway 264. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 138.6 miles from Fort Defiance, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $55.17 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 47m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fort Defiance, AZ to Gilbert, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fort Defiance, AZ to Gilbert, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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