Origin
Gilbert, AZ
Evening in Gilbert on Thursday
Local time
5:50 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
6/10
Good 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 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 $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 (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 26m drive with frequent turns across 18.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 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. 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 Gilbert, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ is easy. At 26m 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 Gilbert, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Elm Street | — | — |
| East Vaughn Avenue | — | — |
| North Gilbert Road | — | — |
| US 60 East | — | — |
| Superstition Freeway | — | — |
| Ironwood Drive | — | — |
| South Ironwood Drive | — | — |
| West Apache Trail | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Elm Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gilbert, AZ and Apache Junction, 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
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
North Gilbert Road
5
Take the ramp right toward US 60 East: Globe
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
US 60 East: Globe
6
Merge slight left onto Superstition Freeway
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Superstition Freeway
7
Take the exit slight right toward Ironwood Drive
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Ironwood Drive
8
Turn left onto South Ironwood Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South Ironwood Drive
9
Turn right onto West Apache Trail
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Apache Trail
10
Turn slight left
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
11
Turn left onto North Apache Trail
177 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Apache Trail
12
Arrive at your destination
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
5:50 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 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 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.
The drive from Gilbert, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ is easy. At 26m 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 Gilbert, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Gilbert, AZ to Apache Junction, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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