Origin
Gilbert, AZ
Evening in Gilbert on Thursday
Local time
7:00 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gilbert, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
26m
Distance
18.2 mi
29 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gilbert, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Apache Junction, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Gilbert, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ covers 18.2 miles and takes about 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Superstition Freeway, North Gilbert Road, South Ironwood Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.3 miles on Superstition Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.63 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 18.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 26m highway drive covering 18.2 miles, with most of the trip on Superstition Freeway and North Gilbert Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 12.3 miles on Superstition Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Superstition Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 12.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Superstition Freeway and North Gilbert Road. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near East Vaughn Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 18.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.3 miles (East Vaughn Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East Vaughn Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto East Vaughn Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward US 60 East: Globe
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 60 East: Globe
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge onto US 60 / Superstition Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
15 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward Ironwood Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 195
Toward Ironwood Drive
5
18.2 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
North Apache Trail
Turn left onto North Apache Trail
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Superstition Freeway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| North Gilbert Road | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| South Ironwood Drive | 2 mi | 3m |
| West Apache Trail | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Elm Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Vaughn Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Apache Trail | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Superstition Freeway
— 12.3 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gilbert, AZ and Apache Junction, AZ.
1
Start on this road
203 ft
·
20 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto North Elm Street
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Elm Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto East Vaughn Avenue
440 ft
·
23 sec
·
East Vaughn Avenue
4
Turn right onto North Gilbert Road
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
North Gilbert Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward US 60 East: Globe
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto US 60
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 195
Toward Ironwood Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto South Ironwood Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South Ironwood Drive
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
9
Turn right onto US 80 Hist
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Apache Trail
10
Turn slight left
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
11
Turn left onto North Apache Trail
178 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Apache Trail
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
North Apache Trail
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.63 one way
$7.25 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $3.84 | $7.67 |
| premium | $5.59 | $4.01 | $8.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.02 | $8.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.91 | $0.87 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.59 | $0.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.55 | $1.16 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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
Apache Junction, AZ
Evening in Apache Junction on Thursday
Local time
7:00 PM
MST
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
33 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
26m 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 Gilbert, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ covers 18.2 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Superstition Freeway, North Gilbert Road, South Ironwood Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.1 miles from Gilbert, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.63 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 18.2 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (East Vaughn Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (US 60 / Superstition Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Gilbert, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Tonto National Monument.
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