Origin
Gilbert, AZ
Morning in Gilbert on Monday
Local time
8:27 AM
MST
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gilbert, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ
Drive Time
6h 39m
Distance
276.4 mi
445 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
6h 28m
★
6 AM
6h 40m
8 AM
7h 4m
10 AM
6h 48m
12 PM
6h 46m
3 PM
6h 49m
5 PM
7h 2m
8 PM
6h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gilbert, AZ
Zsolt Pujsz
Cottonwood, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Gilbert, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ covers 276.4 miles and takes about 6h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Elm Street, East Vaughn Avenue, North Gilbert Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.01 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
138.2 miles from Gilbert, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 39m drive with frequent turns across 276.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Elm Street 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
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 39m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Gilbert, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Elm Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Vaughn Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Gilbert Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Beeline Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Beeline Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Payson-Winslow Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 87 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Route 87 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Elm Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gilbert, AZ and Cottonwood, AZ.
1
Start on the route
203 ft
·
20 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto North Elm Street
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Elm Street
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto East Vaughn Avenue
440 ft
·
24 sec
·
East Vaughn Avenue
4
Turn right onto North Gilbert Road
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
North Gilbert Road
5
Continue on North Gilbert Road
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
North Gilbert Road
6
Turn right onto Beeline Highway
68 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Beeline Highway
7
Continue on North Beeline Highway
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Beeline Highway
8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Payson-Winslow Highway
131 ft
·
3 sec
·
Payson-Winslow Highway
9
Exit the rotary onto North Beeline Highway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Beeline Highway
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Payson-Winslow Highway
115 ft
·
2 sec
·
Payson-Winslow Highway
11
Exit the rotary onto North Beeline Highway
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
North Beeline Highway
12
Continue on Arizona State Highway 87
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Arizona State Highway 87
13
Continue on Payson-Winslow Highway
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Payson-Winslow Highway
14
Continue on Arizona State Highway 87
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Arizona State Highway 87
15
Continue on Payson-Winslow Highway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Payson-Winslow Highway
16
Continue on North AZ Highway 87
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
North AZ Highway 87
17
Continue on Payson-Winslow Highway
7.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Payson-Winslow Highway
18
Continue on State Route 87
12 mi
·
16 min
·
State Route 87
19
Continue on Payson–Winslow Highway
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Payson–Winslow Highway
20
Continue on State Highway 87
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 87
21
Continue on State Route 87
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
State Route 87
22
Continue on Starlight Drive
344 ft
·
6 sec
·
Starlight Drive
23
Continue on State Highway 87
19 mi
·
28 min
·
State Highway 87
24
Continue on Payson-Winslow Highway
18 mi
·
27 min
·
Payson-Winslow Highway
25
Turn right onto East 2nd Street
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East 2nd Street
26
Continue on Winslow–Kayenta Highway
40 mi
·
46 min
·
Winslow–Kayenta Highway
27
Continue on AZ 87
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
AZ 87
28
Continue on Winslow–Kayenta Highway
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Winslow–Kayenta Highway
29
At the end of the road, turn right onto Arizona State Highway 264
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Arizona State Highway 264
30
Turn left onto Indian Route 60
6.6 mi
·
16 min
·
Indian Route 60
31
Continue on Hopi Route 65
8.4 mi
·
20 min
·
Hopi Route 65
32
Continue on Navajo Route 65
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Navajo Route 65
33
Continue on Indian Route 65
2.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Indian Route 65
34
Continue on Navajo Route 65
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Navajo Route 65
35
At the end of the road, turn right onto Navajo Route 4
4.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Navajo Route 4
36
Continue on Indian Route 4
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Indian Route 4
37
Continue on Navajo Route 4
6.4 mi
·
15 min
·
Navajo Route 4
38
Turn right
0.3 mi
·
1 min
39
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 138.2 miles from Gilbert, AZ, or about 3h 19m 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 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.2 miles or 3h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cottonwood, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gilbert, 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 Gilbert, AZ
This is one driving day of about 276.4 miles and 6h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Gilbert, 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 138.2 mi from Gilbert, AZ · 3h 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
138 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 138.2 miles from Gilbert, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cottonwood, AZ
The final approach into Cottonwood, 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 Cottonwood, 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
$55.01 one way
$110.02 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
97 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $58.09 | $116.18 |
| premium | $5.59 | $60.80 | $121.59 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $61.41 | $122.81 |
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: 96.7 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 | 82.9 | 1 | $29.02 | $13.27 |
| Efficient EV | 69.1 | 0 | $24.18 | $11.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 110.6 | 1 | $38.70 | $17.69 |
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
Cottonwood, AZ
Morning in Cottonwood on Monday
Local time
9:27 AM
MDT
Current temp
40°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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
18 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
6h 39m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Cottonwood, AZ covers 276.4 miles and takes about 6h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Elm Street, East Vaughn Avenue, North Gilbert Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 138.2 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 $55.01 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 39m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Gilbert, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Gilbert, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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