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Trip from Gilbert, AZ to Mohave Valley, AZ

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 5m

Distance

259.3 mi

417 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$52

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 52m ★
6 AM
5h 5m
8 AM
5h 32m
10 AM
5h 15m
12 PM
5h 12m
3 PM
5h 16m
5 PM
5h 31m
8 PM
4h 57m

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

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Gilbert, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Mohave Valley, AZ, AZ

Mohave Valley, AZ

Brent Singleton

Trip Overview

The drive from Gilbert, AZ to Mohave Valley, AZ covers 259.3 miles and takes about 5h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Route 95, Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $51.66 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

129.7 miles from Gilbert, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 20m into the drive .

About the Cities

Starting in Gilbert, AZ

Full guide →

Gilbert is in the southeast valley of the Greater Phoenix region of Arizona. With a population of 270,000 (2021 est.) it is the largest town in the US. people. Once a railway town and the "Hay Capital of the World", Gilbert is now a diverse suburban center, retaining its agricultural and railroad history and celebrating its "small town" feel.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 5m. Total distance: 259.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile.

Drive Character

The drive from Gilbert, AZ to Mohave Valley, AZ covers 259.3 miles and takes about 5h 5m, 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 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 105 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near East Vaughn Avenue.

Driving Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 259.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

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 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 24 key points

These 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

7
2.5 mi into trip | ~5m in

Turn left toward US 60 West: Phoenix

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward US 60 West: Phoenix
6
18 mi into trip | ~24m in | I 10 / Papago Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
6
19.9 mi into trip | ~26m in | I 10 / Papago Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
250.9 mi into trip | ~4h 47m in | Front Street

At end of road, turn left onto Front Street

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Gilbert, AZ to Mohave Valley, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Yuma along the way.

Yuma

147.8 mi in | ~2h 38m | via I 10 Business

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway 105 mi 1h 45m
Route 95 47.5 mi 55m
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway 30.9 mi 35m
Papago Freeway 24.3 mi 28m
Aqueduct Road 16.5 mi 24m
Superstition Freeway 9.8 mi 11m
Maricopa Freeway 4.9 mi 5m
Mohave Valley Highway 4.8 mi 6m
Longest stretch: Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway — 105 mi, about 1h 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gilbert, AZ and Mohave Valley, 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

Turn left

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward US 60 West: Phoenix Use the left lane.
6

Merge onto US 60

9.8 mi · 11 min · Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto US 60

0.6 mi · 38 sec · US 60
Toward I 10 North
8

Merge onto I 10; US 60

4.9 mi · 5 min · Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

2.0 mi · 2 min · Papago Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

2.7 mi · 3 min · Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on I 10

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
12

Continue on I 10

20 mi · 22 min · Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on I 10

105 mi · 1 hr 45 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit onto I 10 Business

0.4 mi · 41 sec · I 10 Business
Toward US 95, AZ 95: Parker, Yuma
15

Turn right onto I 10 Bus

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Riggles Road
16

Turn left onto I 10 Bus

1.0 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
17

Turn right onto AZ 95

3.1 mi · 3 min · North Central Boulevard
18

Continue on AZ 95

20 mi · 22 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
Use the straight lane.
19

Turn left onto AZ 95

11 mi · 13 min · Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
20

Continue on AZ 95

1.7 mi · 3 min · California Avenue
21

Continue on CA 62

0.4 mi · 53 sec · CA 62
22

At end of road, turn left onto CA 62

16 mi · 24 min · Aqueduct Road
23

Turn sharp right onto US 95

48 mi · 55 min · Route 95
24

Take the exit onto US 95

0.3 mi · 19 sec · US 95
25

Merge onto I 40; US 95

0.8 mi · 51 sec · Needles Freeway
26

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 19 sec
Toward J Street
27

Turn right onto J Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · J Street
28

At end of road, turn left onto Front Street

465 ft · 14 sec · Front Street
29

Turn right onto North K Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North K Street
30

Continue on AZ 95

1.2 mi · 2 min · Harbor Avenue
31

Continue on AZ 95

4.8 mi · 6 min · Mohave Valley Highway
32

Turn right onto Hulet Avenue

1.0 mi · 4 min · Hulet Avenue
33

At end of road, turn right onto CR 391; BIA 1

157 ft · 8 sec · Mountain View Road
34

Turn right onto Winter Haven Drive

0.6 mi · 2 min · Winter Haven Drive
35

Arrive at destination

Winter Haven Drive

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 129.7 miles from Gilbert, AZ, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105 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 57 miles or 1h 7m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 129.7 miles or 2h 20m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mohave Valley, 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 259.3 miles and 5h 5m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 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.
The longest stretch is on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 105 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 129.7 mi from Gilbert, AZ · 2h 20m into the drive

town in La Paz County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Quartzsite, AZ

130 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

Maryvale, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Quartzsite, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 129.7 miles from Gilbert, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Mohave Valley, AZ

The final approach into Mohave Valley, 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 Mohave Valley, AZ.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

China Red Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Litchfield Park, Arizona

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 37

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+16235357599

Visit website

China Red Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 37

Litchfield Park, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+16235357599

Visit website

The Little Gym of Litchfield Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 37

Goodyear, Arizona

Hours: 9 am–7:30 pm

+16232505718

Visit website

Amusement Park Rides RandRrides(Phoenix Park & Swap)

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 18.5

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: Closed

+14809958653

Visit website

Arizona Science Center

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 18.5

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 10:30 am–4 pm

+16027162000

Visit website

Dorrance DOME

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 18.5

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 10:30 am–4 pm

Visit website

TeenyTown Playland

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 37

Litchfield Park, Arizona

Hours: 9 am–7 pm

+16237766002

Visit website

Enchanted Island Amusement Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 18.5

Phoenix, Arizona

Hours: 11 am–4 pm

+16022541200

Visit website

Hobo Joe Statue

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 55.6

Buckeye, Arizona

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

National Monument

An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...

29 mi from route ~72 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$51.66 one way

$103.31 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 91 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $54.67 $109.33
premium $5.59 $57.08 $114.15
diesel $5.61 $57.25 $114.50

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$52

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$77–$102

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 90.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 77.8 0 $27.23 $12.45
Efficient EV 64.8 0 $22.69 $10.37
EV Truck/SUV 103.7 1 $36.30 $16.60

Gas CO2

91 kg

EV CO2

30 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

Gilbert, AZ

Morning in Gilbert on Saturday

Local time

10:17 AM

MST

Current temp

93°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mohave Valley, AZ

Morning in Mohave Valley on Saturday

Local time

10:17 AM

MST

Current temp

90°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

3 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

5h 5m 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 Gilbert, AZ to Mohave Valley, AZ covers 259.3 miles and takes about 5h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Route 95, Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 129.7 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 $51.66 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 demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 259.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (East Vaughn Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

On the drive from Gilbert, AZ to Mohave Valley, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Yuma along the way.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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